Rational Design of Engineered Arginine Depleting Enzymes as Multi-potent Anti-cancer Agents
Three dimensional molecular structure of thermostable Bacillus arginase (BCA). Copyright : PolyU
Arginine deprivation has become a new cancer treatment paradigm and has exploited for treatment of various cancers. Arginine is an essential amino acid for the growth of cancer cells. Deprivation of arginine induces cancer cells death but it is generally well tolerated in normal cells.
The successful use of Arginine Deiminase (ADI) to treat argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS)-deficient tumors has opened up new possibilities for targeted therapy. Nevertheless, many ASSpositive cancers are resistance to ADI.
By rational drug design, researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have developed a thermostable arginase (BCA-PEG20) to treat both ADI-sensitive and ADI-resistant cancers.
BCA-PEG20 has demonstrated to have antitumor activities both in vitro and in vivo in lung cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, cervical cancer and other tumors.
As a novel multipotent anti-cancer drug, BCA-PEG20 is able to work as a single agent and combine with other chemotherapeutic agents to enhance treatment effect.
Special Features
• BCA-PEG20 is safe and effective
• BCA-PEG20 can treat drug-resistant cancers
• BCA-PEG20 can augment the therapeutic effect of other chemotherapeutic agents
Applications
• As a multipotent targeted therapy for cancers that are auxotrophic for arginine
• As a “chemo-enhancer” to augment the effect of other chemotherapeutic agents
Prize of the State of Geneva (April 2009)
• Gold Award with the congratulations of the jury – 37th International Exhibition of I nventions, New Techniques and Products, Geneva (April 2009)
• Finalist Award- SEED Competition, China (2010)
Principal Investigator
Prof. Yun-chung LEUNG and Dr Wai-hung LO
Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Contact Details:
Institute for Entrepreneurship
Tel: (852) 3400 2929 Fax: (852) 2333 2410 Email: pdadmin@polyu.edu.hk
Associated links
Media Contact
More Information:
http://www.researchsea.comAll latest news from the category: Life Sciences and Chemistry
Articles and reports from the Life Sciences and chemistry area deal with applied and basic research into modern biology, chemistry and human medicine.
Valuable information can be found on a range of life sciences fields including bacteriology, biochemistry, bionics, bioinformatics, biophysics, biotechnology, genetics, geobotany, human biology, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, cellular biology, zoology, bioinorganic chemistry, microchemistry and environmental chemistry.
Newest articles
Webb captures top of iconic horsehead nebula in unprecedented detail
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured the sharpest infrared images to date of a zoomed-in portion of one of the most distinctive objects in our skies, the Horsehead Nebula….
Cost-effective, high-capacity, and cyclable lithium-ion battery cathodes
Charge-recharge cycling of lithium-superrich iron oxide, a cost-effective and high-capacity cathode for new-generation lithium-ion batteries, can be greatly improved by doping with readily available mineral elements. The energy capacity and…
Novel genetic plant regeneration approach
…without the application of phytohormones. Researchers develop a novel plant regeneration approach by modulating the expression of genes that control plant cell differentiation. For ages now, plants have been the…
