Return to Main Menu

Novel anti-tumor compounds also reverse tumor resistance Scientists at MUSC and Duquesne University have reported on their findings regarding novel compounds with potent anti-tumor activity, which also are active on cancer cells resistant to other anti-tumor agents.   Their findings are critical, as they point to the potential of developing therapies that could reverse drug resistance in cancer-removing therapeutic options.   Many tumors develop resistance to chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxol by producing protein pumps, such as p-glycoprotein, which expel the cancer drugs that penetrate into the tumor cells. Therefore, the level of cancer drug is reduced and the cancer cell escapes.   Detailed studies of the compounds researched by Duquesne and MUSC have shown that they, like Paclitaxol and Vincristine, disrupt tubulin that forms structural supports in the cell necessary for cell extension, migration and survival. The so-called Duquesne compounds are not expelled by the pump protein, P-glycoprotein, but are active on drug resistant tumor cells. Unexpectedly, it was discovered that the Duquesne compounds restored the sensitivity of drug-resistant cancer cells to other anticancer agents by inactivating P-glycoprotein. Compounds with such dual actions, i.e. cytotoxicity and the ability to reverse drug resistance, are unusual.   The significance of the work is that the development of resistance to previously effective cancer chemotherapeutic agents is a major cause of death in cancer patients and new more effective drugs are needed to treat patients with drug resistant tumors.   Delphian Pharmaceuticals, a San Francisco biotech company, has licensed the MUSC-Duquesne technology and is developing a portfolio of duel action anti-cancer compounds.   The report, made via an online version of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry on July 25 at http://pubs.acs.org/journals/jmcmar/.     Friday, Aug. 10, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.