AntiCancer Inc. announces two major advances in field of prostate-cancer treatment.SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 1994--At the meeting of ``Basic and Clinical Aspects of Prostate Cancer'' held in Palm Springs, Calif., this week, AntiCancer Inc. announced that it has developed a new diagnostic test that will enable physicians to optimize treatment for individual patients suffering from prostate cancer prostate cancer, cancer originating in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the leading malignancy in men in the United States and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in men. . ``We have developed a new in vitro in vitro /in vi·tro/ (in ve´tro) [L.] within a glass; observable in a test tube; in an artificial environment. in vi·tro adj. In an artificial environment outside a living organism. three-dimensional histoculture technique for the assay of androgen androgen (ăn`drəjən): see testosterone. androgen Any of a group of hormones that mainly influence the development of the male reproductive system. sensitivity in human benign and malignant prostate tissue,'' said Dr. Andrew Perry, president of diagnostics at AntiCancer. ``This will enable oncologists to optimize treatment for prostate-cancer patients by determining whether the cancer is androgen-sensitive, or sensitive to other agents including experimental drugs. This in turn indicates which type of treatment will have the most success. This is a major advance for anyone suffering from cancer of the prostate.'' In addition, the histoculture technology offers the possibility of large-scale screening and drug discovery for new therapy for prostate cancer. In a related development, AntiCancer announced at the meeting that it has developed a patient-like 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. animal model of human prostate cancer. AntiCancer scientists have been able to ``orthotopically'' transplant intact human prostate-cancer tissue into the prostate of a ``nude'' mouse which lacks a functional immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. and can accept ``foreign'' tissue. These implanted tumors were observed to metastasize me·tas·ta·size v. To be transmitted or transferred by or as if by metastasis. Metastasize Spread of cells from the original site of the cancer to other parts of the body where secondary tumors are formed. to lymph nodes Lymph nodes Small, bean-shaped masses of tissue scattered along the lymphatic system that act as filters and immune monitors, removing fluids, bacteria, or cancer cells that travel through the lymph system. and bladder and follow the course of human prostate cancer. ``This is the first time scientists have been able to make a reproducible animal model of human prostate cancer,'' said Perry. ``This will obviously be a tremendous advantage for anyone doing any kind of drug development.'' Perry indicated that AntiCancer will make the in vitro prostate- cancer drug screen and animal model available to other companies on a contract basis enabling the contracting company to have a complete in vitro and in vivo discovery system for prostate-cancer drugs. AntiCancer is a privately held biotechnology company located in San Diego. The company was founded in 1986 specifically to work in the field of cancer therapeutics and diagnostics. CONTACT: AntiCancer Inc., San Diego Andrew Perry, 619/654-2555 |
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