Abstract
Abstract
Historically, the urine, considered as a blood filtrate has been recognized as a source of medicinal products and important constituents of widely used drugs. However, various molecules in human urine such as growth factors, hormones, and their metabolites have not yet been thoroughly characterized. A group of low molecular weight compounds named HIP's (HCG-like Inhibitory Proteins), was discovered in our laboratories while investigating the hormonal regulation of a skin cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Following extraction from the urine of pregnant women, HIP was found to inhibit the growth and kill KS cancer cells by apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Initial results following intralesional injection with HIP, revealed a marked reduction in the number of neoplastic cells in the tumor. We are presently testing this product in clinical trials on KS patients in a double blind placebo controlled study. Preliminary results reveal HIP to be safe and well tolerated with no adverse or unexpected reactions. More recently, two other tumors types were demonstrated to be sensitive to HIP and are under further investigation. Following the use of gene microarrays and RT-PCR, the principal target genes for HIP were identified as belonging to a growth factor receptor family. Further purification and biochemical characterization is underway using proteomics and NMR spectroscopy. Overall, the present studies further establish HIP as a urinary compound with potent anti-cancer activity.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-81.