+
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014
PAGE 3A
+
Professor researches sickle cell cure
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Kenneth Peterson, a University professor, discovered chemical compounds that could lead to more effective ways to treat sickle cell disease.
ALEX KEENAN
@AlexAlexk91
Kenneth Peterson, a professor and vice chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University has discovered chemical compounds that could lead to new, more effective ways to treat sickle cell disease (SCD).
SCD is a genetic mutation that causes red blood cells to turn a sickle shape, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People born with the disease are at high risk for several chronic health issues, such as infections or heart disease.
There are no wholly effective low-risk, low-cost ways to treat SCD as of now, but Peterson and his fellow researchers' work may be the first step to finding one. Peterson was able to sit down with the Kansan and answer some questions regarding his research, and what he hopes will come next.
KANSAN: What treatments are currently available?
PETERSON: There are a couple of old-fashioned ones, like giving iron supplements to overcome the anemia. There's blood-transfusion. The cutting-edge of technology is doing a bone marrow transplantation to replace the sickle cells with new stem cells that don't make sickle cell. Of course, that's hugely expensive and cost prohibitive. Hydroxyurea is the most common drug and the only FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved drug for treatment. It has mixed outcomes. It's really limited to use with pediatric patients. Adults don't respond to it really well, and over time the effectiveness of the drug appears to wane. There are some other compounds like butyric acid and things like that in clinical trial, but nothing that's really specific for treating sickle cell.
factors in treating sickle cell?
KANSAN: Is cost one of the major
PETERSON: Oh yeah. To have access to hydroxyurea treatment is not universal. Obviously blood transfusions have to be done at a medical clinic, so if you're in a third-world country where they don't have that medical care, it's not going to happen. The bone marrow transplant, as I said, is hugely expensive and comes with all sorts of risks, and has to be done in special facilities. What you really want is a good $2 or $3 pill that you can take that will reactivate fetal globin. A good specific drug to treat that would be great.
KANSAN: Your research is looking to create that drug?
PETERSON: That's exactly right.
It's to identify new compounds and ultimately, maybe, some already FDA approved drugs that can be immediately used for treatment. It would be like taking something for high blood pressure or cholesterol.
PETERSON: It's something you would have to take every day. It's a drug therapy, so it would be long-term. But, like any pill you take for the rest of your life, it's easy to get patients to be compliant. It's an easy treatment. I would think that it would be for the rest of your life.
KANSAN: Are the treatments going to be short-term or long-term?
steps in your research?
PETERSON: We screened 121,000 compounds. These compounds aren't ready as pharmacologics for humans. You have to add some side-chains that will allow these compounds to affect the transcription of the fetal gamma-globin genes. Some sort of medicinal chemistry will have to be done, so we'll have to collaborate with someone on the compounds we've isolated. There needs to be safety testing, dose determination. You need to look for side effects. We also have animal testing to go through, and then, and only after all of that, we would hope to move to clinical trials. If we can run our screen again against libraries of already approved
KANSAN: What are the next
drugs, then you can fast track that towards patient usefulness. So wed like to do that too.
KANSAN: What do you hope happens as a result of this research?
Edited by Jennifer Salva
PETERSON: I always hope to raise awareness. Not only would these drugs be useful for sickle cell, but they'd be useful for another mutation called Cooley's anemia, and for certain beta-thalassemias, thalassemias being mutations in the adult beta globin gene or deletions. If you come up with a good treatment for sickle cell disease, it certainly gives you the satisfaction of knowing you're helping a lot of patients out there.
KU $ \textcircled{1} $nfo
The KU Vietnam War Memorial, just north of the Chi Omega Fountain, was dedicated in 1986 and was the nation's first such memorial on a college campus.
FOLLOW USON
+
CLINIQUE BONUS
Ends This Saturday, October 18th
Paint the town pretty.
Free* in your 7-piece gift.
Moisture-rich treats for skin,
mouth-watering lip colour and more.
Your bonus with any Clinique
purchase of $27.00 or more.
* A $70.00 value. While Supplies Last.
Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer Reveals brighter, smoother skin and delivers abundant moisture while you sleep.
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ Reformulated to strengthen skin's own moisture barrier by 54%
Different Lipstick in A Different Grape
A pop of smooth, vibrant, just-right colour for lips.
BONUS EXCLUSIVE Cline Colour Compact Eva shadow duo plus a super-wearable blush
5 Lash Doubling Mascara In Black Double the fun for lashes - magnifies them up to twice their size.
Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips
Totally tugless, two-way formula removes eye and lip makeups in a pinch.
BONUS EXCLUSIVE Cosmetic Bag
Weaver's
9th & Massachusetts • 843-6360
BE A TEAM PLAYER!