Lampidis News

Since we started our journey in the late 1990s using the sugar analogue 2-DG to target the hypoxic population of cells found in solid tumors, there has been increasing interest in this compound as witnessed by the number of labs and publications studying it. Having published the results of our completed Phase I trials this year (see link below) we have received several inquiries from research scientists around the world including Japan, Spain and others inquiring about 2-DG’s availability for further clinical testing. As a result of the growing realization of the importance of 2-DG for probing and exploiting increased glucose metabolism in cancer, we continue to initiate global collaborations. With the essential input of philanthropic support our goal is to become a resource that physicians and scientists can use to obtain clinical grade 2-DG, as well as share information and findings on how best to use it as a single agent and in combination with standard cancer chemotherapeutic or non-chemotherapeutic agents. Attaining this goal should have a significant impact in the treatment of most types of cancer, and with your help, we will make it happen.

Research Publication: A phase I dose-escalation trial of 2-deoxy-D-glucose alone or combined with docetaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors. Raez LE, Papadopoulos K, Ricart AD, Chiorean EG, Dipaola RS, Stein MN, Rocha Lima CM, Schlesselman JJ, Tolba K, Langmuir VK, Kroll S, Jung DT, Kurtoglu M, Rosenblatt J, Lampidis TJ. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2012 Dec 11

At the heart of Dr Lampidis’ groundbreaking cancer research is a process so fundamental that it has survived a billion years of evolution. This process, termed glycolysis originating from Greek “glyco” meaning sweet and “lysis” meaning breakdown, evolved as the only means by which tiny microbes could survive at a time when there was no oxygen in our atmosphere.

There are three basic energy sources from which humans derive energy – carbohydrates, fats and proteins – but without oxygen, only sugar (a form of carbohydrate) can be used to sustain life.

The most difficult cancer cells to successfully treat are found in the center of a tumor where there is little or no oxygen, a condition known as hypoxia (see figure below). These hypoxic cancer cells are not only resistant to chemotherapy and radiation but also give rise to metastases (spreading of the cancer from the original site to other parts of the body). Dr Lampidis reasoned that because they depend on sugar to exist (similar to the microbes of a billion years ago), he could selectively kill these hypoxic cancer cells by blocking glycolysis with a false sugar, 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG).

He proved his idea in cancer cells growing under hypoxic conditions in a petri dish and from there in laboratory animals where the tumors naturally contain hypoxic cells. With the outstanding help of several physicians his idea was brought to reality with the completion of an FDA approved Phase I trial in humans.

Unfortunately, 2-DG is not patentable and so pharmaceutical companies are not interested in investing in future clinical trials. Hence the Lampidis Cancer Foundation has been campaigning to raise funds to support Dr Lampidis’ pioneering work on 2-DG through the next stages of clinical trials, with the single-minded goal of making it readily available to cancer sufferers around the world.

Theodore Lampidis, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and a member of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is a pioneer in the exploration of the intricate metabolism of glucose in cancer cells and the discovery of how to exploit this process by using simple sugars such as 2-Deoxyglucose (2-DG).

Background: Dr. Lampidis’ groundbreaking cancer research is founded on the following facts: Solid tumors (carcinomas) consist of an outer shell of fast-growing cells and an inner core of slow-growing cells. Although standard chemotherapy attacks the fast-dividing cells, it cannot distinguish between normal and cancerous cells. That is why cancer patients treated with chemotherapy lose their hair, suffer low blood counts, and experience diarrhea and vomiting. Those are the normal tissues in the body that contain the rapidly dividing cells.

The Problem: Since chemotherapy works by interfering with the dividing machinery of cells, it cannot effectively eliminate the slow-growing cells found within the inner core of all solid tumors. It is these slow-growing cancer cells which contribute to the regrowth of the outer cells after treatment. Most importantly, these inner core tumor cells are responsible for metastasis which leads to the spread of the tumor to various parts of the body. Fortunately, however, slow-growing tumor cells have inadequate blood supplies and thus low oxygen (hypoxia). This means they must use much more sugar than normal cells to provide the energy they need to survive, a process known as glycolysis.

