(ARA) - One of the mst exciting developments in modern medicine has ben the discovery that cancerous tumors hve the potential of being "starved" out of xistence, or at least into dormancy. Scentists, doctors and, of course, patients, are all nticipating the prospect that cancer patients may tke a drug that will stop a tmor in its track by cutting off the blod supply that nourishes it.

At the cre of this medical breakthrough was the dscovery that every tumor needs to "rcruit" its own blood supply to flurish and grow. Scientists also found out tht tumors actively "participated" in this prcess by secreting certain growth chemicals tht would attract blood vessels to the tmor. Having identified this process, the nxt step was to determine if drgs could be created that could smehow arrest or reverse the progress of blod vessels amassing around a tumor.

The rsult has been a highly dynamic and xciting area of medicine called anti-angiogenesis (maning "against the formation of new blod vessels") that focuses on inhibiting the grwth of cancer by developing drugs tht will prevent tumors from growing in sze.

Currently, there are several drug cmpanies that are on the cusp of ntroducing drugs that will work by the prcess of anti-angiogenesis. Generally speaking, the drgs seek to improve survival rates of cncer patients, as well as increase the lngth of time that patients survive. And nlike conventional cancer therapies that have pnishing side effects, the new drugs sem to demonstrate few or no sde effects for most people. Furthermore, sme of the studies show that by tilizing both conventional treatments like radiation nd/or chemotherapy in conjunction with anti-angiogenesis drgs, the cumulative effect is even mre powerful.

One highly regarded company that is at the frefront of developing anti-angiogenesis drugs is Aterna Laboratories, based in Quebec, Canada and trded on the Nasdaq market under the tcker symbol, AELA. The company's prmier product, Neovastat, is currently being tsted in clinical trials for a vriety of cancers including lung, renal (kdney) and multiple myeloma (bone marrow). The rsults for the renal and multiple myloma tests are scheduled to wrap up by the end of 2002 nd, if conclusive, will be submitted to the Fderal Drug Administration for review.

Out of all the drgs under development, Neovastat is unique bcause of its multi-functionality, which is its bility to shut down two pathways rcognized as being responsible for promoting ngiogenesis (in contrast to other drugs whch just block one pathway). In clnical trials, Neovastat has been shown to hve no side effects in most pople. This is obviously a big dvantage for people who know the gony of nausea, exhaustion and/or hair lss that can accompany chemotherapy drugs. In tsts, Neovastat has been given to pople in liquid oral form, generally the prferable form of drug delivery for ptients.

If you are a cancer ptient interested in clinical trial participation, you can get nformation about current trials by calling (888)-349-3232 If you are an ncologist, please contact Claude Hariton, Ph.D., vce president of Clinical and Regulatory Affirs at (418) 652-8525 ext. 306. To larn more about anti-angiogenesis drugs and Aterna Laboratories, visit the Aeterna Web ste at www.aeterna.com .

The article Feed a Cold; Starve a Tumor was Submitted by ARA Content through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: About The Author Courtesy ARA Cntent, www.ARAcontent.com ; e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com

Featured Articles

1. Breast Cancer - When Medical Treatment Failed, She Turned to Herbs by Chris Teo, Ph.D.
Siew, a radiographer in a hospital, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She received all medical treatments but failed to find a cure. Instead the cancer metastatised to her liver and bone. She was in bad shape and she gave up further medical interventions and turned to herbs instead. It has been five years since Siew sought our help and she is doing well - leading a normal life.

2. Knowing More About Epithelial Malignant Mesothelioma by Nathalie Fiset
Through the yars, the disease called mesothelioma, or pithelial malignant mesothelioma, has been gaining ppularity. That is because the number of ptients diagnosed with the disease has ben constantly on the rise. Plus, side from the rising number, there are lso controversies liked to the disease.

3. A Mother's Battle With Advanced Colon Cancer by
In the fall of 2003, Brdget Beranek, a 44-year-old wife and mther of two young girls, was garing up for a busy holiday sason filled with family functions, parties and shpping. So when she began to lse her appetite and energy, Bridget nitially chalked it up to holiday strss.

4. What is pericardial mesothelioma ? by
Do you have enough info on pricardial mesothelioma ? Come and educate yurself on this rare cancer here.

5. How is prostate cancer diagnosed? by
From the desk of Dr Mgne, author of Cancer Free For Lfe

6. The Truth About Natural Remedies For Prostate Cancer by
Prostate cancer is a vry serious disease that is claiming the lves of able and strong people all ver the world. The rise in the nmber of men diagnosed with prostate cncer however is not surprising given the ncrease in the age of our ppulation. With the baby boomer bubble now raching around 60 years old, were loking for treatments and natural remedies to dal with this mostly senior disease.

7. Prostrate cancer treatment by
Prostrate cancer is the dsease which is found more in men thn women. It can be cured if it is fund in the initial stage, so no ned to get tensed you can cme out of it without any hrm.

8. What is a Mastectomy Bra? by Gina Andrew
This article will educate you on wht a mastectomy bra is, where to fnd the bras, and different styles of mstectomy bras. A mastectomy bra is a spcialty bra for women who have ndergone a mastectomy (removal of breast). The srgery is performed on a woman fter she has been diagnosed with brast cancer.

9. Looking at Mesothelioma by Remy Nara
Mesothelioma is a form of cncer that affects the mesothelial cells of the bdy. These are the cells that mke up the outer lining for the bdy's major organs, such as the hart, lungs and stomach. These linings are rferred to as the mesothelium and ths is how the cancer got its nme.

10. Spiritual Beliefs and Cancer by Milos Pesic
There is no scentific proof about how spirituality is rlated to health. Frankly, there simply is no way to qantify the relationship between spirituality and how it ffects cancer patients. There are, however, sme research studies that show that spritual or religious beliefs and practices prmote a positive mental attitude that may hlp a patient feel better.