Monday, September 7, 2015

Green tea components may help prevent prostate cancer development in at-risk men


Structural formula of epigallocatechin gallate
In continuation from my update on epigallocatechin

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer in men and is predicted to result in an estimated 220,00 cases in the United States in 2015. In recent years, an emphasis has been placed on chemoprevention - the use of agents to prevent the development or progression of prostate cancer. A team of researchers led by Nagi B. Kumar, Ph.D., R.D., F.A.D.A. at Moffitt Cancer Center recently published results of a randomized trial that assessed the safety and effectiveness of the active components in green tea to prevent prostate cancer development in men who have premalignant lesions. The results will be presented at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Twenty percent of green tea is consumed in Asian countries where prostate cancer death rates are among the lowest in the world and the risk of prostate cancer appears to be increased among Asian men who abandon their original dietary habits upon migrating to the U.S.

Laboratory studies have shown that substances in green tea called, "catechins" inhibit cancer cell growth, motility and invasion, and stimulate cancer cell death. Green tea catechins also prevent and reduce tumor growth in animal models. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant and potent catechin found in green tea responsible for these cancer prevention effects.

The goal of this trial was to evaluate if a one-year intervention with green tea catechins could suppress prostate cancer development in men who had high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) or atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP). The researchers used decaffeinated green tea capsules called Polyphenon E that contained a mixture of catechins that predominantly contained EGCG at a dose of 200 mgs twice a day.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Existing anti-stroke drug can be effective in treating middle-ear infections

In continuation of my update on Vinpocetine

An existing anti-stroke drug is an effective treatment for middle-ear infections, showing the ability to suppress mucus overproduction, improve bacterial clearance and reduce hearing loss, according to researchers at Georgia State University and the University of Rochester.

The findings, published May 13 in the Journal of Immunology, could result in a novel, non-antibiotic treatment for otitis media, or middle-ear infection, possibly through topical drug delivery. Vinpocetine, the drug involved in the study, has long been used to treat neurological disorders such as stroke.

The study found topical administration of Vinpocetine suppressed inflammation and the overproduction of mucus induced by Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria, improved hearing loss in the middle ear and significantly improved bacterial clearance in animal studies.

Vinpocetine.svg

"Our encouraging preliminary data suggest that the repurposed drug Vinpocetine may play a critical role in inhibiting inflammation and enhancing antimicrobial defenses in otitis media," said Dr. Jian-Dong Li, director of the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State and a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Inflammation and Immunity. "Our proposed studies may lead to developing novel, non-antibiotic therapeutic strategies to control immunopathology, reduce mucus overproduction, improve hearing loss and enhance host defense for otitis media."

Otitis media is the most common childhood bacterial infection and the leading cause of conductive hearing loss. Streptococcus pneumonia is one of the most common bacterial pathogens causing middle-ear infection.

In the United States, there are 24.5 million visits to physicians' offices each year because of otitis media and more than $5 billion is spent annually for the care of this disease, according to studies in Pediatric Annals and Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Brigatinib drug shows promise against ALK non-small cell lung cancer in phase I/II clinical trial





Phase I/II clinical trial results reported at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2015 show promising results for investigational drug brigatinib against ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with 58 of 78 ALK+ patients responding to treatment, including 50 of 70 patients who had progressed after previous treatment with crizotinib, the first licensed ALK inhibitor. Progression-free survival (PFS) in patients previously treated with crizotinib was 13.4 months.

"Although still only in an early phase trial, brigatinib is showing an objective response rate in approximately 70 percent of ALK-positive patients post-crizotinib and it's showing about a year of progression-free survival. These results are among the best in the field, offering a lot of hope to people with ALK-positive lung cancer," says D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, director of thoracic oncology at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and the trial's principal investigator.

In addition, robust data is emerging on drug activity in patients with brain involvement of the disease. Many lung cancer trials have traditionally excluded patients with brain metastases at baseline, expecting that the presence of metastases would create negative results that could in turn create the appearance of drug failure. Following early recognition of the importance of the brain as a potential differentiator between the activity of new drugs, the brigatinib trial includes patients with untreated brain metastases, showing a greater than 30 percent decrease in size of brain tumors in 8 of 15 patients with brain tumors greater than 10 mm and disappearance of brain metastases in 11 of 33 patients with smaller lesions only. Brain metastases remained controlled for a median 15.6 months.

Based on these promising early results, brigatinib, developed by Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Inc., recently received Breakthrough Therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with ALK+ metastatic NSCLC whose tumors are resistant to crizotinib (below structure)
Crizotinib2DACS.svg

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Scorpion venom has toxic effects against cancer cells

When the toxin invades channels in the cells with this disease produces cellular damage until killing them.

In the venom from the Centruroides tecomanus scorpion from Colima, south-west state of Mexico, over a hundred proteins have been found and identified a "possible" toxic effect against cancer cells, reveals a scientific study.

