What the heck is NMP?
World first clinical trial using industrial solvent to treat blood cancer to start soon
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2014/s4001340.htm
Excerpts:
TANYA NOLAN: Researchers in Melbourne are about to embark on a world-first clinical trial using a common industrial solvent to fight advanced blood cancer.
Four years ago, a student at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre stumbled across the link during a routine experiment on myeloma cancer cells.
... later this year, a world first clinical trial will be conducted using a common solvent, NMP, as the basis of a new treatment option for people with myeloma.
Professor Ricky Johnstone is with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Clinic in Melbourne.
RICKY JOHNSTONE: I've been in the game, I guess for 25 years and this is the most exciting and most unique, the purest scientific discovery that I think, you know, I've ever been involved with.
ALISON CALDWELL: Four years ago PhD student Dr Jake Shortt was conducting a routine experiment on anti-cancer drugs using the common solvent, when he noticed the cancer cells responding to the actual solvent itself.
Professor Johnstone explains.
RICKY JOHNSTONE: We were working on models of multiple myeloma. We were looking for responses to some new anti-cancer drugs and these anti-cancer drugs were dissolved in a solvent, a common solvent called NMP and Jake, through his studies found that the solvent itself actually had anti-myeloma activities.
He continued to work on that and eventually worked out exactly how the solvent was, not only killing the myeloma cells, but also activating the immune system to fight the myelomas so it was a bit of double whammy approach.
ALISON CALDWELL: For decades, NMP has been overlooked in the laboratory.
Commonly used as a solvent for the transportation, storage and delivery of compounds, NMP is found in paints, fabrics and medical patches ...
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Re: Industrial solvent NMP could be myeloma therapy
A search for NMP solvent came up with N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone. there are a few paragraphs on the solvent on Wikipedia. Hope that helps
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philatour
Re: Industrial solvent NMP could be myeloma therapy
Found a paper. Interesting, because the substance is extremely cheap to produce and to get- compared to other agents. Animal tests showed a significant response in paraprotein levels:
http://petermac.org/sites/default/files/Research/Enabling_research/Technology_transfer_office/In%20focus%20-%20Peter%20Mac_Small%20molecule%20treatment_May2013.pdf
http://petermac.org/sites/default/files/Research/Enabling_research/Technology_transfer_office/In%20focus%20-%20Peter%20Mac_Small%20molecule%20treatment_May2013.pdf
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Thomas_L
Re: Industrial solvent NMP could be myeloma therapy
Here's the technical paper that the other articles were noting:
http://www.cell.com/cell-reports/pdf/S2211-1247%2814%2900295-2.pdf
This touches on the fact that 30 people will participate in the trial.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/household-solvent-may-be-a-solution-to-fighting-blood-cancer/story-fni0fiyv-1226910916832
Wouldn't it be ironic if it were found that solvents caused multiple myeloma and solvents also helped treat it?
Go Australia!
http://www.cell.com/cell-reports/pdf/S2211-1247%2814%2900295-2.pdf
This touches on the fact that 30 people will participate in the trial.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/household-solvent-may-be-a-solution-to-fighting-blood-cancer/story-fni0fiyv-1226910916832
Wouldn't it be ironic if it were found that solvents caused multiple myeloma and solvents also helped treat it?
Go Australia!
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Industrial solvent NMP could be myeloma therapy
Thanks for letting all of us here know about this research, Thomas.
The Beacon just published a review of the research, which can be found here:
"Common Solvent Appears To Have Anti-Myeloma Activity"
Normally, we don't devote a full-length article to preclinical research -- if we decide to cover it all. There have been far too many preclinical studies that have suggested drugs could be active against myeloma, yet the drugs later end up showing little or know activity when actually tested in myeloma patients.
In this case, however, the preclinical research is really very, very extensive. NMP was tested not just in myeloma cell lines grown in laboratory cultures, but also in mice with implanted myeloma cells (and rather aggressive ones at that).
In addition, the researchers did a wide array of tests to better understand exactly how NMP might exert a potential anti-myeloma effect.
