Karmanos Researchers Report Enhanced Chemosensitivity of Pancreatic Cancer Cells...

Karmanos Researchers Report Enhanced Chemosensitivity of Pancreatic Cancer
Cells by Black Seed Component

SAN DIEGO, April 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer
Institute researchers today presented, at the American Association for Cancer
Research annual meeting in San Diego, CA, the potential benefits of
Thymoquinone (TQ), a compound present in the oil of black seeds (Nigella
sativa), in treating pancreatic cancer.

(Logo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071106/KARMANOSCANCERINSTITUTELOGO )

For centuries, these black seeds have been consumed in Asia, Africa and the
Middle East to promote health and fight disease. TQ, an active component of
the seeds, has been isolated for its promise as a chemopreventative agent.
Pancreatic cancer cells currently have a high degree of inherent and acquired
chemoresistance to standard chemotherapy agents Gemcitabine and/or
Oxaliplatin, making these drugs only moderately effective.

"Our goal with this study was to increase the effectiveness of current
pancreatic cancer treatments with a naturally occurring substance," said
Sanjeev Banerjee, Ph.D., researcher, working under the leadership of Fazlul
Sarkar, Ph.D., professor of pathology at the Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne
State University. "We also explored the molecular mechanisms associated with
TQ to promote better therapeutic outcomes."

Drs. Banerjee and Sarkar, along with Karmanos researchers Ramzi Mohammad,
Ph.D. and Zhiwei Wang, Ph.D., pre-treated pancreatic tumor cells possessing
different molecular signatures (HPAC, BxPC-3, Panc-1 and MDA Panc-28, COLO
357, L3.6pl), with TQ prior to administering Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin. They
found that TQ significantly enhanced the chemosensitivity of the tumor cells,
making the Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin agents more effective in treating the
cancer. The TQ pre-treatment improved the drugs' effect on promoting cancer
cell death and halting tumor cell growth.

Karmanos researchers also discovered at a molecular level, TQ down regulated
the normally active NF-B transcription factor and several of its downstream
effector genes responsible for metastasis and cell invasion. NF-B is involved
in cellular responses to stimuli such as stress, free radicals, ultraviolet
irradiation and bacterial or viral antigens. It also plays a key role in
regulating the immune response to infection, and is instrumental in the
development of many chronic diseases, including cancer. These results suggest
that an important molecular target could be down regulated by TQ in reversing
chemoresistance, as well as the inhibition of invasion and metastasis of
pancreatic cancer.

Further research is currently underway at Karmanos to obtain better clues for
TQ's efficacy in future Phase I/II clinical trials. Thus, the research team at
Karmanos is actively collaborating with physicians both at the Karmanos Cancer
Center and the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas for assessing the
clinical utility of TQ.

About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Located in mid-town Detroit, MI, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is
one of 39 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in
the United States. Caring for more than 6,000 new patients annually on a
budget of $216 million, conducting more than 700 cancer-specific scientific
investigation programs and clinical trials, the Karmanos Cancer Institute is
among the nation's best cancer centers. Through the commitment of 1,000 staff,
including nearly 300 faculty members, and supported by thousands of volunteer
and financial donors, the Institute strives to prevent, detect and eradicate
all forms of cancer. John C. Ruckdeschel, M.D., is the Institute's president
and chief executive officer. For more information call 1-800-KARMANOS or go to
http://www.karmanos.org.

American Association for Cancer Research
The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and
cure cancer. Founded in 1907, AACR is the world's oldest and largest
professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. The AACR
Annual Meeting attracts more than 17,000 participants who share the latest
discoveries and developments in the field.

SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute

Linda Remington (San Diego), +1-313-820-1414, or Patricia A. Ellis (Detroit),
+1-313-576-8629, +1-313-410-3417 (cell), both of Karmanos Cancer Institute