Prevention of Cancer by increased Blood Flow

 

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                                 January 14, 1991

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                   Prevention of Cancer by increased Blood Flow

       The first detailed  analysis  of an organ-forming protein, a natural

       chemical that induces the body to  sprout  blood vessels, could open

       new approaches to fighting cancer, heart disease and other ailments,

       researchers say.

       The protein, named  angiogenin,  was  discovered   and   studied  by

       researchers at Harvard  Medical School, who published their findings

       in the latest issue of the journal Biochemistry.  They also isolated

       the gene that oversees production of the protein.

       "It is the first time that a specific substance has been clearly

       related to the creation of a type  of organ," said Dr. Hans Neurath,

       editor of Biochemistry. "That is really a first."

       Cancers secrete angiogenin   --   and   probably   other,   similar,

       substances -- to  promote  the  growth  of tiny blood vessels called

       capillaries. This provides the blood supply that allows the tumor to

       enlarge and eventually spread.

       Some experts theorize that if some way could be found to block

       angiogenin and its chemical cousins, then cancers could be stopped.

       "I would fondly hope that this will  prove  possible," said Dr. Bert

       L.  Vallee, who  directed  the  research.  "I  think   this   should

       facilitate it."

       Experts say the work represents a major step in the study of

       angiogenesis, or blood vessel formation, which was pioneered two

       decades ago by Dr. Judah Folkman, another Harvard researcher.

       "It's a stunning achievement," Folkman said. "I think it's very

       important for the  whole  field,  because it will enlarge everyone's

       thinking about how tumors send the  signal  to  keep  blood  vessels

       growing in toward them."

       Dr. James F. Riordan, another member of the research team, said one

       logical cancer strategy  will be to try to produce  antibodies  that

       will neutralize angiogenin.

       The researchers said they were surprised to find that angiogenin

       holds about a 35 percent similarity to another well-known enzyme

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       called ribonuclease. This,  too,  could be turned to their advantage

       in finding ways to defeat the protein.

       Comparing angiogenin to ribonuclease  "gives  us  a  clue  as to its

       three- dimensional structure,"  Riordan  said.   "If  you  know  the

       structure, you can  try  to design drugs that will specifically bind

       to the protein" and deactivate it.

       The blood vessel growth promoters  also  probably  play  a  role  in

       diseases besides cancer. For instance, experts believe that they are

       responsible for the  proliferation of blood vessels  that  leads  to

       blindness in victims of diabetes as well as the overabundance

       of capillaries in rheumatoid arthritis.

       Neurath said it may be possible to use the substance to promote the

       growth of new blood vessels in victims of heart disease.

       Vallee said much more work remains to understand the workings of the

       gene and the chemical it produces.

       "What turns it  on?"  he  said.  "What turns it off? How is it made?

       How is it excreted? It is enough to keep people busy a long time."

       The scientists derived angiogenin  from  a  human  colon  cancer and

       showed that it would promote capillary growth in  chicken  eggs  and

       rabbits.

       Normal tissues also produce similar hormones. They are part of the

       female menstrual cycle and fetal growth in the womb, and they are

       released to repair wounds and heart attacks.

       Folkman said the   angiogenesis  factors  released  by  cancers  are

       probably extremely similar to those produce in the body's day-to-day

       housekeeping.

       "The big difference is timing," said Folkman. "Normal tissues rarely

       put these factors out. They are normally  turned  off. In the tumor,

       they are turned on and stay on continuously."

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              Thank you for your consideration, interest and support.

           Jerry W. Decker.........Ron Barker...........Chuck Henderson

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