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Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) announced a grant award for $1.7M from the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Disease to study some human therapeutics targeting acute radiation syndrome.

Radiation toxicity is largely due to damage to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the hematopoietic (HP) system. Various therapies have been discovered to protect or restore the HP system, but GI radiation syndrome remains poorly treatable, resulting in significant mortality and reduced quality of life for survivors. Andrei Gudkov, PhD, Senior Vice President Basic Science; Chair, Cell Stress Biology; of RPCI’s Scientific Affairs department, is the principal investigator.

Dr. Gudkov said, “Many normal tissues and particularly those in the GI tract are susceptible to complications and ultimately tissue damage induced by radiotherapy in cancer treatment. Completion of this study is expected to provide critical information about an emerging class of radiation antidotes that will allow improved understanding of their potential for use to reduce and prevent side effects of radiotherapy.”

In preliminary studies it was found that the bacterial flagellin protein, acting as an optimized Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) ligand with decreased immunogenicity (CBLB502), was created by deleting portions of the flagellin that are non-essential for TLR5 activation. CBLB502 is effective and non-toxic in mice and non-human primates and is being developed into a stable, self-administrable radiation antidote projected for biodefense applications. This study will focus on deciphering the molecular and cellular mechanisms of action of CBLB502.

Source: RPCI

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