BC Cancer Foundation - Spring 2016 - (Page 12)

Malaria Protein Study Shows Promise as Cancer Treatment Research of pregnant women led to exciting discovery A group of scientists recently discovered a malaria protein that shows promise as a new treatment for cancer. Among the researchers is the BC Cancer Agency's Dr. Poul Sorensen, distinguished scientist and co-senior investigator for the study, who collaborated with the team of Dr. Mads Daugaard at the Vancouver Prostate Centre. "We are all extremely excited by this study, and that it might represent an entirely new approach to cancer therapeutics," Dr. Sorensen says. "This is yet another example of why high-risk research that lies outside of the conventional box can deliver high-reward results." While exploring why pregnant women are particularly susceptible to malaria, the researchers found that the mosquito-borne disease produces a protein that binds to a particular type of sugar molecule in the placenta. That same sugar molecule is also found in most cancers. This commonality is understandable, because both cancers and placentas grow rapidly. The researchers realized that the sugar molecule could be a target for anti-cancer drugs, and that the malarial protein, called VAR2CSA, could provide the tool for carrying such drugs to tumours. They attached a novel toxin to VAR2CSA and treated hundreds of normal and cancer cell lines. The drug compound specifically targeted and killed more than 95 per cent of the cancer cell lines. The drug was then tested on mice that were implanted with human cancers: * With non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the treated mice's tumours were about a quarter the size of the tumours in the Dr. Poul Sorensen co-led an international study that control group. discovered the protein. * With prostate cancer, the tumours completely disappeared in two of the six "This is an extraordinary finding treated mice a month after that paves the way for targeting sugar receiving the first dose. molecules in pediatric and adulthood * With metastatic breast cancer, human cancer, and our groups are five out of six treated mice were vigorously pursuing this possibility cured of the disease. The mice together," Dr. Sorensen says. showed no adverse side effects The important findings were pubor organ damage. lished recently in the prestigious journal Cancer Cell. Two companies, Vancouver-based Kairos Therapeutics and Copenhagenbased VAR2 Pharmaceuticals, are now developing the compound for cliniA donation today will advance cancer research of the cal trials in humans, which will take highest priority to bring forth new treatment options for another three to four years. SUPPORT BREAKTHROUGH RESEARCH! patients tomorrow. Visit www.bccancerfoundation.com. 12 PARTNERS IN DISCOVERY http://www.bccancerfoundation.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of BC Cancer Foundation - Spring 2016

BC Cancer Foundation - Spring 2016
Opening Thoughts
Contents
Healthy Insights
Why I Give
Researcher Profile
Defying the Odds: New Prostate Cancer
Clinical Trials Advance Cancer Care for All
Malaria Protein Shows Promise
Legacy Giving
Regional Roundup

BC Cancer Foundation - Spring 2016