BioCentury
ARTICLE | Tools & Techniques

Yin vs. yang in cancer

September 8, 2003 7:00 AM UTC

PI3 kinase (PI3k) and PTEN phosphatase are intracellular signaling molecules that are critical for many cellular functions important to cancer and other diseases. Because they are downstream players, PI3k and PTEN trump VEGF and EGF growth factors, and - at least in theory - provide a way to control angiogenesis, cell survival and cell migration. Two startups, ComChem Technologies Inc. and Piramed Ltd., both have small molecule PI3k inhibitors in preclinical testing to treat cancer.

"PI3k is a highly important signaling molecule because a number of signals from the cell surface, including growth factors that drive tumor growth, are mediated by PI3k. As a result, PI3k mediates things like tumor proliferation and tumor cell survival," said Michael Moore, CEO of Piramed (London, U.K.)...