John Stamos - Public Service Announcement
Functional Profiling Offers New Platform for Cancer Drug Discovery and Therapeutics
Ex-Vivo Analysis Recreates Human Tumor Cell Microenvironment and
Long Beach, Calif. and San Diego (AACR Meeting) -- April 12, 2008 – Investigators at Rational Therapeutics and the Nagourney Institute (Long Beach, Calif.) report that ex-vivo analysis of the chemotherapeutic response of human tumors can provide clinically relevant predictive information, so long as the tumors remain within their natural micro-environment or “micro-ecosystem.” Their findings will be reported during a poster session presentation on Sunday, April 13th at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in San Diego.
As outlined in the presentation titled, “Functional Profiling of Human Tumors in Primary Culture: A Platform for Drug Discovery and Therapy Selection,” (AACR: 08-AB-1546), ex-vivo analysis (EVA™) of human tumors provides a novel, real-time view of how such tumors act within their natural microenvironment. This information can, in turn, accelerate the drug development process and improve clinical therapy.
Led by Robert Nagourney, MD, medical director of Rational Therapeutics and the Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, the investigators have applied a human tumor micro-spheroid platform that measures both apoptotic and non-apoptotic cell death events and other cellular responses following exposure to a variety of agents.
“With its capacity to measure genetic and epigenetic events, this platform provides a functional, real-time adjunct to static genomic and proteomic platforms,” said Dr. Nagourney. “By examining small clusters of cancer cells [microspheroids] in their native state, we provide a snapshot of the response of tumor cells to drugs, combinations and targeted therapies.”
He explains that what makes his research team’s analysis unique is the fact that each micro-spheroid examined contains all the complex elements of tumor bio-systems found in the human body and that have a major impact on clinical response.
“Our system for ex-vivo analysis is a conduit that connects novel drugs to clinicians and patients in need,” Dr. Nagourney added. “Appropriate use of this platform has the potential to save the pharmaceutical industry millions of dollars, shave years off the drug development cycle and improve clinical therapy.”
In recent years, Dr. Nagourney’s EVA/PCD™ platform has proven capable of identifying activity for signal transduction inhibitors and other classes of “targeted” agents, including a 100% response rate reported in previously untreated non-small cell lung cancer patients selected for 1st line treatment with the EGFr-TKIs.
About Rational Therapeutics
Founded in 1995, Rational Therapeutics is a pioneering oncology research and testing center specializing in individualized therapy based on ex-vivo analysis of human tumors. More information is available at www.rationaltherapeutics.com.
|
©2010 Rational Therapeutics. All rights reserved.