PhytoMedical Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: PYTO) (FWB: ET6), today
announced that its patented bis-intercalator anti-cancer compound
achieved a 50% or greater cancer cell kill rate in new in vitro
studies of the DMS 114 strain of human small lung cancer cells, an
important outcome given lung cancer´s high mortality rate and the lack
of effective treatment options.
Research has shown that the antitumor agents being developed by
PhytoMedical, in collaboration with Dartmouth College, have a unique
´cytotoxic´ or poisonous effect upon cancer cells through the process
of "intercalating" or binding to the DNA of cancer cells, thereby
preventing the ability of the cancer cells to replicate and ultimately
forcing their death.
Among several bis-intercalator anti-cancer compounds tested in
vitro against the DMS 114 strain of human small lung cancer cells,
researchers identified a high performance compound which required the
least concentration in order to achieve a 50% or greater cancer cell
kill rate. This strong activity against human small lung cancer cells
is a significant achievement given that lung cancer kills more
Americans annually than any other type of cancer, according to the
National Cancer Institute.
"Our breakthrough research results against human lung cancer cells
is yet another important step towards providing an effective treatment
option for this aggressive and fatal strain," commented Greg Wujek,
President, CEO of PhytoMedical Technologies, Inc. "It is imperative to
develop drugs that directly target and inhibit the growth of cancer
cells while maintaining a level of resistance."
"Given the demonstrated cytotoxic effects of our patented DNA
binding compounds on lung cancer cells, and recently against an often
fatal strain of human brain cancer cells, it would appear that our
concept of using bis-intercalation against cancer holds a great deal
of promise."
PhytoMedical´s Cancer Research: Killing Cancer´s DNA
In collaboration with Dartmouth College and Dr. Gordon W. Gribble,
PhytoMedical is developing a novel class of patented anti-cancer
agents that have a ´cytotoxic´ or poisonous affinity for cancer cells.
These new compounds are designed to bind more tightly to cancer cell
DNA than many conventional anti-cancer drugs by a process called
bis-intercalation or "double binding," much like a molecular staple.
Because the DNA is the blueprint of life for the cancer cell, such
binding stops the replication of the DNA, which prevents the growth of
the cancer cell and it dies.
DNA is present in the nucleus of every cell of all living
organisms, which are constantly dividing through a process in which
the DNA in the nucleus of the original cell replicates itself to be
present in the nuclei of the two new ("daughter") cells. If this
replication cannot occur, the cell will die and the organism will
eventually stop growing and die. Cancer is characterized by the
development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the
ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue.
At present, anti-cancer molecules designed to block the
replication of DNA do so through "intercalation," a mechanism in which
the drug inserts itself between one set of adjacent base pairs of the
DNA. PhytoMedical believes a more effective anti-cancer strategy is to
design molecules ("bis-intercalators") that can intercalate
simultaneously at two DNA sites, thereby further increasing the
binding between the drug and the DNA of specific cancer cells in order
to stop their replication and ultimately resulting in the death of the
cancer cell.
About PhytoMedical Technologies, Inc.
PhytoMedical Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: PYTO; Frankfurt Stock
Exchange: ET6), together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, is a
pharmaceutical company focused on research, development and
commercialization of pharmaceutical products.
For additional information, please visit www.PhytoMedical.com
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