Finally, the researchers involved in the study are well known and have extensive experience with these sorts of investigations, and the journal where the study was published is well respected.
None of this means that NMP is guaranteed to become an approved myeloma therapy sometime in the future. A tremendous amount of caution is still warranted.
But the new study is definitely important.
The Beacon just published a review of the research, which can be found here:
"Common Solvent Appears To Have Anti-Myeloma Activity"
Normally, we don't devote a full-length article to preclinical research -- if we decide to cover it all. There have been far too many preclinical studies that have suggested drugs could be active against myeloma, yet the drugs later end up showing little or know activity when actually tested in myeloma patients.
In this case, however, the preclinical research is really very, very extensive. NMP was tested not just in myeloma cell lines grown in laboratory cultures, but also in mice with implanted myeloma cells (and rather aggressive ones at that).
In addition, the researchers did a wide array of tests to better understand exactly how NMP might exert a potential anti-myeloma effect.
Finally, the researchers involved in the study are well known and have extensive experience with these sorts of investigations, and the journal where the study was published is well respected.
None of this means that NMP is guaranteed to become an approved myeloma therapy sometime in the future. A tremendous amount of caution is still warranted.
But the new study is definitely important.
Re: Industrial solvent NMP could be myeloma therapy
Thomas,
Very interesting. I have been working in heavy equipment and farm machinery repairs since I was about 18. Using industrial solvents in the early times was the only way to clean and prepare parts for assembly. I remember that a lot of times my hands would tingle after cleaning parts.
Years ago no one wore protective gloves when using solvent. In probably the last 10 years, I have used gloves when doing any solvent cleaning and overall repairs because our safety coordinator who follows OSHA rules said that we should wear gloves. About three or four years ago the shop where I work was not allowed to have any parts cleaners using solvent (California). They said it could cause cancer. Didn't say what type of cancer. We now have a water based parts cleaner that really doesn't do the job like solvent did.
So now this industrial solvent that was banned in our shop due to it could cause cancer is now in a study to treat multiple myeloma. I have been on Revlimid and dexamethasone for about 4 months with no side effects and my oncologist says he is impressed by the early results. One of my questions for him at my next office visit is going to be about becoming immune to this treatment at some point. And his thoughts on this new solvent study.
Thank you, George
Very interesting. I have been working in heavy equipment and farm machinery repairs since I was about 18. Using industrial solvents in the early times was the only way to clean and prepare parts for assembly. I remember that a lot of times my hands would tingle after cleaning parts.
Years ago no one wore protective gloves when using solvent. In probably the last 10 years, I have used gloves when doing any solvent cleaning and overall repairs because our safety coordinator who follows OSHA rules said that we should wear gloves. About three or four years ago the shop where I work was not allowed to have any parts cleaners using solvent (California). They said it could cause cancer. Didn't say what type of cancer. We now have a water based parts cleaner that really doesn't do the job like solvent did.
So now this industrial solvent that was banned in our shop due to it could cause cancer is now in a study to treat multiple myeloma. I have been on Revlimid and dexamethasone for about 4 months with no side effects and my oncologist says he is impressed by the early results. One of my questions for him at my next office visit is going to be about becoming immune to this treatment at some point. And his thoughts on this new solvent study.
Thank you, George
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Castaway - Name: George
- Who do you know with myeloma?: just myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/24/14
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Industrial solvent NMP could be myeloma therapy
Hi, any news about the promising solvent form this Beacon article?
"Common Solvent Appears To Have Anti-Myeloma Activity", The Myeloma Beacon, May 9, 2014
Are there some trials on the way? Any news form the research team? This solvent seemed to me very promising because of the little side effects and the combination possibilities with other agents. Anyone?
"Common Solvent Appears To Have Anti-Myeloma Activity", The Myeloma Beacon, May 9, 2014
Are there some trials on the way? Any news form the research team? This solvent seemed to me very promising because of the little side effects and the combination possibilities with other agents. Anyone?
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Thomas
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