Endothelial Explorations
Green labels TM4SF1, the target of Angiex’s cancer therapy; red labels the cytoskeleton, the equivalent of bone in cells; blue labels the nucleus. These two endothelial cells interact with one another and are connected by nanopodia, long membrane tubes that appear in this image as a series of green dots. The green dots label the microdomains by which Angiex's drug is delivered into endothelial cells. The drug kills dividing endothelial cells. In adults, endothelial cells rarely divide in normal vessels, but frequently divide in tumors to support tumor growth. By targeting these dividing cells, Angiex’s drug can destroy tumor blood vessels, leading to regression of the tumor.
Media Credit: Angiex, Inc.
July 2, 2018 • By Sara Carney, Contributing Author
As the second-leading cause of death in the U.S., many of us have seen firsthand the devastating effects of cancer. With more than 100 types of cancer, it’s easy to see why experts describe it as a collection of diseases rather than a single condition. But, imagine a therapy with the potential to treat 90% of all cancers.
On June 29, 2018, an experiment testing such a possibility made its way to the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) U.S. National Laboratory as part of the Space X CRS-15 mission. Angiex, Inc. has developed a novel cancer therapy targeting a protein involved in the proliferation of endothelial cells, which line blood vessels.
While in orbit, ISS crew member Serena Aunon-Chancellor recorded a short video on the Angiex cancer therapy investigation using endothelial cells cultured in microgravityThe condition of perceived weightlessness created when an object is in free fall, for example when an object is in orbital motion. Microgravity alters many observable phenomena within the physical and life sciences, allowing scientists to study things in ways not possible on Earth. The International Space Station provides access to a persistent microgravity environment.. Aunon-Chancellor, who is an M.D., had shown a lot of interest in this investigation and made this video on her own time and on her own initiative.
Although there are many distinct types of cancers, most tumors need sufficient blood supply and depend on endothelial tissue for survival. Decreasing that blood supply could prevent further growth or reduce tumor size.
Angiex’s therapy has shown promise in mice models but needs to be tested using human cells. The issue is that there currently isn’t an adequate model to test drug toxicity in vivo—or in living cells. Current Earth-based cell culture methods can be used, but these cells don’t behave quite like cells in the body. However, microgravity presents a promising solution.
In microgravity, endothelial cells show a persistent state of reduced cell growth, which is more similar to cell behavior in the body than in cell cultures on Earth. Additionally, cells in microgravity can be grown in three dimensions instead of only two dimensions.
Having a model that is more representative of the human body’s conditions would allow the researchers to better evaluate how well the vascular-targeted drug works and examine the drug’s toxicity before starting clinical trials.
The ISS National Lab and Boeing selected Angiex, Inc. as one of three biotechnology research companies to receive funding through the MassChallenge business accelerator program. This $500,000 grant provides seed funding and assists with hardware costs associated with spaceflight. Through the MassChallenge business accelerator program, the ISS National Lab and Boeing have collectively provided funding to more than 10 companies interested in leveraging microgravity to enhance their products and/or therapies on Earth.
With these resources in hand, Angiex, Inc. has set forth exploring a new frontier in cancer treatment. The trip to space is merely an initial step in bringing home something that could help many of the people we know and love.