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Mary Ann Benitez

Polytechnic University scientists have developed a new drug for liver cancer that will undergo clinical trials this month.

The researchers are hopeful that the new drug, BCT-100, can become the first homegrown drug for the effective treatment of liver cancer.

Two terminally ill patients at Queen Mary Hospital initially experienced a drop in the level of their liver cancer markers after receiving the drug under a 'compassionate use programme' in collaboration with the University of Hong Kong, said Paul Cheng Ning-man,  adjunct associate professor at Polytechnic University's department of applied biology and chemical technology.

One patient remains stable and is still receiving treatment, but the second patient stopped treatment after several weeks when his tumour did not shrink. There were no reportable side effects after the sixth weekly injection, he said.

Laboratory tests in various animals showed the drug could potentially shrink liver tumours without side effects.

'It is the first time that a drug has been developed in Hong Kong that can be used for clinical trials,' said Thomas Leung Yun-chung,  a lecturer at the university's department of applied biology and chemical technology.

Using recombinant DNA technology, the team produced an enzyme that could deplete an amino acid called arginine, which is necessary for the growth of liver tumours.

'If we can remove arginine from the blood, we then stop its supply to the liver cancer cells. Therefore, the liver cancer cells will be inhibited,' Dr Leung said.

Nine terminally ill liver cancer patients will be recruited for the first phase of human trials. They will begin this month.

'The chance that we can develop it into a real drug and put it on the market is pretty high,' Dr Leung said,  adding that the drug could be on the market by 2007.

For its discovery, the team of scientists won a Special Gold Award at last month's 33rd International Exhibition of Inventions, New Techniques and Products in Geneva, Switzerland.

About 1,500 people develop liver cancer each year in Hong Kong. Nearly 40 per cent of newly diagnosed patients are in critical condition,  with a median survival time of six months.



High hopes as local scientists trial liver cancer drug