Research on combining Theralase Technologies Inc.'s (CVE:TLT) lead photodynamic compound, TLD-1433, with transferrin to target cancer cells has been published in a prestigious medical journal.
The new publication, entitled, "Ruthenium(II) based Photosensitizer and Transferrin Complexes Enhance Photo-physical Properties, Cell Uptake, and Photodynamic Therapy Safety and Efficacy" was published in Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, a publication of the Royal Society of Chemistry that focuses on photodynamic therapy.
Transferrin is a glycoprotein that naturally occurs in the body and is used to transport iron to cells. Theralase has been investigating the use of transferrin to decrease the toxicity, improve the selectivity and increase the efficacy of its lead compound TLD-1433 in the destruction of cancer cells.
While metal-based photo-sensitizers, such as TLD-1433, can have their absorption and chemical binding properties modified by the use of different ligands - atoms or molecules with electron pairs available – and this also holds true when TLD-1433 binds to proteins such as transferrin, Theralase said.
The latest research demonstrates that TLD-1433, mixed with transferrin, reduces the toxicity of TLD-1433 and improves the overall efficacy in the destruction of cancer cells.
Transferrin is upregulated by most cancers through an increased number of transferrin receptor sites, which means that combining TLD-1433 with transferrin, converts TLD-1433 into a potentially potent cancer killing drug.
"Our latest research published in a world recognized peer reviewed journal, provides the scientific rigour required by Theralase to allow us to confidently commence and to successfully complete a Phase Ib clinical trial for NMIBC [nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer]," said Roger Dumoulin-White, president and chief executive officer of Theralase.