The hedge hog pathway drives the proliferation of cancer stem cells and has been a target for drug development for sometime, based on earlier work with the plant-derived substance, cyclopamine, a specific blocking agent of the hedge hog pathway. Novel hedge hog drugs have been developed by several pharmaceutical companies and new reports are showing effectiveness in treating cancer. Hedge hog blocking drugs are known to kill cancer stem cells and this mechanism may underlie their effectiveness in cancer treatment. Vitro ™s novel stem cell mediated cancer therapy complements hedge hog drugs by targeted destruction of cancer stem cells.

Dr. Rice, a member of Vitro ™s SAB and a University of Colorado cancer researcher said, Cellular-mediated destruction of cancer stem cells represents a promising new avenue for the development of effective treatments that specifically target cancer stem cells. Vitro has developed an exciting portfolio of products to advance research in this field, which is one of the few approaches to show promise against intractable cancers such as most forms of brain cancer. Additionally, Vitro ™s patent pending technology for cancer therapy represents an exciting and novel approach to the selective eradication of cancer stem cells that could usher in new promise in the fight against cancer.

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