completed projects

1. Development of a Vaccine to Cure and Prevent prostate cancer

Working with a researcher at the University of Texas, we have demonstrated that the growth of mouse prostate cancer cells can be inhibited by pre-treating the recipient mice with a vaccine. Further development of this ex-vivo interferon vaccine will be directed to attempts to cure established prostate cancer in mice. The preliminary results look promising. All the mice that did not receive the vaccine died. Of the mice that received the vaccine, 70% survived without evidence of tumor.

The Department of Defense has given him a grant of $558,750 to continue his work, after initial funding by PC-REF. This is seed money in action.

2. The Use of a Fermented Soy Component to Inhibit prostate cancer Growth.

Fermented soy has been shown by PC-REF to significantly suppress the rise in PSA that otherwise would occur in relapsed prostate cancer patients. (Published by Barken, Geller, et al, Internet Journal of Medicine, September 2000). A recent experiment showed that another major component of fermented soy dramatically inhibits human prostate cancer growth in nude mice. PC-REF is working with a research chemist to isolate the component and evaluate its effect on both human prostate cell line primary tumors as well as metastasis in nude mice This will be used in human trials.

This project is complete. Further studies ongoing.

3. Inhibition of prostate cancer Bone Metastisis by Bisphosphonates in Nude Mice

Phase I of this project was to develop a model to study the effect of bisphosphonates on inhibiting bone metastases. (The model includes the mouse type, cancer cell line, and method of introduction of the cells which results in the development of a consistent, useful establishment of cancer in the mouse.) In Phase II it was shown that a high dose of the bisphosphonate Pamidronate reduced the severity of bone lesions in mice.

This work has been completed, and AntiCancer, Inc. is carrying the project forward with internal funding. Another example of seed money in action.

4. Research in the basics of Cryosurgery

In cooperation with Professor Rubinsky from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Berkeley, this research project will answer some basic cryosurgery science questions and enable studying the combination of cryosurgery with other anti-cancer agents. By taking advantage of this synergism, enhanced therapeutic effects are obtained with fewer side effects, as compared with single-treatment methods.

Based on this work, a further study was funded by the French “NIH” and PC-REF. Clinical studies are planned in the near future. Seed money in action.