Endocyte, Purdue develop prostate cancer treatment device

The man whose research launched West Lafayette-based Endocyte Inc. thinks he has a new innovation to treat prostate cancer.

Purdue University researcher Philip Low, also the chief science officer for Endocyte, has developed
a prostate cancer “homing device” to help anti-cancer agents specifically target
prostate cancer tumors. The device is a molecule synthesized by Low and his research team, which finds
and penetrates prostate cancer cells.

Low

Low’s researchers have figured out how to attach anti-cancer drugs to the
molecule or imaging agents that could help doctors target
the tumors with radiation or surgery.

Better targeting of cancer therapy
cuts down on severe side effects of traditional chemotherapy and radiation.

Endocyte
targets other kinds of cancers by attaching drugs to folate molecules,
which bind speedily to many cancer cells, but not to prostate cancers. Endoycte
is funding Low’s latest round of research and will
help pay for a clinical trial expected to start this fall at Indiana University Hospital in Indianapolis.