Introgen Therapeutics Inc announced the publication of preclinical research which suggests INGN 241, its mda-7 therapeutic, can be effectively combined with radiation therapy and shows promise as a possible treatment for lung cancer. INGN 241 is also being evaluated in phase 2 clinical testing for solid tumors.

"This study suggests that we can effectively and safely combine INGN 241 with a conventional agent such as radiotherapy to achieve a therapeutic effect in lung cancer," said Sunil Chada, Introgen's director of research and development. "Studies are ongoing to evaluate INGN 241 as a single agent, and Introgen looks forward to testing the combination therapy in lung and other types of cancers."

In the study, Introgen investigated the efficacy of INGN 241 treatment delivered intratumorally combined with radiation in lung cancer tumors in mice. Significant and long-lasting inhibition of tumor growth was observed after the combination treatment. Consistent with preclinical studies, the combination-treated tumors showed elevated apoptosis (cell death) and exhibited a loss of blood supply compared to tumors in control mice. Additional tests suggested that the radiosensitizing effect of INGN 241 is due to secreted MDA-7 protein (released from INGN 241 treated cells) causing death of the tumor blood supply, thereby starving the tumor of nutrients. Importantly, no toxicities were observed in the mice treated with the combination therapy.

Introgen's previous preclinical trials demonstrated that therapy with the mda-7 gene may work effectively as a radiation sensitizer to make several types of human cancer cells more susceptible to the anti-cancer effect of radiation therapy.

The mda-7 gene was discovered by the laboratory of Dr. Paul B. Fisher, professor of clinical pathology and the Michael and Stella Chernow Urological Cancer Research Scientist in the Departments of Neurological Surgery, Pathology and Urology at Columbia University. Introgen holds an exclusive worldwide license for all gene therapy applications from the Corixa Corporation.