For everyonne In Amherst especially!!!

[RandyW]

Researchers devise lung cancer antibody

AMHERST, Mass., April 11 (UPI) -- Researchers said Tuesday they have developed a lung cancer antibody that appears to kill deadly cells, but spare healthy tissue.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School said their newly discovered monoclonal antibody holds promise for future therapies to fight the deadly disease.

The university said it has teamed with Sydney, Australia-based EvoGenix to test the antibody -- dubbed DMF 10 -- in humans. EvoGenix has already licensed the biotechnology, U. of Mass. said.

The study investigators said the antibody works by binding to the surface of tumor cells, sparking a process called apoptosis. This process causes the cancer cells to self-destruct without affecting healthy tissue, and also aids the body's immune system in going after the cancer cells, the researchers said.

The antibody seems especially effective in destroying lung cancer cells, but the researchers noted that it might work as well with other types of cancer.

"Lung cancer is a devastating disease and we sorely need better, more effective therapeutics for it," said one of the researchers. "While we still have some important work ahead of us, I believe this antibody has excellent prospects to be developed as a new therapy for lung cancer, and perhaps other tumors."

Also Out Of Worcester

Cancer therapy

WORCESTER -- University of Massachusetts Medical School has signed a licensing agreement with an Australian company to develop a therapy for lung cancer that kills tumor cells but leaves normal cells unharmed, the two partners announced yesterday.

Researchers led by Dr. Kenneth L. Rock, chairman of pathology, have developed a monoclonal antibody that selectively destroyed only human lung cancer cells in lab dishes and in mice implanted with lung cancer tumors. They reported their findings in the July issue of Cancer Research.

The approach has the potential for much greater safety and many fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Monoclonal antibodies currently used in patients include Retuximab, which targets lymphoma, and Avastin, which treats colorectal and other cancers.

EvoGenix Ltd. of Sydney, Australia, and Mountain View, Calif., has licensed the intellectual property from UMass and will engineer the antibody so that it can be tested in humans.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Dr. Rock will join the company’s scientific advisory board.

“There’s no guarantee that it will actually be used clinically, but it has sufficient promise that we’re excited about seeing if it can be