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Department Of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology And Massey Cancer Center Researchers Make Promising Advance In Breast Cancer
Two new drugs, when combined, killed up to 75 percent of breast cancer tumor cells in mice and suppressed the
regrowth of tumors, according to Massey researchers. The findings, published recently in Cancer Biology and Therapy,
may also have implications for prostate cancer, lymphoma, myeloma and other hematologic cancers. Paul Dent, PhD,
associate professor of biochemistry and radiation oncology, led the team that combined two novel drugs, UCN-01 and a
MEK 1/2 inhibitor, which are known to inhibit protein kinases, part of tumor survival signaling pathways. “In
addition to potently inhibiting cells and suppressing tumor growth, these drugs are also part of a modern class of
drugs that are less toxic to non-cancerous cells,” said Dent. “We are eager to move these exciting findings from the
labs to patients.” When studied separately, the drugs killed only a small percentage of the cells to which they were
exposed. Combined, however, the result was quite startling. “Within five days, we saw profound tumor cell death,”
Dent said. “Three researchers in the group operated the same studies independently, and they all saw very similar
results.” Dent holds the Universal Corp. Distinguished Professorship in Cancer Cell Signaling.
The first author on the paper was William Hawkins, MS, a VCU research specialist with appointments in biochemistry
and anatomy and neurobiology. To view the abstract and access the full study, visit, www.landesbioscience.com/journals/cbt/abstract.php?id=2286.
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Site Update July 20, 2008, Responsible Unit - Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, biochemgrad@mail.vcu.edu
Virginia Commonwealth University,
VCU School of Medicine
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