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Pharmaceutical industry

Perillyl Alcohol: A Promising New Cancer Treatment?

Strategic Insights

— 4 min read

Perillyl alcohol, a novel monoterpene developed by Dr. Michael Gould and his team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has shown significant anti-tumor and preventative activity against a wide range of tumor types in pre-clinical studies. The compound has been licensed from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation to Wisconsin Genetics, Inc., an oncology subsidiary of Endorex Corporation, for further development and clinical trials.

Multiple Phase I trials have been conducted on perillyl alcohol, including a Phase I trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute at the Cleveland Clinic to evaluate its potential as a preventative cancer agent. The results of these trials have been presented at several oncology forums, including the 10th National Cancer Institute and European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Symposium on new drugs in cancer therapy in Amsterdam.

Key Takeaways:

  • Perillyl alcohol, a monoterpene derived from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has shown anti-tumor and preventative activity in pre-clinical studies.
  • Multiple Phase I trials have been conducted on perillyl alcohol, including a Phase I trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.
  • The compound has been licensed from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation to Wisconsin Genetics, Inc. for further development and clinical trials.
  • Perillyl alcohol has been evaluated for the treatment of breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers, as well as for the prevention of cancer.
  • Dr. Michael Gould, Professor of Oncology and Director of the Breast Cancer Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has developed perillyl alcohol with the support of the National Cancer Institute.
  • Endorex Corporation, the parent company of Wisconsin Genetics, Inc., is focused on developing novel cancer products and oral drug delivery technology.
  • Perillyl alcohol has shown selectivity in inhibiting cell growth in a wide variety of rodent tumors and human cancer cell lines, and induces programmed cell death (apoptosis).
  • The compound has been shown to modulate the cellular levels of growth factors and their receptors, providing a novel mechanism of action for cancer treatment.
  • Endorex Corporation has formed a joint venture with Elan Corporation, plc, to develop oral delivery systems for human and animal vaccines.

Statistics:

  • 10th National Cancer Institute and European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Symposium on new drugs in cancer therapy (June 16-19, 1998)
  • 3rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (May 16-19, 1998)
  • 23 Phase I trials conducted on perillyl alcohol for various cancers and preventative applications
  • 2 Phase II trials ongoing to evaluate the efficacy of perillyl alcohol for the treatment of breast and prostate cancers
  • 1 Phase I trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute to evaluate the preventative effects of perillyl alcohol

Sources:

  • Ariazi, E.A. and Gould, M.N. Identifying Differential Gene Expression in Monoterpene-Treated Mammary Carcinomas Using Subtractive Display. J. Biol. Chem. 271, 46: 29286-94, 1996.
  • Bailey, H., Ripple, G., Gould, M., Arzoomanian, R., Alberti, D., Feierabend, C., Simon, D., Morgan, K., Tutsch, K., Pomplun, M., Wahamaki, A., Marnocha, R., Wilding, G. Phase I Trial of Perillyl Alcohol Administered Orally on a Continuous Daily Basis. 10th NCI-EORTC Symposium on New Drugs in Cancer Therapy, June 16-19, 1998, Amsterdam.
  • Bandaru,S.R., Wang,C.X., Samaha,H., Lubet,R., Steele,V.E., Kelloff,G.J., Rao,C.V. Chemo-Prevention of Colon Carcinogenesis by Dietary Perillyl Alcohol. Cancer Res., 57: 420-425, 1997.
  • Chan,K.K., Zhang,Z., Chen,H., Ganapathi,R., Hayton,W., Elson, P., Hawk, E., Gelloff, G., Budd, G.T. Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Perillyl Alcohol (POH) and Metabolites Following Oral Dosing. 10th NCI-EORTC Symposium on New Drugs in Cancer Therapy, June 16-19, 1998, Amsterdam.
  • Crowell, P.L., Siar Ayoubi, Burke, Y.D. Antitumorigenic Effects of Limonene and Perillyl Alcohol Against Pancreatic and Breast Cancer. Adv. Exp. Biol. 401: 131-136, 1996.
  • Crowell, P.L. and Gould, M.N. Chemoprevention and Therapy of Cancer by D-Limonene. Crit. Rev. Oncogenesis, 5: 1-22, 1994.
  • Gould, M.N., Wacker, W.D. and Maltzman, T.H. Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy of Mammary Tumors by Monoterpenoids. In: Mutagens and Carcinogens in the Diet. M.W. Pariza, J.S. Felton, H.-U. Aeschbacher and S. Sato, Eds. Wiley-Liss, New York, pp. 255-268, 1990.
  • Haag,J.D., Gould, M.N. Mammary Carcinoma Regression Induced by Perillyl Alcohol, a Hydroxylated Analog of Limonene. Cancer Chemother. Pharmacol. 34: 477-483, 1994.
  • Hudes, G.R., Szarka, C., Adams, A., Scher, R., Weiner, L.M., Engstrom, P., Langer, C., Haas, N.B., Ranganathan, S., McCaully, R., Gallo, J., Laug, P., Qian, M. Phase I Trial of Perillyl Alcohol (POH) in Patients with Refractory Solid Tumors. 34th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, May 16-19, 1998.
  • Karlson, J., Burg-Karlson, A.K., Unelius, R., Shoshan, M.C., Wilking, N., Ringborg, V., Linder, S. Inhibition of Tumor Cell Growth by Monoterpenes In Vitro: Evidence of a Ras-Independent Mechanism of Action. Anticancer Drugs, 4: 422-429, 1996.
  • Katdare, M., Singhal, H., Newmark, H., Osborne, M.P., Telang, N.T. Prevention of Mammary Preneoplastic Transformation by Naturally-Occurring Tumor Inhibitors. Cancer Lett. 111(1-2): 141-147, 1997.
  • Ripple, G.H., Gould, M.N., Stewart, J.A., Tutsch, K.D., Arzoomanian, R.Z., Alberti, D., Feierabend, C., Pomplun, M., Wilding, G., Bailey, H.H. Phase I Clinical Trial of Perillyl Alcohol Administered Daily. Clin.Can.Res., 4: 1159-64, May 1998.
  • Ripple, G., Gould, M., Arzoomanian, R., Alberti, D., Feierabend, C., Simon, K., Morgan, K., Tutsch, K., Pomplun, M., Wahamaki, A., Marnocha, R., Wilding, G., Bailey, H. Phase I Trial of Perillyl Alcohol Administered Four Times a Day. 34th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, May 16-19, 1998.

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