Dr. Monica L. Guzman

It's mechanism of action is to boost the cancer cell's reactive oxygen species -- which is like pushing the stress level of the cell over the edge -- to the point where the cell can no long protect itself and dies, said Monica L. Guzman, Ph.D., the lead researcher on the DMAPT project and a senior instructor at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Leukemia is different from most cancers and particularly hard to eradicate because leukemia stem cells lie dormant.Standard cancer treatments are designed to seek out actively dividing cells.But in studies so far, DMAPT can kill both dormant cells and cells that are busy dividing, Guzman said

Rochester investigators looked at whether DMAPT could eliminate leukemia in donated human cells, and in mice and dogs.In all cases, DMAPT induced rapid death of AML stem and progenitor cells, without harming healthy blood cells.

DMAPT also has shown potential as a treatment for breast and prostate cancer, melanoma, and multiple myeloma, Guzman said, although those studies have only been conducted in cell cultures to date.

"Once we begin seeing evidence from the clinical trials, it will give us more insight into the pharmacological properties of DMAPT and it will be easier to figure out its potential for other cancers," Guzman said.

In addition to the studies of DMAPT, Guzman and Jordan also reported in the same issue of Blood on another new type of leukemia drug known as TDZD-8.

It's mechanism of action is to boost the cancer cell's reactive oxygen species - which is like pushing the stress level of the cell over the edge - to the point where the cell can no long protect itself and dies, said Monica L. Guzman, Ph.D., the lead researcher on the DMAPT project and a senior instructor at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Leukemia is different from most cancers and particularly hard to eradicate because leukemia stem cells lie dormant.Standard cancer treatments are designed to seek out actively dividing cells.But in studies so far, DMAPT can kill both dormant cells and cells that are busy dividing, Guzman said

Rochester investigators looked at whether DMAPT could eliminate leukemia in donated human cells, and in mice and dogs.In all cases, DMAPT induced rapid death of AML stem and progenitor cells, without harming healthy blood cells.

DMAPT also has shown potential as a treatment for breast and prostate cancer, melanoma, and multiple myeloma, Guzman said, although those studies have only been conducted in cell cultures to date.

"Once we begin seeing evidence from the clinical trials, it will give us more insight into the pharmacological properties of DMAPT and it will be easier to figure out its potential for other cancers," Guzman said.

In addition to the studies of DMAPT, Guzman and Jordan also reported in the same issue of Blood on another new type of leukemia drug known as TDZD-8.

Encouraging examples of this strategy's promise have been demonstrated by Craig T. Jordan and Monica L. Guzman of the University of Rochester.

Monica L Guzman, PhD, the lead researcher on the DMAPT project, commented: "Once we begin seeing evidence from the clinical trials, it will give us more insight into the pharmacological properties of DMAPT and it will be easier to figure out its potential for other cancers."

News provided by Adfero in collaboration with Cancer Research UK.

It's mechanism of action is to boost the cancer cell's reactive oxygen species -- which is like pushing the stress level of the cell over the edge -- to the point where the cell can no long protect itself and dies, said Monica L. Guzman, Ph.D., the lead researcher on the DMAPT project and a senior instructor at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Leukemia is different from most cancers and particularly hard to eradicate because leukemia stem cells lie dormant.Standard cancer treatments are designed to seek out actively dividing cells.But in studies so far, DMAPT can kill both dormant cells and cells that are busy dividing, Guzman said

Rochester investigators looked at whether DMAPT could eliminate leukemia in donated human cells, and in mice and dogs.In all cases, DMAPT induced rapid death of AML stem and progenitor cells, without harming healthy blood cells.

DMAPT also has shown potential as a treatment for breast and prostate cancer, melanoma, and multiple myeloma, Guzman said, although those studies have only been conducted in cell cultures to date.

"Once we begin seeing evidence from the clinical trials, it will give us more insight into the pharmacological properties of DMAPT and it will be easier to figure out its potential for other cancers," Guzman said.

In addition to the studies of DMAPT, Guzman and Jordan also reported in the same issue of Blood on another new type of leukemia drug known as TDZD-8.

"Now we're going back, trying to discover, find out why they worked," says Dr. Monica Guzman at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Guzman is part of team that is currently investigating a compound in found in a common garden flower.Parthenolide is a compound from "Bachelor Button" or "Feverfew" flowers, a derivative of the daisy.Parthenolide is also the source of an agent that kills myeloid leukemia stem cells like no other single therapy.

"Parthenolide has the ability of blocking the survival factor," says Guzman who is also lead author the new study published in the online edition of the medical journal, Blood.

Parthenolide fights leukemia stem cells, destroying them at the root.Currently, the most aggressive treatment for leukemia is a relatively new drug called "Gleevec".However, unlike the compound parthenolide, "Gleevec" does not reach the stem cells.

"But the normal cells are not going to die," says Guzman.

Bachelor Buttons or Feverfew has been cultivated for hundreds of years for their healing powers.

"Over the centuries, it's been used to treat migraines, inflammation and other problems related to that," says Guzman.

Bachelor Button compounds are found in teas and vitamins, however, this latest discovery is more potent in form and will be developed into an easily digestible pill.

"We're hoping for a therapy that might lessen the side effects," says Guzman.

The University of Rochester is working with the University of Kentucky on the project.The National Cancer Institute has placed the drug's research on a "rapid access" program.Human clinical trials could begin as early as next year.

"If we can identify these little compounds that make these herbs work," says Guzman, "maybe we can use this to our benefit instead of trying to create new things."

Craig T. Jordan and Monica L. Guzman of the University of Rochester.
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Encouraging examples of this strategy's promise have been demonstrated by Craig T. Jordan and Monica L. Guzman of the University of Rochester.