Anti-Tumor Effects of Cell-Matrix Inc. Antibody Demonstrated; Findings Published in Journal of Cell Biology.Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers BIOWIRE2K LOS ANGELES--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 5, 2001 Cell-Matrix Inc., a biotechnology company developing antagonists to extracellular matrix extracellular matrix (eksˈ·tr  ·selˑ·y proteins, today announced the publication of data confirming the anti-tumor effects of its lead antibody therapeutic. The senior author on the publication is Peter C. Brooks, Ph.D., Cell-Matrix founder and associate professor, director of Angiogenesis angiogenesis /an·gio·gen·e·sis/ (-jen´e-sis) vasculogenesis; development of blood vessels either in the embryo or in the form of neovascularization or revascularization. an·gi·o·gen·e·sis n. and Radiation Research, New York University New York University, mainly in New York City; coeducational; chartered 1831, opened 1832 as the Univ. of the City of New York, renamed 1896. It comprises 13 schools and colleges, maintaining 4 main centers (including the Medical Center) in the city, as well as the School of Medicine, Kaplan Cancer Center. The paper, titled "Proteolytic pro·te·o·lyt·ic adj. Relating to, characterized by, or promoting proteolysis. proteolytic (pro″teolit´ik), adj Exposure of a Cryptic Site Within Collagen Type IV Is Required for Angiogenesis and Tumor Growth in Vivo in vivo /in vi·vo/ (ve´vo) [L.] within the living body. in vi·vo adj. Within a living organism. in vivo adv. ," reveals inhibition of new blood vessel blood vessel n. An elastic tubular channel, such as an artery, a vein, a sinus, or a capillary, through which the blood circulates. blood vessel(s), n the network of muscular tubes that carry blood. growth, also known as angiogenesis, as the underlying mechanism of the anti-tumor effects of one of Cell-Matrix's lead antibodies. The growth of a solid tumor is strictly dependent on the development of new blood vessels Blood vessels Tubular channels for blood transport, of which there are three principal types: arteries, capillaries, and veins. Only the larger arteries and veins in the body bear distinct names. . The Brooks lab demonstrated that the remodeling remodeling /re·mod·el·ing/ (re-mod´el-ing) reorganization or renovation of an old structure. bone remodeling of the proteins surrounding the existing blood vessels during angiogenesis results in exposure of regions that are normally hidden. The exposure of these hidden or cryptic regions provides critical clues for new blood vessel formation and tumor growth. According to Brooks, "This approach to inhibiting angiogenesis and tumor growth by blocking cryptic regulators of angiogenesis is completely novel." A protein called Type IV collagen has been found to surround all blood vessels. This publication provides evidence that the cryptic sites within Type IV collagen play an essential role in angiogenesis. As illustrated on the cover of this issue of the Journal of Cell Biology, a Cell-Matrix antibody that binds a cryptic site on Type IV collagen dramatically inhibits angiogenesis. Cell-Matrix has exclusive worldwide rights to antibodies that block angiogenesis and tumor growth by the mechanism described by Brooks. According to Daniel Broek, Ph.D., founder and chief scientific officer of Cell-Matrix: "This publication demonstrates the anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor effects of one of Cell-Matrix's lead monoclonal antibodies. We are building on Dr. Brooks' work with the preclinical evaluation of a humanized version of the antibody to this cryptic site on Type IV collagen." In addition to his duties at Cell-Matrix, Broek is associate professor, Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California The U.S. News & World Report ranked USC 27th among all universities in the United States in its 2008 ranking of "America's Best Colleges", also designating it as one of the "most selective universities" for admitting 8,634 of the almost 34,000 who applied for freshman admission . About Angiogenesis Cell-Matrix's lead products have been shown to be potent and highly selective inhibitors of angiogenesis, the process by which new blood vessels are formed to fuel the growth and metastasis metastasis /me·tas·ta·sis/ (me-tas´tah-sis) pl. metas´tases 1. transfer of disease from one organ or part of the body to another not directly connected with it, due either to transfer of pathogenic microorganisms or to of tumors. Tumor cells send out signals to growth factors that stimulate the endothelial cells lining established blood vessels to sprout and build new blood vessels. These new blood vessels provide essential nutrients and oxygen to support tumor growth and metastasis. By inhibiting angiogenesis, Cell-Matrix's products may have potential benefits in the treatment of cancer. About Cell-Matrix Cell-Matrix (www.cell-matrix.com) is a privately held biotechnology company located in Los Angeles. Cell-Matrix was founded in 1999 by Brooks, Broek and Dr. Anthony Montgomery to commercialize recent discoveries as to the role of "cryptic" sites on extracellular matrix proteins in the angiogenesis cascade. Cell-Matrix is building a leadership position in the discovery and development of novel inhibitors of angiogenesis. |
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