A new experimental anti-cancer compound significantly reduced the average tumor weight of pancreatic cancers and ovarian cancers in preliminary studies, based on data released by Propanc Health Group Corporation.
In the studies, mice inoculated with tumor cells were treated with injections of PRP, a combination of two proenzymes, trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen.
In a pancreatic cancer study, tumors treated with PRP showed 86 percent inhibition compared with controls at 26 days after treatment. In a separate ovarian cancer study, researchers observed significant reductions in average tumor weight of 54 percent and 48 percent at the highest and lowest effective PRP doses, respectively. Furthermore, several mice in treatment groups of two different dosages appeared to have no tumors on final examination.
Based on the findings, Propanc, an emerging health care company, has filed a patent to specify the target effective dose range in preparation for human studies. Propanc’s research team focuses on developing new and proprietary treatment for colorectal, pancreatic and ovarian cancers.
“We are thrilled with the results and believe it now paves the way for scientific advice meetings with regulatory agencies to determine the development pathway for human studies,” Propanc CEO James Nathanielsz said in a statement. “As a result of achieving this significant milestone, we are convinced PRP, which is a combination of two proenzymes, trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen, could become a breakthrough treatment in the fight against aggressive tumors like pancreatic and ovarian cancers,” he added.
The early results are “conclusive that PRP is effective in these tumor models,” Dr. Julian Kenyon, Propanc’s chief scientific officer, noted. “What is seen more interesting is that it appears that tumor models with immune functioning mice show markedly increased inhibitory effects, which could possibly be attributed to the immunobiological effects of PRP, basically enhancing the immune response to assist with tumor regression,” he said. “As a result of this fine work undertaken with our pre-clinical research partners, we have identified an efficacious dose range, which we can now use to target in human studies.”
Propanc is a publicly traded company based in Australia, and has recently raised $4 million to support its research efforts.