The preliminary investigation is carried out by specialists of the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Colima (UCOL), who have identified peptides (amino acid molecules) that destroy cancer cells in vitro.

Laura Leticia Valdez Velazquez, head of research, said that when the toxin, derived from scorpion venom, invades channels in the cells with this disease it produces cellular damage until killing them.

"We have identified a highly selective group of peptides, which indicates that they could specifically bind to cancer cells and cause their death," she indicates.

Centruroides tecomanus species is one of the most poisonous scorpions of the country. The UCOL already has the genetic sequences of the protein components of the venom.

The scientific team took advantage of the great number of scorpions found in Colima. They began with the collection and extraction of poison, inoculating and immunizing rabbits as part of the teaching career in Pharmaceutical Chemistry Biologist. From this they decided to study the venom with the support of Lourival Possani, from the Institute of Biotechnology of the National Autonomous University od Mexico (UNAM).

The researcher explains that UCOL undertook the task of characterizing each component from the arachnid toxins, one of the most poisonous of the continent. Currently it has identified a group of peptides (about 10) in order to evaluate the have greater toxic effect against lymphoma cells.

"The venom toxins act on ion channels of the cancer cell damaging them. Our interest is for the cell to be selectively removed. We have found that these peptides have affinity with these cells, that is, they could specifically bind to them and induce cancer death".

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

This Little Known Chinese Herb Kills 12,000 Cancer Cells For Every Healthy Cell | Collective-Evolution



Artemisinin.svg
A little known Chinese herb might be eligible for the growing list of cancer killers via alternative methods of treatment. According to  studies published  in Life Sciences, Cancer Letters and Anticancer Drugs, artemesinin, a derivative of the wormwood plant commonly used in Chinese medicine, can kill off  cancer cells, and do it at a rate of 12,000 cancer cells for every healthy cell.

Henry Lai and his team of researchers from the University of Washington synthesized the compound, which uses a cancer cells appetite for iron to make them the target. The great thing about artemisinin is that alone it can selectively kill cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed.

“By itself, artemisinin is about 100 times more selective in killing cancer cells as opposed to normal cells. Artemisinin is 34,000 times more potent in killing the cancer cells as opposed to their normal cousins. So the tagging process appears to have greatly increased the potency of artemisinin’s cancer-killing properties.” – Henry Lai

Despite the compound being licensed to Holley Pharmaceuticals, it has yet to be used for cancer treatment in humans.

“We call it a Trojan horse because the cancer cell recognizes transferrin as a natural, harmless protein. So the cell picks up the compound without knowing that a bomb (artemisinin) is hidden inside.”  – Henry Lai

The wormwood extract was used many centuries ago in China for healing purposes. The treatment became lost over time and has now been rediscovered thanks to an ancient manuscript containing medical remedies. It kills 12,000 cancer cells for every healthy cell, which means it could be turned into a drug with minimal side effects.

“The compound is currently being licensed by the University of Washington to Artemisia Biomedical Inc., a company that Lai, Sasaki and Narendra Singh, UW associate professor of bioengineering, founded in Newcastle, Washington for development and commercialization. Human trials are at least several years away. Artemisinin is readily available, Sasaki said, and he hopes their compound can eventually be cheaply manufactured to help cancer patients in developing countries.”

This Little Known Chinese Herb Kills 12,000 Cancer Cells For Every Healthy Cell | Collective-Evolution

Monday, August 31, 2015

Chemical compound shows promise in treating rheumatoid arthritis



ChemSpider 2D Image | (11Z)-11H-Indeno[1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-one oxime | C15H9N3O





Montana State University researchers and their collaborators have published their findings about a chemical compound that shows potential for treating rheumatoid arthritis.

The paper ran in the June issue of the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (JPET), and one of its illustrations is featured on the cover. JPET
is a leading scientific journal that covers all aspects of pharmacology, a field that investigates the effects of drugs on biological systems and vice versa.

"This journal is one of the top journals that reports new types of therapeutics that are being developed," said Mark Quinn, senior author on the paper and a professor in MSU's Department of Microbiology and Immunology. The department is part of the College of Agriculture and the
College of Letters and Science.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects an estimated 1.3 million people in the world, Quinn said. Characterized by stiff, swollen joints, it's a progressive disease that occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own cells. Inflammation in the lining of the joints leads to loss of bone and cartilage. People who have rheumatoid arthritis lose mobility and joint function without adequate treatment.

New kinds of drugs have been developed for treating the disease, Quinn said. Called biological drugs, or "biologics," they are made from genetically engineered proteins or antibodies that act on substances in the immune system. When used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, they interrupt signals that fuel the inflammatory process. Two such drugs are ENBREL and HUMIRA.

Biologics can be expensive, however, and some people don't respond to
them, Quinn said. Some people respond at first, but not forever.

"There is a real need to develop new kinds of drugs that are different," Quinn said. "They could be combined with other available drugs or replace drugs that aren't working for patients."

