Advanced Viral Research Corp. announced that its consultant and spokesperson James D'Olimpio presented preclinical data on AVR118, at the 1st ISC (International Society of Chemotherapy) – Molecular Targets, Pharmacology and Clinical Applications in Florence, Italy. Dr D'Olimpio exhibited a poster presentation on the "Use of a Peptide Nucleic Acid Complex in Cancer Regulation and Metastasis: A Preliminary Report of Bi-Modal Effects in Vitro."
The presentation showed the results of preclinical research conducted by Drs Shalom Hirschman, Maribel de Diego and Sharon Malia in collaboration with Dr D'Olimpio on the flagship product, AVR118. The objectives of the studies were to determine the in vitro biologic effects of AVR118 in two separate experimental cancer systems: 1) a differentiation model (leukemia cells) and 2) a metastasis model (invasive breast cancer cells).
"We are very encouraged by the data presented by Dr D'Olimpio. Not only does the research show application for AVR118 in additional indications, but it helps us better understand the potential role of the product in cancer therapeutics," said Dr Elma Hawkins, CEO of ADVR.
The poster presentation showed that AVR118 exhibits two distinct anti-cancer effects: one, in its ability to induce maturation of malignant leukemic cells; and the other in its ability to inhibit metastasis and invasion of a highly malignant breast cancer cell line.
ADVR has previously reported that when undifferentiated HL60 leukemia cells are cultured in the presence of AVR118 not only is growth of the cells inhibited but cell differentiation is induced as measured by expression of mature cell surface markers CD14 and CD35. Additional signals stimulating mRNA directed synthesis of MNP9 and TIMP-1, important in regulation of cell migration, invasion and metastasis were also discovered which lead to the second series of experiments involving breast cancer.
It is known that the highly malignant breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 expresses mRNA that codes for two cell surface receptors CXCR4 and CCR5. These receptors are responsible in part for causing breast cancer to metastasize (spread) to other organs such as the liver and lung. When AVR118 is added to these cells in increasing concentration, and then placed in a biologically active gel matrix that mimics a living organ, they are prevented from invading into the gel and spreading through it. This effect is not seen when AVR118 is not present, hence a separate and distinct mode of action appears to be inherent in AVR118 spectrum of biologic activity.