For Release at 6:00am EST June 30, 2003

 

NEWS – NEWS – NEWS

 

NEW MULTI-MODALITY IMAGING TECHNOLOGY FOR CANCER DRUG DISCOVERY DEVELOPED BY ANTICANCER, INC. AND ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE

 

AntiCancer, Inc., and Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY, announced a collaboration to develop multi-modality, non-invasive imaging in small animal models of human cancer. AntiCancer, Inc., and Roswell Park Cancer Institute have just published a new study on a state-of-the-art high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system specifically designed for mice with metastatic cancer.  The MRI system demonstrated anti-metastatic activity of an experimental cancer agent.  The study is published in the latest issue of Cancer Research.

 

The new drug inhibited growth of liver metastases as visualized in real time by MRI. The new drug was found to exhibit superior efficacy compared with standard treatment and increased the life span of the treated animals.

 

AntiCancer, Inc., and Roswell Park Cancer Institute will now offer dual-modality imaging using both MRI and AntiCancer’s proprietary fluorescence imaging based on engineering tumor cells with jellyfish- and coral-derived fluorescent proteins that can be visualized noninvasively from outside the body.  “This powerful approach of using both MRI and fluorescence imaging should allow the high-throughput screening and evaluation of candidate cancer drugs in vivo heretofore not possible,” said Dr. Shigeo Yagi, Vice President of AntiCancer.  “It is expected that this collaboration will generate many new novel candidate cancer drugs in the near future,” Dr. Yagi added.

 

AntiCancer, founded in 1984 and based in San Diego, is also developing new drugs for cancer based on genetic engineering, targeting cancer specific metabolic defects.  The company is also developing diagnostics for cancer and other diseases as well as gene therapy of cancer and other diseases.

 

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation's first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York.  For more information, visit RPCI's website at www.roswellpark.org.

 

For more information, contact Charlene M. Cooper.

Fax: (858) 268-4175, E-mail:  all@anticancer.com,

www.anticancer.com