Vitro Diagnostics' novel stem cell technology for cancer treatment

Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. (OTCBB:VODG), dba Vitro Biopharma, announced advances in its adult stem cell products and technology with application to cell-based therapy of cancer. With the passing of Senator Edward Kennedy from brain cancer, we are reminded of such aggressive cancers without effective treatment.

Cancer stem cells are thought to generate cancerous tumors, and while some of these tumor cells are destroyed by chemotherapy and radiation, cancer stem cells resist these treatments causing recurrences and metastasis of cancer following standard therapy. For example, glioblastoma tumors underlying Senator Kennedy’s brain cancer may arise from cancer stem cells that resist conventional treatments. Additional research shows that certain adult stem cells migrate to cancer stem cells and may be used to carry toxic agents to selectively eradicate cancer stem cells thereby providing novel cellular therapy specifically targeted to cancer-causing cells. Further development of Vitro’s stem cell therapy may allow treatment of presently untreatable cancer and also have more widespread applications to prevention and treatment of cancer.

Vitro’s proprietary stem cell technology and products, now subject to pending patent protection, may lead to novel cell therapy for cancer. The Company is pursuing suitable strategic partners to commercialize these novel therapeutic products. Furthermore, the Company has also commercialized various modified stem cell lines and related products to support cancer stem cell research including the development of new methods to target the selective eradication of cancer stem cells, which is essential to therapeutic efficacy. These products and other tools for use in stem cell research are now commercially available.

The hedge hog pathway drives the proliferation of cancer stem cells and has been a target for drug development for sometime, based on earlier work with the plant-derived substance, cyclopamine, a specific blocking agent of the hedge hog pathway. Novel hedge hog drugs have been developed by several pharmaceutical companies and new reports are showing effectiveness in treating cancer. Hedge hog blocking drugs are known to kill cancer stem cells and this mechanism may underlie their effectiveness in cancer treatment. Vitro’s novel stem cell mediated cancer therapy complements hedge hog drugs by targeted destruction of cancer stem cells.

Dr. Rice, a member of Vitro’s SAB and a University of Colorado cancer researcher said, “Cellular-mediated destruction of cancer stem cells represents a promising new avenue for the development of effective treatments that specifically target cancer stem cells. Vitro has developed an exciting portfolio of products to advance research in this field, which is one of the few approaches to show promise against intractable cancers such as most forms of brain cancer. Additionally, Vitro’s patent pending technology for cancer therapy represents an exciting and novel approach to the selective eradication of cancer stem cells that could usher in new promise in the fight against cancer.”

http://www.vitrobiopharma.com