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THE MAGNIFIER Issue #20, April 16, 2004
Newsletter from the Macular Degeneration Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 531313 Henderson, NV 89053
http://www.eyesight.org
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WHAT DO CANCEROUS TUMOR CELLS AND
MACULAR DEGENERATION (WET FORM) HAVE IN COMMON?
The answer is: recruiting new blood vessel growth. Tumor cells cannot grow without recruiting new blood vessel growth. The eye,
without the proper nutrition and circulation, also recruits new blood vessel growth in the wet form or late stages of macular degeneration.
Researchers have long determined that by eradicating new blood vessel growth to the
tumors they would starve, shrink and disappear. Years of research have finally provided many inhibitors that are in the phase II and III trials. Inhibitors are compounds designed to eliminate or eradicate the new blood
vessel growth.
In the wet form of Macular Degeneration, the eradication of the recruited new blood vessel growth eliminates the bleeding and leakage from these unstable blood vessels.
The process of a tumor or an
organ (such as the eye) recruiting new blood vessel growth is called angiogenesis, named by Dr. Judah Folkman, father of cancer research. The process of eradicating the new blood vessel growth with the use of inhibitors is
called antiangiogenesis.
Since 1980 eleven angiogenesis inhibitors have been discovered and seven of those are in clinical trials.
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MACUGEN SHOW PROMISE
For Treating Wet Macular Degeneration
http://www.ahaf.org/whatsnew/M_Macugen_Nov_2003.htm
Results from a large Phase III clinical trial using an experimental drug were recently presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The wet form
of macular degeneration is caused by the abnormal growth of fragile blood vessels in the retina that leak blood and cause damage to the light-sensitive photoreceptor cells. The new drug, called Macugen, works by blocking vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that promotes blood vessel growth. Macugen has the potential for helping all patients with the wet form of the disease, whereas the currently approved treatment, photodynamic therapy, is
only approved for patients that have a subtype of wet macular degeneration. The results of the current clinical trial did indicate that Macugen can slow vision loss, but it did not appear to significantly improve vision, contrary
to the results of some earlier smaller studies. If the FDA approves this drug, it could be on the market in 2005.
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GENETIC FACTORS IN AMD
From University of Cambridge web site
Do genes have anything to do with age-related macular degeneration? Research is beginning to show that genes may play an important role in AMD. For example, some studies have shown that if one identical twin has
AMD the other is almost certain to have it also. Other studies have shown that certain races may be more likely to develop a particular form of AMD compared with other races. In Japan, for example, they tend to get a
particular form of wet AMD, which is very different from the form of wet AMD we get in this country.
Why do we bother trying to find the gene that causes a disease?
In almost any disease finding which genes are involved
can lead to a better understanding of the chemicals and molecules in the body that are deficient or not working properly. If we know which molecules are involved in causing the disease, we will have a better chance of finding
ways to prevent or treat the disease. In other words, although finding the genes will not lead directly to a cure, it will be one part of the jigsaw and lead us a step closer to finding a cure
.
What about the environment?
It is certainly recognized that the environment has a part to play in the development of macular degeneration. Research has shown that people with similar genetic background may have different
risks of developing AMD if they live in different environments.
In the "Genetics in AMD Study" the researchers at the University of Cambridge are trying to help find a cause for age-related macular
degeneration. AMD is the biggest cause of blind and partial sight registration in the western world and yet treatment options are limited. Some research has shown that some people may be at higher risk of developing the
disease because of their genes. The University of Cambridge wants to find the genes that cause some people to be at higher risk than others. They will also see if there is any link with certain aspects of lifestyle.
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MACULAR DEGENERATION GENE
By Medstar.com
Ruth Oster, a victim of the dry form of AMD, has lost most of her central vision. Macular degeneration runs in Ruth's
family. Scientists recently discovered that half of her family members have one particular gene mutation called Hemicentin-1. "Everyone who had the disease carried this chromosome and everyone who didn't have the
disease yet, did not carry this mutation," said Molecular Geneticist Dennis Schultz.
Scientists believe genetics may be responsible for up to half of all macular degeneration cases. They also think there are
likely many genes that cause the condition. But this one discovery in Ruth's family is significant and could eventually lead to a cure.
Scientists at the Macular Degeneration Center at Oregon Health & Science
University's Casey Eye Institute made the discovery of the mutation gene known as Hemicentin-1. Their findings were published in the December issue of the journal "Human Molecular Genetics."
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MDF was founded in 1992 by Edmund J. Aleksandrovich (a victim of macular degeneration). It provides MD patients and their families with the information necessary to understand the
disease, the latest news concerning ways to cope with the disease, and supports the efforts of researchers to find a cure.
Contributions are appreciated and may be sent in care of the Macular Degeneration Research
Fund, P.O. Box 531313, Henderson, NV 89053 or by visiting our website.
http://www.eyesight.org/Donations/donations.html
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Subscribers who wish to cancel their
subscription or change their email address may visit: http://www.eyesight.org/Newsletter/newsletter.html .
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