Message #22 From:
NewsBot Date: January 3, 2008 08:01:13 PM
PhytoMedical's Anti-Cancer Compound Effective at Killing Brain Cancer Cells
Novel Class of Patented Anti-Cancer CompoundsDemonstrates
Significant Ability to Kill Human Glioblastoma (Brain) Cancer Cells, an
Extremely Resistant and Often Fatal Strain of Cancer
PhytoMedical Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:PYTO) (FWB:ET6), today announced
that research outcomes from ongoing in vitro studies of the Company’s
sponsored anti-cancer compounds have successfully demonstrated the
ability to kill a strain of human brain cancer cells which is otherwise
highly-resistant to currently available drugs.
Led by Dartmouth College researcher Dr. Gordon Gribble, researchers have
determined that, one of several patented “bis-intercalator”
anti-cancer compounds being developed by PhytoMedical has achieved a 50%
or greater cancer cell kill rate at a minimum concentration in studies
of the SF-295 strain of human glioblastoma (brain) cancer cells -- a
significant outcome, given these brain cancer cells’
drug-resistant nature.
“The outstanding results of this human cancer
cell study is an extremely important step towards finding a potential
solution for treating glioblastoma, an often fatal form of cancer,”
commented Greg Wujek, President, CEO of PhytoMedical Technologies, Inc. “The
demonstrated cytotoxic effects of this unique patented compound on such
a resistant strain of cancer has given us the confidence to move forward
in our research and improve upon the concept of bis-intercalation and
the promise it holds for the control of cancer.”
In important in vitro experiments, researchers tested several variations
of patented bis-intercalator compounds. These compounds have the unique
capability to “intercalate”
or insert their anti-cancer molecules inside DNA sites of specific
cancer cells, thereby preventing the ability of the cancer cells to
replicate and ultimately forcing their death.
“We are very happy,”
says Alla Kan Director of Dartmouth’s
Technology Transfer Office, “that we found a
good partner to help us bring these powerful new drugs claimed in
Dartmouth College issued patent #6,187,787 to the patient as this is an
ultimate goal of our office, to utilize research taking place in our
laboratories for the public good.”
Among several compounds tested in vitro against an often fatal strain of
human glioblastoma (brain) cells, researchers have identified a high
performance compound which requires the least concentration in order to
achieve a 50% or greater cancer cell kill rate. This strong activity
against glioblastoma cancer cells is a significant achievement given
these cells’ strong resistance to currently
available anticancer drugs such as Lomustine, Carmustine, Nitrosourea,
Hydroxyurea, and Procarbazine.
PhytoMedical’s
Cancer Research: Killing Cancer’s
DNA
PhytoMedical is developing a novel class of patented anti-cancer agents
that have a ‘cytotoxic’
or poisonous affinity for cancer cells and are designed to bind more
tightly to cancer cell DNA than many conventional anticancer 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, anticancer 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 anticancer
strategy is to design molecules (“bis-intercalators”)
that can intercalate simultaneously at two DNA sites, thus 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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risks. We currently have no commercial products intended to diagnose,
treat, prevent or cure any disease. The statements contained in this
press release regarding our on going research and development and the
results attained by us to-date have not been evaluated by the Food and
Drug Administration. There can be no assurance that further research and
development, and /or whether clinical trial results, if any, will
validate and support the results of our preliminary research and
studies. Further, there can be no assurance that the necessary
regulatory approvals will be obtained or that PhytoMedical will be able
to develop commercially viable products on the basis of its
technologies. In addition, other factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially are discussed in the Company's most recent Form
10-QSB and Form 10-KSB filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. These reports and filings may be inspected and copied at the
Public Reference Room maintained by the U.S. Securities & Exchange
Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can obtain
information about operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the
U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. The U.S.
Securities & Exchange Commission also maintains an Internet site that
contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other
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Securities & Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov.
The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of
any revisions to these forward looking statements that may be made to
reflect the events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect
the occurrence of unanticipated events.
PhytoMedical Technologies, Inc. Mr. Greg Wujek, President
& CEO Phone: 800-611-3388 www.PhytoMedical.com