According to Herald Sun , the drug, VGX-100, which works by cutting blood supply to tumours, may provide the ‘missing link" in the battle to cure cancer.
It could also have fewer side effects than existing treatments and offers hope to cancer patients who don't respond to standard medicines. The drug has been tested on mice with prostate, pancreatic and brain cancers, and human trials could begin as early as next year.
Melbourne-based Circadian Technologies presented its findings at the American Association of Cancer Research annual meeting.
Senior author of the study Megan Baldwin said there was evidence in some cases VGX-100 may work better than existing anti-cancer drug Avastin.. It may also be more effective than Avastin - about half of the 500,000 patients treated with it worldwide did not respond, Baldwin said adding VGX-100 was one of a new breed of biological-based drugs that were more specific and safer to use, causing fewer side effects such as hair loss and ulcers.
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research oncologist Clare
Scott said Avastin combined with chemotherapy was not as good a treatment as
doctors would like it to be.
She said VGX-100 - used with Avastin and
chemotherapy - could be the "missing link" in attacking a tumour's blood supply.
Royal Melbourne Hospital oncologist Jayesh Desai said the find was significant because the drug attacked a different protein from existing treatments.
