Originally published November 2 2005
Research at Wake Forest promises new method for treating brain cancer
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The journal Molecular Cancer Research has published a study by Wake Forest University researchers that found an effective way of preventing brain tumors by activating a brain protein that encourages cancer cell growth when it lies dormant.
Debinski has found a protein EphA2 in large amount in brain tumor patients compared to normal people, but they found that the protein in large amount was in an inactive form.
EphA2 protein, which is found in cell membranes, allows normal cells to communicate with their environment and each other.
In its normal active state, the protein seems to inhibit abnormal cell growth and division.
Professor tested the treatment hypothesis by treating glioblastoma cells with ephrinA1, a naturally occurring molecule that binds to EphA2 and activates it.
The researchers found that cells treated with ephrinA1 slowed down their growth and were less likely to exhibit invasive properties.
Professor Debinski said, "We've found that a particular protein may play a major role in the progression of these tumors, suggesting an attractive new treatment approach and the EphA2 represents a novel target for the development of molecular therapeutics for the imaging and treatment of patients with glioblastoma," Professor added that, "New therapies are clearly needed because, despite the standard treatment of surgically removing the tumor and treating the patient with chemotherapy and radiation, survival has increased only slightly over the past 30 years."
Earlier Work of Debinski: Interleukin 13 --Debinski had earlier found that cancer cells had a specific receptor for Interleukin 13 (IL-13), which is a naturally occurring protein that regulates the immune system in the body.
Debinski developed a drug that combines a form of IL-13 with a toxin that kills cancer cells.
By targeting the therapy to these receptors, the drug finds and kills the cancer cells.
Debinski has been focusing on identification of new novel molecular markers, which helps in diagnosis of cancer in an early stage.
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