Novocell Announces Discovery Linking Key Cancer Cell Signaling
Pathways
with Proliferation and Self-Renewal of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Findings Published in Blood
San Diego, CA / August 30, 2007 / Novocell, Inc., a stem cell
engineering company, today announced research findings that for the
first time identify two prominent cancer cell signaling pathways as
essential for the efficient proliferation and self-renewal of human
embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The findings were prepublished online
August 29, 2007 in Blood First Edition Paper titled "Self-Renewal of
Human Embryonic Stem Cells Requires Insulin-like Growth Factor-1
Receptor and ERBB2 Receptor Signaling."
Researchers studying the self-renewal of hESCs discovered a link with
insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1R), and ERBB2/3. Both pathways are
highly implicated in cancer and the target of numerous oncology
therapeutics. EBRR2 is often overexpressed in breast cancer and other
malignancies and is the target of the monoclonal antibody Herceptin.
Researchers from Novocell, Invitrogen and the University of
Washington collaborated on the published study.
"These new findings indicate for the first time that the major
signaling pathways driving the self-renewal of human embryonic stem
cells are also key pathways that signal inappropriately in a number
of different cancers,'" said Allan Robins, Ph.D., senior author and
Vice President and Chief Technical Officer of Novocell. "Such a
linkage provides an avenue for Novocell to potentially identify new
targets for oncology therapeutics using human embryonic stem cells."
"The implication that key cancer pathways are associated with human
stem cell proliferation and self-renewal is yet another exciting
outgrowth from the extensive stem cell research at Novocell that
includes our defined media STEMPRO® hESC SFM licensed exclusively to
Invitrogen and our cell therapy for diabetes," said Alan Lewis,
Ph.D., President and CEO of Novocell.
About Novocell, Inc.
Novocell, Inc. is a stem cell engineering company with research
operations in San Diego, CA, and Athens, GA, dedicated to creating,
delivering, and commercializing cell and drug therapies for diabetes
and other chronic diseases. Novocell is the first company to
efficiently engineer human embryonic stem cells into definitive
endoderm, the gatekeeper cells that differentiate into many other
cells, tissues and organs. Novocell has three primary technologies:
stem cell engineering, cell encapsulation, and drug discovery. The
company was founded in 1999, merged with CyThera and BresaGen in
2004, and completed a $25M Series C financing in July 2007.
For More Information
Media Contact
Alan Lewis
President and Chief Executive Officer
Novocell, Inc.
(858) 455-3708
info@novocell.
Julie Rathbun
Rathbun Communications, Inc.
(206) 769-9219
julie@rathbuncomm.
http://www.novocell
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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