Scientists at UCLA and Human Genome Sciences report discovery of two human proteins, METH-1 and METH-2, that inhibit blood vessel formation
More potent than endostatin, with potential for treating a range of cancer tumors
A team of scientists working at UCLA and Human Genome Sciences (NASDAQ: HGSI) discovered two human proteins that inhibit the formation of new blood vessels and have potential for treating cancer through suppression of tumor growth.
The two proteins, named METH-1 and METH-2, were shown to be much more active than endostatin in preventing blood vessel formation and may have applications in creating treatments for a broad range of tumor types.
The discovery of these two proteins and their anti-angiogenic activity is described in the August 13, 1999 issue of Journal of Biological Chemistry. The paper may be accessed at http://www.jbc.org .
The team, led by UCLA molecular biologist Luisa Iruela-Arispe, found that both METH-1 and METH-2 inhibited blood vessel formation in two standard biological model systems, the cornea pocket model and the chorioallontoic membrane model.
The ability of METH-1 and METH-2 to inhibit new blood vessel formation in the cornea pocket model was compared to that of both endostatin and thrombospondin, two other human proteins. The study showed that METH-1 was most potent in inhibiting blood vessel growth, followed by thrombospondin and endostatin.
A solid tumor cannot grow beyond the size of a pinhead unless it has an
independent blood supply to deliver the oxygen and nutrients that the malignancy
needs to advance and spread. To feed itself, a tumor develops its own blood
supply, a process called angiogenesis. Researchers hope anti-angiogenic drugs
can interrupt that process, thereby cutting off the blood supply to the tumor
and, hopefully, killing it.
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Contact: Kate de Santis
kate_de_santis@hgsi.com
301-251-6003
Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
5-Aug-1999