Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. (OTCQB: VODG), dba Vitro Biopharma, announced that some of its products are being utilized in advancing pancreatic cancer research including development of new diagnostic tests and new therapeutic approaches. Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most deadly and least survivable cancers; it is asymptomatic until quite advanced and is resistant to conventional therapies. It has recently become apparent that cancer tumor cells are closely associated with other cells called cancer associated fibroblasts or CAFs. These cells promote the malignant process and block immune surveillance. CAFs are thus new drug targets for pancreatic and other cancer therapies. Vitro Biopharma products were used in recent research regarding pancreatic stellate cells, a CAF that is gaining considerable interest for new treatment options through advanced understanding of cancer biology.
One of Vitro Biopharma’s cell lines and its optimized cell culture media were use in research published in 2013 (Mace, et. al, Cancer Research 73:3007-3018, 2013) describing and characterizing the role of pancreatic stellate cells in pancreatic cancer. Vitro’s cells were used as normal pancreatic fibroblasts to show unique aspects of pancreatic stellate cells such as the expression of specific proteins. This research has being repeated and extended by many other laboratories. As a result Vitro Biopharma pancreatic fibroblasts/media are now consumed globally by cancer research laboratories. This research has shown that pancreatic stellate cells promote cancer progression and block tumor cell immunity through secreted factors that enhance myeloid-derived suppressor cells, a type of immunosuppressive immune cell. Also, pancreatic stellate cells secrete specific biomarker proteins such as connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and galectin 1. Further biomarker research may lead to routine blood tests for early detection of pancreatic cancer and thus improved therapy.
Dr. Jim Musick, Vitro Biopharma’s President said, “We are pleased that our products are being used to advance pancreatic cancer research. Our pancreatic fibroblast cells are well-characterized and consistently perform in our optimized growth media. We also provide additional products to support cancer research including CAFs from other types of cancer together with growth media. Understanding the fundamental cell biology of cancer is a key element in advancing therapies. We are now developing cell-based assays for stem cell differentiation into bone. This platform also has application to cell-based assays for use in cancer research into advanced diagnostics and therapeutics.
About Vitro Biopharma
Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. dba Vitro Biopharma (OTCQB: VODG; http://www.accesswire.com/www.vitrobiopharma.com),owns US patents for production of FSH, immortalization of pituitary cells, and a cell line that produces beta islets for use in treatment of diabetes. In 2011, Vitro Biopharma out-licensed its intellectual property related to treatment of infertility to Dr. James Posillico, a renowned expert in Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Vitro Biopharma also owns a pending US patent for generation of pluripotent stem cells and an additional pending patent for methods of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) generation and related materials. Vitro Biopharma’s mission is “Harnessing the Power of Cells™ For the Improvement of Life”. Vitro Biopharma operates within a modern biotechnology manufacturing, R&D and corporate facility in Golden, Colorado. Vitro Biopharma manufactures and sells “Tools for Stem Cell and Drug Development™”, including human mesenchymal stem cells and derivatives, the MSC-Gro™ Brand of optimized media for MSC self-renewal and lineage-specific differentiation. In addition to our FSH patent licensee, Vitro Biopharma maintains several strategic partnerships including an alliance with Neuromics, Inc. (http://www.accesswire.com/www.neruomics.com). Neuromics, Inc. is a primary distributor of Vitro Biopharma products and a well established manufacturer and distributor of a large variety of life science research products especially focused on cell-based assay systems We jointly manufacture stem cell assay systems with HemoGenix®, Inc. (http://www.accesswire.com/www.hemogenix.com/), known as the MSCglo quantitative assay for determination of MSC quality, potency and response to toxic agents. Also, Vitro Biopharma’s CEO is a consultant on an NSF grant at the City College of New York to advise Dr. Lane Gilcrest, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and his colleagues regarding the development of novel extracellular materials for use in self-renewal and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.
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