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Alfacell Reports Promising Results for Cancer Drug

Posted on: Thursday, 23 August 2007, 12:13 CDT

Alfacell Corporation has reported the results of a preclinical study showing that its cancer drug Onconase reduces reactive oxygen intermediates in normal cell types and tumor cell lines, which could be important to its cytotoxic effect.

The preclinical in vitro research conducted by Alfacell and researchers at New York Medical College demonstrated that treatment of cells in cultures with Onconase reduced intracellular oxidative stress by suppressing reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) generation and promoting their degradation.

The anti-oxidative function of Onconase may be an important element of its antiproliferative/cytotoxic activity towards cancer cells and a possible mechanism of its synergism with other anticancer agents, the company said.

Additionally, the data indicate that Onconase has a propensity to reverse the generation of ROI from asbestos exposure in mesothelial cells. New Jersey-based Alfacell is currently conducting a phase IIIb human clinical trial of Onconase for the treatment of patients suffering from unresectable malignant mesothelioma.

"The data further confirm the cytotoxic effect of Onconase on cancer cells," said Kuslima Shogen, Alfacell's chairman and CEO. "Onconase's therapeutic potential is broad. This study shows that Onconase has potential not only for cancer, but for conditions pathogenetically related to oxidative stress or the activation of NF-kappa B, such as inflammation, autoimmune diseases, atherosclerosis and septic shock."

Source: Datamonitor

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