Independent Researchers Find Genprex’s TUSC2 May Be a Novel Target and Biomarker for Thyroid Cancer Therapy
January 29 2020 - 8:18AM
Business Wire
- Study results show TUSC2 overexpression decreased thyroid
cancer tumor metastasis and increased sensitivity to apoptosis by
increasing SMAC/DIABLO and Cytochrome C protein levels
- Study highlights the possibility that TUSC2 may also be
effective in thyroid cancer therapy and adds to the growing body of
research on TUSC2 beyond the non-small cell lung cancer indication
the Company is initially pursuing
- TUSC2 is the active agent in the Company’s Oncoprex™ immunogene
therapy
Genprex, Inc. (“Genprex” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GNPX), a
clinical-stage gene therapy company utilizing a unique, non-viral
proprietary platform designed to deliver tumor suppressor genes to
cancer cells, announced that independent researchers reported in a
recent study that TUSC2, a tumor suppressor gene and the active
agent in Genprex’s Oncoprex™ immunogene therapy, is a potential
target and biomarker for thyroid carcinoma. Genprex has no
affiliation with these researchers.
Published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
the study reports that TUSC2 overexpression decreased thyroid
cancer proliferation, migration and invasion. Cell proliferation,
migration and invasion ability are essential steps in tumor
metastasis. TUSC2 forced expression reduced thyroid cancer cell
proliferation and could represent an important tool to arrest
cancer cell proliferation, while TUSC2 restoration decreased the
migration and invasion of thyroid cancer cell lines.
The study also found that TUSC2 increased sensitivity to
apoptosis by increasing the SMAC/DIABLO and Cytochrome C proteins,
which play major roles in apoptosis. TUSC2 forced expression
increased these protein levels, and, inversely, the silencing of
TUSC2 induced resistance to apoptosis.
Based on the results of the study, researchers concluded that
TUSC2 is negatively associated with thyroid cancer aggressiveness
and, thus could be a novel target and biomarker for thyroid cancer
therapy.
“We continue to be encouraged by data resulting from studies
conducted at multiple research institutions suggesting that TUSC2
may be an effective treatment for many types of cancer, now
including thyroid cancer,” said Rodney Varner, Genprex’s Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer.
The authors further state that thyroid carcinoma is the most
common endocrine cancer and includes many different forms.
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is the rarest but most lethal
subtype. ATC patients usually present a rapidly enlarging neck
mass, a high rate of distant metastases and approximately 95
percent mortality at six months. Conversely, papillary thyroid
carcinoma (PTC), the most common type of thyroid cancer, is
generally characterized by good outcomes, as it is highly curable
by surgery and radioiodine therapy. However, some PTC patients have
an aggressive disease and can develop distant metastasis.
The same researchers have previously reported that TUSC2 is
downregulated in almost all ATC samples and in the vast majority of
PTC samples, suggesting TUSC2’s important role in thyroid cancer
progression. In 2019, an estimated 50,000 patients in the U.S. were
diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
Genprex is conducting clinical and pre-clinical research to
evaluate the effectiveness of TUSC2 when combined with targeted
therapies and immunotherapies for non-small cell lung cancer.
Existing pre-clinical data also suggest that TUSC2 may be effective
against breast cancer, glioblastoma, head and neck cancer, kidney
cancer, and soft tissue sarcomas. This new independent study raises
the possibility that TUSC2 may also be used to treat thyroid
cancer.
About Genprex, Inc.
Genprex, Inc. is a clinical-stage gene therapy company
developing potentially life-changing technologies for cancer
patients based upon a unique proprietary technology platform.
Genprex’s platform technologies are designed to administer
cancer-fighting genes by encapsulating them into nanoscale hollow
spheres called nanovesicles, which are then administered
intravenously and taken up by tumor cells where they express
proteins that are missing or found in low quantities. The company’s
lead product candidate, Oncoprex™ immunogene therapy for non-small
cell lung cancer (NSCLC), has a multimodal mechanism of action
whereby it has been shown to interrupt cell signaling pathways that
cause replication and proliferation of cancer cells, re-establish
pathways for apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in cancer cells,
and modulate the immune response against cancer cells. Oncoprex has
also been shown to block mechanisms that create drug resistance. In
January 2020, the FDA granted Fast Track Designation for Oncoprex™
imunogene therapy for NSCLC in combination therapy with osimertinib
(AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso®). For more information, please visit the
company’s web site at www.genprex.com or follow Genprex on Twitter,
Facebook and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters
that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such
statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding
the effect of TUSC2, alone and in combination with targeted
therapies and/or immunotherapies, on cancer, and regarding our
current and planned clinical trials. Risks that contribute to the
uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include the
presence and level of TUSC2’s effect, alone and in combination with
targeted therapies and/or immunotherapies, on cancer, the timing
and success of our clinical trials and planned clinical trials of
Oncoprex™, alone and in combination with targeted therapies and/or
immunotherapies, and our other potential product candidates and the
timing and success of obtaining FDA approval of Oncoprex™ and our
other potential product candidates. These and other risks and
uncertainties are described more fully under the caption "Risk
Factors" and elsewhere in our filings and reports with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking
statements contained in this press release speak only as of the
date on which they were made. We undertake no obligation to update
such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that
exist after the date on which they were made.
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Genprex, Inc. (877) 774-GNPX (4679)
Investor Relations GNPX Investor Relations (877) 774-GNPX
(4679) ext. #2 investors@genprex.com
Media Contact Genprex Media Relations Kalyn Dabbs (877)
774-GNPX (4679) ext. #3 media@genprex.com
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