AntiCancer Inc. Develops Whole-Body Imaging of Tumor Angiogenesis.Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers BIOWIRE2K SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--Feb. 26, 2001 AntiCancer Inc. scientists announced today that they have developed a new technology that enables angiogenesis, or blood vessel formation, in tumors to be non-invasively imaged in mouse models of cancer. The technology involves genetically engineering tumor cells to become highly fluorescent by expressing the jellyfish jellyfish, common name for the free-swimming stage (see polyp and medusa), of certain invertebrate animals of the phylum Cnidaria (the coelenterates). The body of a jellyfish is shaped like a bell or umbrella, with a clear, jellylike material filling most of the green fluorescent protein "EGFP" redirects here. EGFP may also refer to the ICAO airport code for Pembrey Airport. The green fluorescent protein (GFP) is a protein, comprised of 238 amino acids (26,9 kDa), from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria (GFP GFP Green Fluorescent Protein GFP Generic Framing Procedure GFP Government Furnished Property GFP Generic Frame Protocol GFP General Framing Procedure GFP Global Functional Plane GFP Global Field Power GFP Grandmothers for Peace GFP Glutton for Punishment ). When the genetically fluorescent tumors are transplanted to appropriate mouse models, the tumor blood vessels, which originate from the host animals, are readily quantitatively whole-body imaged by their stark contrast to the fluorescent tumors. The mice are not perturbed per·turb tr.v. per·turbed, per·turb·ing, per·turbs 1. To disturb greatly; make uneasy or anxious. 2. To throw into great confusion. 3. in the imaging process -- only a blue light is shined on them causing the tumors to glow a bright green with the blood vessels appearing black. The fluorescent tumor models can then be used for drug discovery and evaluation in the worldwide effort to find drugs that are effective against tumor blood vessel formation. Attacking tumor angiogenesis is thought to be one of the most promising targets to arrest and reverse metastatic Metastatic The term used to describe a secondary cancer, or one that has spread from one area of the body to another. Mentioned in: Coagulation Disorders metastatic pertaining to or of the nature of a metastasis. tumor growth. AntiCancer's new angiogenesis model is described in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, usually referred to as PNAS, is the official journal of the United States National Academy of Sciences. , USA. Dr. Shigeo Yagi ya·gi n. pl. ya·gis A directional radio and television antenna consisting of a horizontal conductor with several insulated dipoles parallel to and in the plane of the conductor. , general manager of AntiCancer said, "With AntiCancer's new development, there is, for the first time, a relevant and useful animal model of tumor angiogenesis. Tumor angiogenesis can now be followed non-invasively in real time by whole-body imaging. This should now enable efficient drug discovery in this critical process of tumor growth and metastasis." AntiCancer is currently utilizing its unique animal models of cancer to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide to discover and develop effective drugs for cancer. AntiCancer, based in San Diego, has also developed whole-body fluorescent imaging technology to visualize tumor growth and metastasis non-invasively in mouse models. The company in addition is developing genetically-engineered cancer drugs; gene therapy for cancer and hair loss; as well as genetically-engineered diagnostics of cancer and cardiovascular disease through its A/C Diagnostics subsidiary. AntiCancer has 40 employees. |
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