For Release at 5:00pm EST February 26, 2001

  ANTICANCER, INC., DEVELOPS WHOLE-BODY IMAGING OF TUMOR ANGIOGENESIS 

AntiCancer, Inc., scientists announced today that they have developed a new technology that enables angiogenesis, or blood vessel formation, in tumors to be non-invasively imaged in mouse models of cancer.  The technology involves genetically engineering tumor cells to become highly fluorescent by expressing the jellyfish green fluorescent protein (GFP).  When the genetically fluorescent tumors are transplanted to appropriate mouse models, the tumor blood vessels, which originate from the host animals, are readily quantitatively whole-body imaged by their stark contrast to the fluorescent tumors.  The mice are not perturbed in the imaging process – only a blue light is shined on them causing the tumors to glow a bright green with the blood vessels appearing black.  The fluorescent tumor models can then be used for drug discovery and evaluation in the worldwide effort to find drugs that are effective against tumor blood vessel formation.  Attacking tumor angiogenesis, is thought to be one of the most promising targets to arrest and reverse metastatic tumor growth.  AntiCancer’s new angiogenesis model is described in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA.

  Dr. Shigeo Yagi, General Manager of AntiCancer, said “With AntiCancer’s new development, there is, for the first time, a relevant and useful animal model of tumor angiogenesis.  Tumor angiogenesis can now be followed non-invasively in real time by whole-body imaging.  This should now enable efficient drug discovery in this critical process of tumor growth and metastasis.” AntiCancer is currently utilizing its unique animal models of cancer to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide to discover and develop effective drugs for cancer.

  AntiCancer, based in San Diego, has also developed whole-body fluorescent imaging technology to visualize tumor growth and metastasis non-invasively in mouse models.  The company in addition is developing genetically-engineered cancer drugs; gene therapy for cancer and hair loss; as well as genetically-engineered diagnostics of cancer and cardiovascular disease through its A/C Diagnostics subsidiary.  AntiCancer has 40 employees.

Yang, M., Baranov, E., Li, X-M., Wang, J-W., Jiang, P., Li, L., Moossa, A.R., Penman, S., Hoffman, R.M.  Whole‑body and intravital optical imaging of angiogenesis in orthotopically implanted tumors.  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 2616-2621, 2001.