Monday November 23 2009 | Biotechnology feed | All feeds
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Monday November 23 2009 | Biotechnology feed | All feeds
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New anti-angiogenic shark cartilage derivatives Between 1970 and 1994, cancer claimed the lives of about 500,000 Americans every year. According to the most recent statistics, it is estimated that 1.3 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed and 555,500 people will die from cancer in the United States in the year 2002. From 1992 to 1998, the incidence of cancer related death was reduced by 1.1%. This modest improvement was related to improved detection and greater therapeutic options. Continued improvement of therapeutic options should further diminish the morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases. One class of pharmaceuticals with particular promise includes inhibitors of angiogenesis. This therapeutic class is anticipated to represent a major focus of anti-cancer therapy and indeed by 2006, the market for all products that play a role in angiogenesis is likely to reach $1.75 billion. One of the leading inhibitors of angiogenesis is Neovastat, a shark cartilage derivative shown to inhibit matrix metalloproteinase and VEGF signaling. Early clinical studies have been conducted to establish the dosing, safety, and early efficacy of Neovastat administered orally, and phase III clinical trials are currently underway. More recently a second shark cartilage-derived angiogenesis inhibitory factor, SCAIF80, has been isolated and characterized. This 80 kD protein significantly suppressed endothelial cell proliferation and demonstrated activity in the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. In vivo, SCAIF80 dramatically suppressed the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma. This further example of shark cartilage derived inhibitors of angiogenesis may represent a back-up to molecules such as Neovastat, and perhaps more importantly it may allow further insights into the mechanism of action of this class of molecules and opportunities for the development of small molecule mimics. Adapted from Shen et al, Sheng Wu Hua Xue Yu Sheng Wu Wu Li Xue Bao (Shanghai) 2001;33(1):99-104
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