OTTAWA, Ontario - Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. has discovered a new class of molecules with anticancer activity that seem to be unaffected by the presence of multi-drug resistance in cancer cells.

The London, Ontario, company has shown that these molecules inhibit the division of human cancer cells by specifically blocking the cell cycle, as well as inducing apoptosis, in a wide range of human cancer cell types. According to Nigel C. Phillips, senior vice president scientific affairs and chief scientific officer at the company, intensive research at its laboratories in Montreal has demonstrated that oligonucleotides contained in its proprietary mycobacterial cell wall technology (MCC) have both anticancer and immune modulation activity.

Mycobacterial cell wall-DNA complexes, derived from the non-pathogenic microorganism Mycobacterium phlei, have a direct and an indirect action on cancer cells. They directly inhibit cellular proliferation through the induction of apoptosis, and indirectly through the stimulation of monocytes and macrophages to synthesize interleukin-12, a potent anticancer cytokine. The anticancer activity of mycobacterial cell wall DNA complexes appears to be independent of the cancer cell type, since all cell lines tested entered apoptosis after contact with MCC-DNA complexes or with DNA extracted from M. phlei.

Last year, the company reported that MCC inhibits the division of malignant human prostate cells. MCC was shown to be effective in inhibiting the division of androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate tumor cells. Inhibition of prostate tumor cell division was shown to be associated with the induction of apoptosis and decreased prostate-specific antigen production.

"The ability of MCC to induce apoptosis and inhibit prostate cancer division in both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells has potential application in the treatment of refractory prostate cancer where androgen ablation therapy has failed," Phillips said. "These results further emphasize that the anticancer activity of MCC is not affected by treatment-resistant mechanisms that commonly compromise chemotherapeutic strategies."

The company is conducting a multicenter Phase I/II clinical trial to evaluate the intravesicle administration of mycobacterial cell wall emulsions in the treatment of bladder cancer, and anticipates a Phase I clinical trial in prostate cancer to begin by year-end.