Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
07/09/2013
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
Genetic study reveals secretion of the parasite protein capable of killing tumors of the pancreas in laboratory
Undergoing preclinical testing, drug development will BNDES financing
RIO-A protein from the saliva of star tick, a parasite common in rural areas of Brazil, has managed to reduce pancreatic tumors grown in the laboratory, one of the most lethal types of cancer in humans.
The study, led by researchers at the Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, was also successful for skin tumors and kidney, even in tests with mice. The product development has yet to undergo additional testing in animals until it can be tested in humans during clinical test call. Even so, is created between the researchers involved, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biophysics Institute, great anticipation for the discovery of a treatment of pancreatic cancer with drugs, something still possible only through surgery. Tumors in the body to kill nearly 100% of the cases in which the knife has to be used.
- The tick saliva possesses toxic to tumor cells, offering no risk to healthy cells - said the study coordinator, Ana Marisa Chudzinski-Tavassi, in a statement released by the institute. - We decided to test both the protein in cell culture of normal and tumor cells in culture. And the surprise was very great, because the protein, visually, did nothing in normal cells but kill tumor cells.
According to the research, animals that underwent a treatment of 180 days in the laboratory did not relapse, medical term for saying that the tumor does not grow back.
Scientists Butantan searched the genome of the tick (Amblyoma cajennense), the same that is able to transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The study, which began in 2003, was initially sponsored by the Foundation and Research of São Paulo (FAPESP) and currently is also funded by the Chemical Pharmaceutical Industry, which owns the patent for the drug and one of the ten largest producers of medicines in the country.
The preclinical tests, to know the reactions of the drug in human biotechnology, will be financed by BNDES, which provided R$ 15.2 million for this phase of the research through its Technology Fund (Funtec).
According to the National Cancer Institute (INCA), pancreatic cancer represents 2% of all types, accounting for more than nine million new cases annually. Of the patients who develop the disease, 75% die within the first year of treatment. Five years after the detection of the tumor, the mortality rate rises to 94%.
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Source: The Globe - Online
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.