The Caring for Carcinoid Foundation is pleased to announce the newest research grant awarded through its partnership with the American Association for Cancer Research. This two-year grant of $250,000 ($125,000 per year) will support a research team headed by Renata Pasqualini, Ph.D., of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Pasqualini's collaborators include Wadih Arap, M.D., Ph.D, of MD Anderson and Steven K. Libutti, M.D., of Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The team will explore a new, targeted strategy for treating patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Specifically, Dr. Pasqualini and her team will develop components of a virus that will be designed to kill neuroendocrine cancer cells. The virus will be modified to attach to somatostatin receptors on pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor cells, limiting negative effects on healthy tissues. The researchers will then test the effectiveness of the virus in the lab and in mouse models.

In 2011, CFCF and the AACR awarded grants to two innovative studies. The first, from Charles Rudin, M.D., Ph.D., examines how the Seneca Valley Virus targets neuroendocrine tumor cells. Meanwhile, Xianxin Hua, M.D., Ph.D., is developing novel modalities useful for treating pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Dr. Hua was recently published in the prestigious journal, Nature.

"We are excited to welcome Dr. Renata Pasqualini into our expanding community of carcinoid and neuroendocrine cancer researchers," said CFCF Executive Director Ron Hollander. "CFCF's partnership with AACR is a critical component of our strategy to develop effective targeted therapies and eventual cures."

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals has received orphan drug designation for LX1032 (telotristat etiprate) for the treatment of carcinoid syndrome. Telotristat etiprate is currently being developed under "Fast Track" status in the United States and Orphan Designation in the European Union.

Orphan Drug designation is granted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to drugs intended for the treatment of rare diseases. This designation affords various incentives from the Federal Government, such as tax benefits and enhanced patent protection.

Telotristat etiprate was developed to inhibit serotonin production. Excessive levels of serotonin have been implicated in symptoms associated with carcinoid syndrome, especially diarrhea and carcinoid heart disease.

To learn more about clinical trials of telotristat etiprate and other treatments for carcinoid, please visit CFCF's Clinical Trials Finder.