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New Anticancer Compound Enters Clinical Trial
Researchers study possible alternative to chemotherapy (Sept. 18)
According to a September 18 announcement, researchers at the University of New South Wales in Australia have developed a tumor-shrinking compound that could provide an alternative to chemotherapy.
The compound, named PENAO, inactivates a key protein in mitochondria, the energy-producing structures in tumor cells.
PENAO is a second-generation compound developed from a first-generation drug, GSAO, which was successfully studied in the U.K.
A clinical trial of PENAO began in July and will include patients with solid tumors, such as those with breast, prostate, colon, and brain cancer, the announcement said. The trial involves about 20 patients and is expected to last 18 months.
The new compound is pumped directly into the bloodstream, which is considered the best delivery pathway and easiest for the patient. Participants can take the pump home with them and need only weekly hospital visits for check-ups. The compound is delivered in two cycles over a total of 42 days.
The researchers hope that PENAO will form the basis of new cancer therapies.
For more information, visit the University of New South Wales Web site.
