TAVARGENIX GmbH
TAVARGENIX GmbH: TKTL1 validated as a new concept for combating aggressive tumors
TAVARGENIX GmbH / Interim Report/Research Update Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Recent publications1,2 from German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) shed new light on the treatment of aggressive tumours The published studies confirm the company’s postulated mechanism how a special form of carbohydrate metabolism leads to radiation- and chemoresistance of tumour cells. Basis of this mechanism is the gene TKTL1 which was discovered by Dr. Johannes F. Coy at the DKFZ. Inhibition of TKTL1 by siRNA and shRNA reduces tumour growth and makes cancer cells again sensitive to radical and apoptosis inducing therapies, like radiation and chemotherapy1,2. Blocking the TKTL1-gene inhibits the so called 'Warburg effect'. Thus, the Warburg effect has been confirmed and successfully exploited for a new treatment of cancer cells. Otto Warburg in 1924 described one principal difference between tumour and normal tissue. Even in the presence of oxygen, the cancer cell is able to degrade glucose to lactate3. This effect, known as Warburg effect or aerobic glycolysis, is nowadays understood as a change of the cancer cell’s metabolism to a mainly glucose derived, but oxygen independent energy metabolism. With the discovery of the enzyme Transketolase-like 1 (TKTL1), one of the key enzymes of the non-oxidative part of the pentose phosphate pathway, it is now possible to understand the biochemical principles of the Warburg effect. This changed energy metabolism, by over-expression of the TKTL1 enzyme, has gained high clinical importance, since most of the cancer patients die because of invasive cancer cells and metastasis. A number of studies have shown that an elevated expression of TKTL1 is a marker for poor survival of cancer patients. This has also been confirmed for tumours in children4. The published studies impressively show that TKTL1 is a new promising target for the treatment of aggressive tumours in adults and children. TAVARGENIX actively works on the generation of small molecules that inhibit the action of TKTL1. 1. Xiaojun Xu, Axel Zur Hausen, Johannes F. Coy, Martin Löchelt 'Transketolase-like protein 1 (TKTL1) is required for rapid cell growth and full viability of human tumor cells' Int. J. Cancer, 124: 1330-1337 (2009) 2. Xiaojun Xuiaojun Xu 'Characterization of the functional role of the transketolase-like 1 (TKTL1) gene for glucose metabolism, cellular growth, and malignant transformation in vitro and in vivo' Doktorarbeit DKFZ (2008) arcarchiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/volltexte/2008/8584/pdf/Thes is.pdf 3. Otto Warburg, Karl Posener, Erwin Negelein 'Über den Stoffwechsel der Carcinomzeller den Stoffwechsel der Carcinomzelle' Biochem. Z., 152: 309-344 (1924) 4. Hue-Tsi Wu, Nafiesa Allie, Landon Myer, Dhirendra Govender 'Anaplastic nephroblastomas express transketolase-like enzyme 1' J. Clin. Pathol., published online 12 Jan 2009 TAVARGENIX is a German biotech company, supported by a grant (BiochancePlus 3) of the German Federal Ministry of Research and Technology (BMBF). TAVARGENIX develops small molecules to selectively inhibit the action of TKTL1. In addition, diagnostic procedures are provided to allow the selection of cancer patients eligible for a therapy with TKTL1 inhibitors and to monitor therapy success. An immuno-histochemical test for tissue sections is already being successfully marketed. Contact: TAVARGENIX GmbH Innovations- und Gründerzentrum für Biotechnologie und -medizin Friedrich-Bergius-Ring 15 97076 Würzburg Germany Subsidiary in Darmstadt: TAVARGENIX GmbH Heidelberger Landstrasse 190 64297 Darmstadt Fon: +49/6151-9505552 Email: info@tavargenix.de Können die integrierten Fußzeilen mit aufgenommen werden? 30.01.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Issuer: TAVARGENIX GmbH Friedreich-Bergius-Ring 15 97076 Würzburg Deutschland Phone: +49 (0)6151 950 55 50 Fax: +49 (0)6151 950 55 51 E-mail: info@tavargenix.de Internet: www.tavergenix.de ISIN: - WKN: - End of News DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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