MONDAY, April 18, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- An antibody called Sphingomab shows promise in treating some of the most deadly kinds of tumors, according to studies presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Anaheim, Calif.
Researchers say Sphingomab has been tested in several animal models of human cancer and was found to significantly slow cancer growth on a consistent basis. In some cases, it eliminated the tumor.
The antibody, developed by San Diego-based Lpath Therapeutics Inc., targets sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a compound thought to play a role in cancer cell growth and spread. In animal studies, Sphingomab blocked the effects of S1P on cancer cells and also prevented formation of new blood vessels that feed growing tumors.
Deadly and multi-resistant cancers such as lung, breast, melanoma and ovarian cancers all responded well to the treatment, the studies found.
Lpath is now preparing to seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for human clinical trials using Sphingomab.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about cancer treatments.
