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January 14, 2010 -- Houston, Texas:
Mark Neidig, executive director of the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, just returned from several days of meetings and observation with Dr. Steven A. Curley, lead investigator at the Kanzius RF Laboratory at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
“This was an extremely promising, yet wakeful trip,” Neidig described, “as we celebrated our outcomes from the past year and strategized the necessary steps to get to the next level.” The impressive Kanzius RF Labs are now staffed with a team of 14 industry experts. An additional two post-doctorate posts will be filled soon and a search for yet another PhD specializing in molecular biology and cancer cell targeting is under way. State and Federal grants along with generous philanthropic donations to the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation have staffed the lab and provided the Kanzius team with the equipment and supplies necessary to accomplish amazing outcomes and progress the past twelve months.
As a result, two manuscripts were published in 2009 and three are in prepublication for a 2010 release:
2009 publications currently on our website:
- NANO RESEARCH: “Size-Dependent Joule Heating of Gold Nanoparticles Using Capacitively Coupled Radiofrequency Fields”
- ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY: “Targeted Hyperthermia Using Metal Nanoparticles”
2010 publications approved and waiting for print:
- IN VITRO CELLULAR & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY-ANIMAL: “A Protocol to Effectively Create Single Cell Suspensions of Adherent Cells for Multiparameter High Throughput Flow Cytometry”
- CANCER: “Radiofrequency Field-induced Thermal Cytotoxicity in Cancer Cells Treated with Florescent Nanoparticles”
- This is the FIRST ever paper published that documents that when we deliver the targeted nanoparticles to cancer cells and then treat them in the Kanzius RF field, the cancer cells are killed, while the cells in the same culture dish that do not take up the nanoparticles are not killed by the treatment.
- SURGERY: “Pancreatic Carcinoma Cells are Susceptible to Non-invasive Radiofrequency Fields after Treatment with Gold Nanoparticles”
Ongoing work and progress: We have multiple projects continuing into the new year, many of which are nearing completion and will have a manuscript submitted for clinician peer review. By year’s end, an additional nine manuscripts could be in publication. While over 35 different cancers are being observed, pancreatic and liver cancers continue to lead the focus since the success rate for current treatments is less than 5 percent. The following highlights are a selection of some of the ongoing projects:
- Modeling delivery of targeted nanoparticles to cancer cells in vivo (cancer growing in live animals)
- Heating of variety of types of nanoparticles
- Enhancing heat injury to cancer cells
- New targeting antibodies to treat prostate cancer
- Studying animal models
- Targeting melanoma cancer cells
- Treatment of leukemia cells
- Treatment of human pancreatic and liver cancers
- Biodistribution of gold nanoparticles
- Treatment of VX2 liver cancer in rabbits
Often, our Foundation is asked the pointed question, “when” will human trials begin? Unfortunately, a definitive answer cannot be given. There are many volatile activities that need to be taken into consideration:
- Continued, in-depth study and analysis of current, on-going projects utilizing the current Kanzius RF device
- Development of schematics of a “human-sized” device to present to the FDA
- Presentation and approval from the FDA to build the new device
- Manufacturing of new, human-sized device
- At least two years of “successful” clinical testing in vivo and in vitro to have FDA approval to begin Phase I Human Clinical Trials.
The time needed changes frequently and often significantly. We are very cautious, but excited to say that, with all current information, a best-case scenario could avail human trials to begin within 2 ½ to 3 years. As a foundation, we will continue to keep you abreast of the developments that may affect this research timeline.
Clinical research is a very tedious process. The Kanzius Foundation upholds, with passion, its founder’s words, “there has to be a better way” and will continue on-course, with focus and tenacity to bring it to fruition. Only with your continued generosity, will getting to human trials be possible. Please donate now or contact Mark Neidig for more information at 814-480-5776 or MNeidig@KanziusCancerResearch.org.
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