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New drug protects against side effects of chemotherapy

Date:
January 22, 2013
Source:
Linköping Universitet
Summary:
A drug developed in Sweden protects against the side effects of cancer treatments while strengthening the effects on the tumor. An international drug evaluation is now starting up on a larger group of patients.
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A drug developed at Linköping University in Sweden protects against the side effects of cancer treatments while strengthening the effects on the tumour. An international drug evaluation is now starting up on a larger group of patients.

The results of the studies with the compound, known as calmangafodipir, were published in the latest issue of the cancer journal Translational Oncology with Professor Rolf G. G. Andersson as the main author.

The research was initiated on a substance called mangafodipir, which was used as a contrast media in magnetic resonance scans. But pharmacologists at LiU discovered that it also protected healthy cells in connection with cancer treatments.

"We found that the substance could affect the formation of oxygen radicals, which are a cause of side effects in chemotherapy," says Professor Andersson.

For example, the number of white blood cells decreases drastically in almost all the patients, which opens the door to infections that could even be fatal.

The researchers began with cell tests, and then went on to mice infected with cancer cells. The mice were treated with chemotherapy and were administered mangafodipir at the same time. Tumour formation decreased while white blood cells were protected.

One problem was that a large portion of the manganese in the substance was released; as a consequence, the positive effect subsided. The free manganese can also be poisonous and cause brain damage.

"We remade the substance and replaced a lot of the manganese with calcium. This yielded a more stable complex, which turned out to be even better at protecting cells, thereby increasing the anti-cancer effect," says Professor Andersson.

The effect of mangafodipir was confirmed in a smaller study on patients with colon cancer, which was published in Translational Oncology in February 2012.

Jan Olof G. Karlsson is a senior lecturer at Linköping University and a senior researcher at PledPharma AB who is developing the drug, which will be marketed under the brand name PledOx®. An international Phase 2 study, involving patients with cancer of the large intestine, has recently been initiated. The results are expected at the end of the year.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Linköping Universitet. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Jan Olof G. Karlsson, Tino Kurz, Susanne Flechsig, Jacques Näsström and Rolf G.G. Andersson. Superior Therapeutic Index of Calmangafodipir in Comparison to Mangafodipir as a Chemotherapy Adjunct. Translational Oncology, 2012; 5: 492-502 DOI: 10.1593/tlo.12238

Cite This Page:

Linköping Universitet. "New drug protects against side effects of chemotherapy." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 22 January 2013. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130122101632.htm>.
Linköping Universitet. (2013, January 22). New drug protects against side effects of chemotherapy. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130122101632.htm
Linköping Universitet. "New drug protects against side effects of chemotherapy." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130122101632.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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