Researchers in his laboratory and elsewhere identified a new chemical compound, called IQ-1S, in a previous study, Quinn said. Then they conducted a new study to understand how the   small-molecule  compound
works against rheumatoid arthritis. They explained their findings in the JPET paper.  

Ref : http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/353/3/505.abstract?sid=8b8e3977-7bbd-40f4-ab43-f37402878df0



Chemical compound shows promise in treating rheumatoid arthritis

Friday, August 28, 2015

Salix Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval for Xifaxan 550 mg to treat IBS-D in adults



Rifaximin.svg
In continuation of my update on xifaxan

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (NYSE: VRX) (TSX: VRX) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Xifaxan® 550 mg for the treatment of IBS-D in adults. The FDA approval of Xifaxan 550 mg is based on data from three phase 3 studies, TARGET 1, TARGET 2 and TARGET 3. Xifaxan 550 mg was studied in over 3,000 patients and demonstrated the efficacy and safety of repeat treatment following completion of a two-week course of treatment. A full course of Xifaxan 550 mg for IBS-D is available in a convenient 2 week pack of 42 pills.

"As a gastroenterologist who helps patients navigate the symptoms of IBS-D, I see the need for treatments that directly address those most bothersome, such as diarrhea and abdominal pain" said Dr. Mark Pimentel, director of the Gastrointestinal Motility Program and Laboratory at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. "Today's approval gives a new option to these patients and providers."


Thursday, August 27, 2015

Actavis announces FDA approval of VIBERZI (eluxadoline) for IBS-D treatment

In continuation of my update on VIBERZI (eluxadoline)



Actavis plc,  announced today that VIBERZI™ (eluxadoline) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a twice-daily, oral treatment for adults suffering from irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D). VIBERZI (eluxadoline) has mixed opioid receptor activity, it is a mu receptor agonist, a delta receptor antagonist, and a kappa receptor agonist.

"The FDA's approval of VIBERZI is the first step to providing physicians with a new, evidence-based, treatment option for their adult patients with IBS-D," said David Nicholson, Executive Vice President, Actavis Global Brands R&D. "At Actavis, we are dedicated to providing new treatment options, and the development of new agents that help address the most bothersome symptoms of IBS-D. We are very pleased to be working with the FDA to advance this IBS-D treatment and we eagerly await DEA scheduling determination later this year."




Eluxadoline.png

Ref : http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/11250029#section=Canonical-SMILES


Actavis announces FDA approval of VIBERZI (eluxadoline) for IBS-D treatment

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

First-line axitinib ‘feasible’ in advanced, metastatic RCC


Axitinib2DACS.svg




We know that, Axitinib (AG013736; trade name Inlyta) is a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor developed by Pfizer. It has been shown to significantly inhibit growth of breast cancer in animal (xenograft) models and has shown partial responses in clinical trials with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and several other tumour types.  It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after showing a modest increase in progression-free survival, though there have been reports of fatal adverse effects...
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Now..

A Japanese single-institution study suggests that axitinib may be a feasible first-line option for patients with locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Axitinib treatment resulted in “improved oncological outcomes” and had an “acceptable safety profile”, say the researchers in BMC Urology.

The team reviewed medical records for 18 patients with locally advanced or metastatic RCC who received first-line axitinib for a median duration of 10.8 months, five and nine patients had a partial response and stable disease, respectively, while four progressed.



Monday, August 24, 2015

Drug combination lengthens lives of metastatic colorectal cancer patients


                         fluoropyrimidine                    TAS-102

Capecitabine.svg Capecitabine


A drug developed 50 years ago and abandoned because it was considered to be too toxic has gained a second life in an international clinical trial. Research led by scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute showed the drug and a potentiating agent lengthened the lives of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, all of whom had exhausted available standard treatments.

In a paper published online today by the New England Journal of Medicine, investigators at Dana-Farber and research centers around the world found that the drug combination - given as a single pill known as TAS-102 - not only extended patients' overall survival, but also delayed the advance of the disease and did so with very few side effects.

According to the study authors, the results are especially impressive because half of the patients had just finished treatment with the standard class of chemotherapy agents - fluoropyrimidines (e.g. 5-fluorouracil [5-FU] or capecitabine [Xeloda]) but had failed to benefit from them. The fact that TAS-102 temporarily halted the disease in many of these patients suggests that it operates through a different biochemical pathway than 5-FU, and therefore may serve as an alternative to standard therapy.

"Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths [after lung cancer] in the United States and is an enormous health problem around the world," said the study's lead author, Robert J. Mayer, MD, faculty vice president for academic affairs, medical oncologist and colorectal cancer researcher at Dana-Farber. "To have a well-tolerated, effective new drug in a cancer that is so prevalent is good news for patients."

The trial, a phase 3 study involving major cancer research institutions in Europe, the United States, Australia and Japan, enrolled 800 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer that was progressing despite previous treatment. Participants were randomly assigned to receive TAS-102 or a placebo pill...

More : http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1414325