TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2017 / Theralase Technologies Inc. ("Theralase®" or the "Company") (TSX-V: TLT) (OTCQX: TLTFF), a leading biotechnology company focused on the commercialization of medical devices to eliminate pain and the development of Photo Dynamic Compounds ("PDCs") to destroy cancer is pleased to announce that its lead compound, TLD-1433, combined with transferrin to form Rutherrin®, has been demonstrated to localize to and destroy various forms of lung cancer, when laser light activated, in an in-vitro and in an in-vivo animal model.
Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women. Out of all lung cancers, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer ("NSCLC") accounts for more than 85% of all lung cancers.
In 2016, an estimated 20,800 Canadians died from lung cancer, representing 26% of all cancer deaths, while an estimated 158,080 Americans died, representing 27% of all cancer deaths.
Current standard treatment for NSCLC is surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy, with an efficacy rate ranging between 15 to 30%.
A majority of all cancers demonstrate an upregulation of the transferrin receptor ("Tf-R"), as malignant cells require an abundance of iron (Fe3+) for proliferation; thus, the prevalence of the Tf-R has been directly correlated to increasing tumor: grade, stage, progression, and metastasis.
TLD-1433, in combination with transferrin (Rutherrin®) has been shown to selectively accumulate in cancerous tumors versus healthy tissue, due to localization through the Tf-R.
Each type of NSCLC has different kinds of cancer cells. The cancer cells of each type grow and spread in different ways. The types of NSCLC are named for the kinds of cells found in cancer and how the cells look under a microscope:
- Squamous cell carcinoma: Cancer that begins in squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells that look like fish scales, also called epidermoid carcinoma.
- Large cell carcinoma: Cancer that may begin in several types of large cells.
- Adenocarcinoma: Cancer that begins in the cells that line the alveoli and produce substances such as mucus.
In preclinical experiments conducted by the team of Kazuhiro Yasufuku MD, PhD, Director of Endoscopy and the Director of Interventional Thoracic Surgery Program in the Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network ("UHN"), as well as an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Toronto, an evaluation of the TfR by flow cytometric analysis in three human cancer cell lines; specifically: H2170 (lung squamous cell carcinoma), H460 (large cell lung cancer carcinoma) and A549 (lung adeno carcinoma) showed almost 100% of lung cancer cells express the TfR.
In-vitro cell kills data for human cancer cell line H2170, H460 and A549 demonstrates that at a low concentration of the drug Rutherrin® (500 µM) complete destruction of all three human cancer lines was achieved.
To view the graphic, please click here.
In a subcutaneous in-vivo tumor model, light activation after injection of Rutherrin® significantly inhibited the tumor growth and histopathology demonstrated extensive necrosis, which was confirmed with lowered Ki67 staining.
The pre-clinical in-vitro and in-vivo data demonstrates that Rutherrin® based therapy may be highly effective in the selective destruction of lung cancer tumors, with no impact to healthy tissue.
In an orthotopic tumor animal model, human tumor cells were used to induce lung tumors in Rag2KO mice. Once tumor presence was confirmed by Computed Tomography ("CT") scanning, the mice were injected intravenously with Rutherrin®. At 4 hours, post injection, samples were collected for Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry ("ICP-MS") analysis, a very precise way to measure TLD-1433 concentrations in tissue.
Dr. Yasufuku stated that "Results indicate that the lung lobe exhibiting the tumor absorbed approximately 3.2x more TLD-1433 than the contralateral normal lung. These results support the hypothesis that safety and efficacy of PDT therapy will be enhanced due to improved localization to lung tumors versus healthy lung tissue and the selective irradiation of the cancer lesions by strategic placement of the laser light source. The selectivity data also suggests that when an efficacious level of Rutherrin® is delivered and then light activated, a high kill rate of lung cancer may be achieved in patients. This hypothesis will be tested in future preclinical work using orthotopic animal models and if successful, then tested clinically in a Phase Ib human NSCLC clinical trial."
Roger Dumoulin-White, President, and CEO of Theralase stated that "The Company is delighted in the preclinical work that Dr. Yasufuku and his team have completed. The quality of this research lays the ground work for further preclinical experiments and if proven successful the commencement of a Phase Ib clinical study for NSCLC, the leading cause of cancer-related death."
About Theralase Technologies Inc.
Theralase Technologies Inc. ("Theralase®" or the "Company") (TSX-V: TLT) (OTCQX: TLTFF) in its Therapeutic Laser Technology ("TLT") Division designs, manufactures, markets and distributes patented super-pulsed laser technology indicated for the treatment of chronic knee pain, and in off-label use, the elimination of pain, reduction of inflammation and dramatic acceleration of tissue healing for numerous nerve, muscle and joint conditions. Theralase's Photo Dynamic Therapy ("PDT") Division researches and develops specially designed molecules called Photo Dynamic Compounds ("PDCs"), which localize to cancer cells and then when laser light activated, effectively destroy them.
Additional information is available at www.theralase.com and www.sedar.com.
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For More Information:
Roger Dumoulin-White
President & CEO
1.866.THE.LASE (843-5273) ext. 225
416.699.LASE (5273) ext. 225
[email protected]
www.theralase.com
SOURCE: Theralase Technologies Inc.