An Old Cough Medicine is Effective Against Prostate Cancer in Mice, Study Claims

Feb. 15, 2007 -- Noscapine, a non-addictive derivative of opium, has been used worldwide since the 1950's as an anti-cough medication. Noscapine was originally proposed as an anti-cancer agent in the early 1960's and in recent years studies have confirmed its anti-cancer effects. More studies are underway at Emory University and other research centers to find out if those effects can be strengthened.

This week a presentation made at the 17th International Prostate Cancer Update Conference in Vail, Colorado reported that a study has shown that in mice noscapine can reduce growth of prostate cancer tumors.

The study in prostate cancer is the result of ongoing collaboration between the Prostate Cancer Research and Educational Foundation (PC-REF) and MedInsight Research Institute. Dr. Israel Barken, Founder and Medical Director of the Prostate Cancer Research and Educational Foundation (PC-REF) in San Diego, CA. says that he has used noscapine for treating prostate cancer for over a decade. Encouraged by successful results, Dr. Barken's foundation paid for a laboratory study to confirm noscapine's effectiveness and mode of action in treating prostate cancer.

"In our study noscapine administered orally to animals had a tumor inhibition rate of 60%, and reduced metastasis by just over 65%. Incredibly, this was achieved with no toxicity thus demonstrating noscapine's potential not only as an effective anti-cancer agent, but a very safe one too," says Dr. Barken.

Dr. Barken is now planning on facilitating clinical trials with noscapine in patients suffering from prostate cancer. He has also pioneered a web-based patient tracking system, which allows for trials to be carried out with ease, and at substantially reduced costs. This will allow global participation of patients, which will drastically cut the time necessary to complete the study.

Moshe Rogosnitzky, Director of Research at MedInsight Research Institute, is very encouraged by the findings. "Noscapine has been used for cough- suppression for close to half a century. Recent discoveries are pointing to its effectiveness in treating a broad variety of cancers."

"Additionally, Iranian scientists have shown it very effective in treating strokes. It is a drug that is readily available, and in many countries can be bought without a prescription. Noscapine is a safe low-cost option that has the potential to successfully fight several life-threatening diseases."

Download a .pdf publication from PCREF website:
NOSCAPINE: A Safe Cough Suppressant with Newly Discovered Effects in Treating Cancer and Stroke

More on anti-cancer potential of noscapine:

Preclinical pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of noscapine, a tubulin-binding anticancer agent. Laboratory for Drug Discovery and Research, Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA Cancer Chemotherapy Pharmacol. 2007 Feb 7

Treatment of hormone-refractory breast cancer: apoptosis and regression of human tumors implanted in mice. Mol Cancer Ther. 2006 Sep;5(9):2366-77. Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

Identification of novel and improved antimitotic agents derived from noscapine. J Med Chem. 2005 Nov 17;48(23):7096-8.

About Prostate Cancer Research and Educational Foundation (PC-REF) PC-REF, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public foundation based in San Diego, California. It was founded by Dr. Israel Barken in 1997. PC-REF focuses on patient empowerment, and provides financial support for innovative prostate cancer research projects. Its focus is on research ideas that can benefit today's patients. PC-REF's web site is www.pcref.org.

About MedInsight Research Institute The MedInsight Research Institute is a US-based 501(c)3 non-profit public organization co-founded by Moshe Rogosnitzky of Israel and Dr. David Youlton of the UK. Its mission is to alleviate the suffering of those afflicted by life-threatening or chronic medical conditions. It does so by providing comprehensive scientific reviews of data regarding commercially-unsponsored medications, long-lost therapies, and specialized tests that enable the personalization of medical treatment. From July 2007 MedInsight will be making all its work public and freely available through its website.

SOURCE MedInsight Research Institute
Edited by J. Strax Feb 18 2007