AAPS national biotechnology conference to highlight breakthrough cancer treatments

University team works to prevent two deadly cancers in women and men

2011-05-13

(Press-News.org) ARLINGTON, VA (May 3, 2011) – Cancer studies from Mercer University (Ga.) headline groundbreaking research that will be unveiled at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists' (AAPS) National Biotechnology Conference (NBC). The conference takes place Monday, May 16 -Wednesday, May 18 at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square.

Developing an Oral Vaccine for Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the world . Two preventative vaccines are currently available, but are expensive, require complex storage, and trained personnel to administer injections. A team at Mercer is seeking to change that by developing a nanoparticle based Human Papillomavirus (HPV) oral vaccine.

"The purpose of our study was to develop and test inexpensive HPV virus-like particulate vaccine formulations that can be administered orally much like a tablet or capsule," said Martin D'Souza, Ph.D., director of graduate programs and co-director of the Center for Drug Delivery and Research at Mercer. "If this technique is successful, vaccinations could be conducted in masses rather inexpensively and without the use of needles."

This research is currently in the formulation development phase and is being tested on an animal model. It is hoped that the study will help reduce the price of vaccine development for cervical cancer, helping make it more available to patients in poorer countries.

Promise Held for a Novel Combination Prostate Cancer Vaccine

Prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer among American men . The research team working on the HPV vaccine is also working on a prostate cancer vaccine that would be a combination of transdermal and oral administration.

"By using this vaccine we can assist the body's defenses to fight off the cancer," said D'Souza. "The vaccine also enables the body's immune cells to generate memory against these cancer cells, such that if [they] reemerge at a later stage, which is quite common, then the memory cells mount an immune response and destroy those cells as well."

Current studies in animal models showed that the vaccine delayed tumor growth, and that transdermal followed by oral vaccination produced a better response than transdermal vaccination alone. These particulate vaccines can be designed for individual therapy and aim to be more cost-effective since their production can be scaled up for mass vaccination due to the ease with which they are prepared.

### These are just two of over 300 posters that will be presented at the conference to an anticipated more than 1,400 attendees. For more information visit, http://www.aapspharmaceutica.com/meetings/workshops/NBC/index.asp.

About AAPS The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) is a scientific organization of almost 12,000 members employed in academia, industry, government, and other research institutes worldwide. Founded in 1986, AAPS provides a dynamic international forum for the exchange of knowledge among scientists to serve the public and enhance their contributions to health. AAPS offers timely scientific programs, on-going education, information resources, opportunities for networking, and professional development.

Editor's Note Registration is complimentary for members of the media. All abstracts presented at NBC are available upon request. To register for the meeting or to set up an interview with a pharmaceutical expert, please contact Joseph Catapano at (703) 248-4772 or CatapanoJ@aaps.org prior to May 16. For the period of May 16-May 18, contact Stacey May on site at (703) 459-7677 or MayS@aaps.org.

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[Press-News.org] AAPS national biotechnology conference to highlight breakthrough cancer treatments
University team works to prevent two deadly cancers in women and men

AAPS national biotechnology conference to highlight breakthrough cancer treatments

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