Prostate cancer diagnostics are riddled with unintended harmful consequences. Phigenix is working hard to develop new, earlier, easier techniques for detection and treatment.

DIGITAL RECTAL EXAMS (DRE) and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) TEst 

DREs and PSA test both require a doctor's appointment.  The DRE can miss small cancerous lesions and the PSA test can result in higher-than-acceptable false positive rates based on scores that fluctuate wildly, and often lead to incorrect or harmful treatment.

PHIGENIX'S APPROACH TO PROSTATE CANCER

Early Cancer Detection

Early and accurate detection of cancer is critical for disease management and patient quality of life. PHIGENIX is developing technology which signals the onset of disease prior to the development of cancer. Initial studies suggest that this technology may distinguish non-threatening growth from malignant growth which would decrease unnecessary biopsies and surgeries. The new cancer tests have significant advantages over current tests and may ultimately serve as a cancer early detection/prognostic tool.  These "Companion" diagnostic tests may also assist physicians in determining the best course of treatment as well as monitor treatment effectiveness.

Novel Immune-based Therapeutics

We are currently developing compounds which have been shown to effectively kill late-stage prostate cancer cells. Early studies have shown that these compounds have no effect on normal prostate cells. Pre-clinical animal studies are underway determine their efficacy for clinical use. PHIGENIX has early-stage intellectual property covering siRNA, antibodies and small molecules for treating early and late-stage prostate cancer.

Cancer Chemoprevention and Vaccine

Carcinogenesis is a multi-year, multi-step, multi-path disease of progressive genetic and associated tissue damage. Chemoprevention involves the use of drugs or other agents to inhibit, delay, or reverse this process. We are developing small molecules such as siRNAs as well as antibodies which suppress the expression or activity of a specific cancer causing protein, and subsequently increases the expression of a naturally occurring tumor suppressor. It is thought that early therapeutic intervention in the progression of prostate disease may prevent the formation aggressive prostate cancer. Such strategies may reduce the number of cancer-related deaths as well as disease-related complications. We are also developing a cancer vaccine that utilizes a human beta defensin-1 (DEFB1) mRNA to selectively target cancer cells for destruction by the immune system.