Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. and its collaborators at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will present preclinical data further defining the mechanisms of action by which mda-7/IL-24, the active component of INGN 241, regulates the migration and death of lung cancer cells. The data are discussed in two poster presentations at the 12th International Conference on Gene Therapy of Cancer, which is being held in San Diego.

"Extensive study of MDA-7/IL-24 protein reveals multiple functions that may have utility in the treatment of a variety of cancers," said Dr Sunil Chada, PhD, Introgen's director of R&D. "The data presented advance our understanding of the mechanisms through which this protein induces the self-destruction of lung cancer cells and limits the ability of these cells to migrate to other sites. A major obstacle in combating cancer is the ability of cancer cells to migrate or metastasize around the body. We show in this study that in addition to killing cancer cells, INGN 241 also blocks their migration and therefore their ability to metastasize. We are very excited about the multiple mechanisms through which mda-7/IL-24 gene expression can kill or limit the growth of cancer cells."

Dr Rajagopal Ramesh, assistant professor in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at MD Anderson will present the study titled "Ectopic production of MDA-7/IL-24 inhibits invasion and migration of human lung cancer cells." In this study an adenoviral vector was used to deliver the mda-7/IL-24 gene (Ad-mda7) to cultured lung cancer cell lines. Cells treated with Ad-mda7 migrated and invaded less than cells treated with saline or a control gene. Ad-mda-7 treatment also caused a marked decrease in the expression of genes known to control cell adhesion and migration. Tumour cells treated with Ad-mda7 formed significantly fewer tumours compared to controls in a model of lung cancer metastasis. Introgen's formulation of Ad-mda7 may be able to inhibit the growth and metastasis of lung cancer tumours and, potentially, other types of tumours as well.

Dr Chada will present a second study titled “The tumour suppressor activity of MDA-7/IL-24 is mediated by intracellular protein expression in NSCLC.” This study investigated how Ad-mda7 kills lung tumour cells and discovered that MDA-7 protein activates a previously unrecognized mechanism within tumour cells to initiate apoptosis (programmed cell death). These results underscore the broad applicability of mda-7 gene therapeutics.

"We will incorporate the results of these studies, and data from our ongoing clinical trials of INGN 241 in a variety of solid tumours, to develop and evaluate treatment regimens that have the greatest potential to improve the lives of cancer patients. More than 170,000 cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed this year, and the average five-year survival for patients with lung cancer is only 15 percent. There is a clear need for new therapies to treat lung cancer, and we believe that the results presented today add to the growing body of data supporting INGN 241 as a promising and novel approach to treating this disease," said Dr Chada

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 discovered the mda-7 gene. Introgen holds an exclusive worldwide license to the mda-7 gene.