Compound prevents cancer in lab

James CoburnThe Edmond Sun
EDMOND — A culmination of 17 years of research has led scientists at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center to discover a synthetic compound that prevents cancer in the laboratory.This discovery is not serendipity but a carefully controlled strategy, said Doris Benbrook, principle investigator and researcher at the OU Cancer Institute.Cancer kills more than 7,600 Oklahomans each year, according to the American Cancer Society.Oklahoma State University chemist Darrell Berlin synthesized compounds similar to vitamin A, but different by one atom. “I would take these compounds and test them on cancer cells and normal cells to try and find ones that would kill the cancer cells without harming normal cells,” Benbrook said.She modified the chemical structure of the compound to optimize the killing of the cancer cells and to avoid harming the normal cells. “It’s been changed so much that it’s no longer a vitamin A derivative,” she said.Planning clinical trials is part of Benbrook’s long-term goals with the compound. But FDA approval is needed and there is not yet a drug ready for testing. She will apply to the National Cancer Institute to support pre-clinical testing. Tests conducted by OU researchers have found the compound effective against all the 12 types of cancer they have used it on. Among the diseases and conditions being studied for treatment are polycystic kidney disease, kidney cancer and ovarian cancer.“The National Cancer Institute was impressed by lab findings — that (the compound SHetA2) can prevent transformation of normal cells into cancer cells,” she said.Testing costs millions of dollars and is required to start clinical trials, she said. More than $2 million already has been invested in the research.Cancer survivor Tammy Padgett of Edmond said federal funding for cancer research is critical for improving cancer treatments and in curing cancer.Breast cancer funding saved her life, said Padgett, whose type of breast cancer was successfully treated by the drug Herceptin. She celebrates being free of cancer for six years.Benbrook also envisions that the compound could lead to an application in treatment after primary surgery and chemotherapy to prevent the reoccurrence of the cancer.“Research will keep on going,” she said. “This is not the magic pill, but potentially another compound down the road might be the magic pill. But we know we’re going in the right direction.”GO TO http://w3.ouhsc.edu/benbrooklab for the Web page of Doris Benbrook’s lab.