TAVARGENIX GmbH
TAVARGENIX GmbH: Inhibition of sugar metabolism in cancer cells as target for cancer therapy confirmed by researchers from Johns Hopkins University
TAVARGENIX GmbH / Interim Report/Statement 21.12.2009 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Long time assumed epigenetic alterations in the methylation of promotors have now been proven to be the cause for the activation of proto-oncogenes in cancer cells. The research group of Joseph Pelicano has now identified the Transketolase-like 1 (TKTL1) gene, by direct demethylation, as a strongly activated gene in cancer cells. Transketolases control the non-oxidative sugar metabolism in cancer cells. The key role of the TKTL1 gene for cancer cells has been confirmed by activating as well as inhibiting the TKTL1 gene. Expression of TKTL1 in cancer cells with a low or absent expression of TKTL1 led to a significant enhanced growth, whereas inhibition of TKTL1 in cancer cells with high TKTL1 activity led to a dramatic decrease in size and number of tumor-colonies. The data demonstrate that the TKTL1 gene represents a suitable target for the therapy of cancer. An international research group around Natalie Serkova furthermore showed that activation of sugar metabolism in leukemia plays an important role. Therapy with tyrosinekinase inhibitor Imatinib (tradename Glivec) is one of the most important breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer during the last years, since most of chronic myelogenous leukemia patients (CML) getting Imatinib are still alive even 5 years after onset of the disease. Problems arise especially due to the development of resistance against the treatment with this drug. Those cancer cells that have developed resistance against Imatinib show an increase in sugar (glucose) uptake and an enhanced lactic acid production. The shift in energy production from an oxidation to a fermentation of sugar to lactic acid (Warburg effect) can be used for the early detection of Imatinib resistance. Furthermore the inhibition of sugar fermentation could be a useful therapy to counteract Imatinib resistance. Integrative Discovery of Epigenetically Derepressed Cancer Testis Antigens in NSCLC PLoS ONE, Dec 2009 4(12): e8189 Coordinated activation of candidate proto-oncogenes and cancer testes antigens via promoter demethylation in head and neck cancer and lung cancer PLoS One, Jan 2009; 4(3): e4961 Abnormalities in Glucose Uptake and Metabolism in Imatinib-Resistant Human BCR-ABL-Positive Cells Clin. Cancer Res., May 2009; 15: 3442-3450 TAVARGENIX GmbH - Headquarter Innovations- und Gruenderzentrum fuer Biotechnologie und -medizin Friedrich-Bergius-Ring 15 97076 Wuerzburg GERMANY - Subsidiary Darmstadt Heidelberger Landstrasse 190 64297 Darmstadt GERMANY Phone: +49/6151-950 55 50 info@tavargenix.de www.tavargenix.de 21.12.2009 Ad hoc announcement, Financial News and Media Release distributed by DGAP. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: 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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