On November 7, 2023 Propanc Biopharma, Inc. (OTC Pink: PPCB) ("Propanc" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel cancer treatments for patients suffering from recurring and metastatic cancer, reported that PRP enhances the sensitivity of resistant pancreatic tumor cells to standard chemotherapy treatment and alters the tumor microenvironment by decreasing the fibrotic tissue and its malignancy (ability to spread into surrounding tissues) (Press release, Propanc, NOV 7, 2023, View Source [SID1234637156]). The results were reported by the Company’s joint researcher, Mrs. Belén Toledo Cutillas, MSc, at the laboratory of Professor Macarena Perán, PhD, University of Jaén, Granada, Spain.
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Various methods, including apoptosis (programmed cell death) and viability analysis, live/dead assays, and RT-qPCR (real time quantification of gene expression) analyses confirmed PRP enhances the sensitivity of pancreatic tumor cells to standard chemotherapy treatment and decreases expression of genes related to chemoresistance. It was also proven that a major pathway, TGF-β, responsible for tumorigenesis (production or formation of tumors) and metastasis (cancer spread), is involved with the observed effects by inhibiting this pathway after PRP treatment. Similar analyses and an in vivo (in a living organism) study evaluating the effects on the tumor microenvironment confirmed transformational changes to the extracellular matrix components of the resistant tumors and according to Mrs. Cutillas, "seems to re-educate the malignant tumor cells by inducing apoptosis and reversing their malignant phenotype (cellular characteristics)."
Dr Julian Kenyon, MD, MB, ChB, Propanc’s Chief Scientific Officer said, "Results from the experiments conducted by Belen demonstrates the effects of PRP on reducing chemoresistance in pancreatic tumor cells, which is a significant issue among pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients, who have a poor 5-year survival rate of less than eight percent. We look forward to investigating the clinical effects in patients as we progress with future planned clinical trials, where an opportunity for a combinatorial therapeutic strategy may be uncovered to treat these resistant tumors."
PRP is a mixture of two proenzymes, trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen from bovine pancreas, administered by intravenous injection. A synergistic ratio of 1:6 inhibits growth of most tumor cells. Examples include pancreatic, ovarian, kidney, breast, brain, prostate, colorectal, lung, liver, uterine, and skin cancers. Orphan Drug Designation status of PRP has been granted from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of pancreatic cancer.