Procept is developing their own chemosensitizing agent to overcome cancer drug resistance in brain and other cancers, a photodynamic therapy boronated porphyrin (BOPP) molecule for use in hyperproliferative disorders including pre-cancerous conditions, cancers, and non-cancerous disorders such as
vascular restenosis and endometriosis, and an immunotherapy for the treatment of metastatic cancer. The proprietary photodynamic therapy compound, BOPP, is currently in a Phase I study in brain cancer patients at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia under a U.S. IND application filed with the FDA in March 1998.
Below is some information from another BOPP research effort with dogs taking place at the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF): [Procept is currently in a Phase I]
3D Structure of a Boronated Porphyrin
Shown is the putative structure of a boronated saccharide porphyrin synthesized in Steve Kahl's laboratory at UCSF by
Myong-Seo Koo for possible application in binary therapies for cancer treatment. These include boron neutron capture
therapy, in which the boron atoms undergo a fission reaction when exposed to low energy neutrons, and photodynamic
therapy, in which singlet oxygen is produced when the porphyrin ring system transfers absorbed photon energy to molecular
oxygen. Boron atoms of the carborane cages are shown in white, carbons in green, oxygen in red, and nitrogens in cyan in this
structure, one of the most complex porphyrins ever reported.
cgl.ucsf.edu
Photochemistry and Photobiology
May 1999, Volume 69(5)
Focus
New boronated porphyrin shows promise for the treatment of brain malignancies
The manuscript "Toxicity of a boronated porphyrin in dogs" (pp. 587-594) by Kahl and coworkers describes an extensive analysis of the clinical
and pathological responses of dogs to a newly developed binary therapy agent. This novel boronated porphyrin (BOPP) has the potential to be
used as a sensitizer in both photodynamic therapy and boron-neutron capture therapy and shows promise for the treatment of brain
malignancies. In 16 dogs studied over a 28 day period, the only adverse effects were mild liver damage in 3 animals, thrombosis at the site of
administration, and some instances of weight loss, vomiting, and mild photosensitivity. The authors conclude that the new compound is a
promising therapeutic agent and that their study provides valuable information on the potential side effects of this treatment.
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