WntResearch's scientific founder publishes study on WNT5A signaling in scientific journal

WntResearch announces today that a study describing WNT5A signaling and its mechanism of action has been published in the scientific journal Cells. The publication strengthens the hypothesis that Foxy-5, through its ability to mimic WNT5A signaling, can inhibit the spread of colon cancer. The study was led by Professor Tommy Andersson, co-founder of WntResearch, and his research group in collaboration with Professor Anita Sjölander's research group.   

In the study, the researchers examined WNT5A expression and its signaling in patients' colon cancer tissue, in various colon cancer cells and in an animal model to gain a better understanding of Foxy-5's mechanism of action. WntResearch's drug candidate Foxy-5 is a peptide that mimics the endogenous protein WNT5A and has the ability to reduce the number of cancer stem cells and thus reduce the spread of cancer cells. The findings also broaden the possibility of identifying patients with colon cancer with a high risk of rapid progression of the disease.  

WNT/β-catenin signaling is crucial for the development and progression of colon cancer, and WNT5A, like the peptide Foxy-5, has been shown to have an inhibitory effect on β-catenin signaling via so far unknown mechanisms. The research group investigated in cell lines and in a mouse model if and how WNT5A signaling affects the LGR5 receptor and its ligand RSPO3, both of which are promoters of WNT/β-catenin signaling. The researchers found that WNT5A and Foxy-5 signaling reduced the expression of both LGR5 and RSP03 as well as β-catenin activity in colon cancer cells and tissue. This shows a link and possible mechanism to how WNT5A/Foxy-5 reduces the number of cancer stem cells and that this mechanism also reduces the expression of VEGFA (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A), which stimulates neovascularization and thus growth of the tumor.

"The results from the study reinforce the view that a treatment that mimics WNT5A signaling is an attractive target for reducing the number of cancer stem cells and thus the spread of colon cancer cells, potentially prolonging the relapse-free survival of patients with colon cancer," says Professor Tommy Andersson, co-founder and board member of WntResearch.

The study is researcher-initiated and has not been sponsored by WntResearch, but the company has extensive patent protection on Foxy-5.

Publikation: "LGR5 Expression Predicting Poor Prognosis Is Negatively Correlated with WNT5A in Colon Cancer"

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/12/22/2658

För vidare upplysningar:

Pernilla Sandwall, vd
E-post: pernilla.sandwall@wntresearch.com

Om WntResearch

WntResearch är ett biotechbolag inom onkologi som utvecklar nya terapier för att motverka utveckling av cancermetastaser. Bolagets forskning är fokuserad mot att studera det kroppsegna proteinet WNT5A, som i vetenskapliga studier visat sig påverka tumörcellers förmåga att förflytta och sprida sig i kroppen. WntResearch läkemedelskandidat Foxy-5 är en peptid som efterliknar WNT5A:s funktion med syfte att minska rörligheten och spridningen av cancerceller och därigenom motverka att metastaser uppstår. Även om dagens cancerbehandling har blivit mer effektiv, finns det inga effektiva sätt att förhindra uppkomsten av metastaser som orsakar cirka 90 procent av alla cancerrelaterade dödsfall. Foxy-5 har en unik verkningsmekanism och har uppvisat en god säkerhetsprofil med få biverkningar i två kliniska fas I-studier. Foxy-5s säkerhet och effekt utvärderas nu i den pågående klinisk fas 2-studien NeoFox, på patienter med tjocktarmscancer i stadium II-III.

WntResearch säte är i Malmö och bolaget är noterat på Spotlight Stock Market. För mer information se: www.wntresearch.com