The Solution: Dr. Lampidis hypothesized he could “trick” these hypoxic tumor cells by feeding them “false” sugars, such as 2-DG (2-deoxyglucose), to keep them from metabolizing the actual sugar they need to survive. Because they do not have the necessary oxygen to use fats and proteins as alternative sources of energy, they would literally “starve to death.” Meanwhile, the normal cells would survive because they do metabolize these alternate sources (think about the Atkins Diet – when you lower your intake of carbohydrates [sugars] you burn fats and proteins instead).

Success to date: Dr Lampidis’ eureka moment led to two consecutive five-year awards from the National Cancer Institute, which stated in the reviews of his research that “Dr. Lampidis’ work could eventually lead to cures in certain cancers.” Based on his work, an FDA approved Phase I clinical trial was conducted to determine the tolerable dose level of 2-DG. Before they progress to a Phase II clinical trial, further work is required to investigate and develop the most efficient drug delivery method, eg: slow release pump, pill or diet. In addition, working in collaboration with Dr. Tim Murray, a leading expert in the investigation and treatment of children with eye cancer (retinoblastoma) formally at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Dr. Lampidis and his colleagues have demonstrated that 2-DG raises the efficacy of the chemotherapeutic agent (carboplatin) used to treat this disease. Moreover, using pimonidazole, which identifies hypoxic tumor cells, they have provided the first proof of principle that indeed 2-DG, but not carboplatin, targets and kills the hypoxic portion of this tumor. Based on these very encouraging in vivo results, they plan to begin a pilot Phase I trial in patients whose eyes cannot be saved by current treatments.

Dr Theodore Lampidis: “I am convinced that the biochemical principles at the heart of our work are as fundamental as gravity. That is why I believe investigating tumor metabolism in general and glucose metabolism in particular, will lead to significant and real advances in the struggle we all one way or another face in fighting this devastating disease.”

We need your help: Our mission at the Lampidis Cancer Foundation is to bring the groundbreaking research of Dr. Theodore Lampidis through the clinical trial and testing phase so that this treatment protocol can begin to help those suffering from various types of cancer. If you are interested in supporting this vital work or would like to find out more, please visit www.lampidisfoundation.org or call us on +1.305.243.4846.

The Lampidis Cancer Foundation has partnered with global payment processing company WorldPay to raise awareness and funding for the work of Dr Theodore Lampidis among the business community. Switch to WorldPay as your electronic payment processing provider and WorldPay will donate a portion of their profit to the Lampidis Cancer Foundation on your behalf to help fund groundbreaking efforts in cancer research.

Dr Lampidis is the Professor of Cell Biology at the University of Miami and a member of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is a pioneer in exploring and exploiting the unique usage of glucose in cancer cells using simple sugars such as 2-Deoxyglucose (2-DG). His discovery is based on the fact that the cancer cells most resistant to chemotherapy found within the inner core of all solid tumors do not receive enough oxygen (hypoxia) and therefore must rely exclusively on sugar to survive. Feeding these hypoxic tumor cells a false sugar such as 2-DG effectively ‘starves’ them to death and kills off the tumor.

Unfortunately, 2-DG is not patentable and so pharmaceutical companies are not interested in investing in future clinical trials. With recent cuts to Federal funding, the Lampidis Cancer Foundation has been campaigning to raise $10 million to support Dr Lampidis’ pioneering work on 2-DG through the next stages of clinical trials, with the single-minded goal of making it readily available to cancer sufferers around the world.

WorldPay processes payments for more than 500,000 businesses around the world, from name brand retailers to your favorite local shop. According to Mark Phillips, regional account executive for WorldPay in Florida, “We are delighted to be able to support the potentially life-changing work of Dr Lampidis. This partnership offers an easy way for participating businesses and their customers to support such a worthy cause.”

“We are extremely grateful to WorldPay for supporting our fundraising endeavors,” said Lee Phillips, Executive Director at the Lampidis Cancer Foundation. “Their global reach and trusted brand will be invaluable to us in raising awareness of Dr Lampidis’ vital cancer research among the business community, and will help us accelerate Phase 2 clinical trials for 2-DG.”

To find out more how you can become a WorldPay partner and support the Lampidis Cancer Foundation, visit: http://www.worldpay.us/Partners/lampidis-foundation