Radiation sensitizer for LC treatment shows promise

[Christine]

http://www.reuters.com/article/inPlayBr ... EL20071030

Co announces that Intae Lee with the University of Pennsylvania has reported that Alfacell's Onconase could be a promising radiation sensitizer for lung cancer treatment. Lee presented the pre-clinical in vivo data at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology 49th Annual Meeting. Lee provided pre-clinical evidence that Onconase significantly increased the radiation-induced tumor growth delay of lung tumors in vivo without increases in skin reaction compared to radiation alone. Additionally, Lee and his team of researchers identified non-invasive imaging biomarkers that can potentially be used as a therapeutic predictor for Onconase in non-small cell lung cancer patients. "Onconase significantly reduced the tumor hypertension that is the major physiological barrier of therapeutic delivery to solid tumors," said Lee. "As a result, Onconase increased tumor penetration and selectively increased tumor blood flow. This investigation suggests that Onconase may be a new and promising drug in the treatment of non-small cell lung carcinoma patients as a radiation therapy enhancer."