Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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: I jp|fl I ^HH^EBhH 1 I -- fl^vT%v||f'^E&S|BHHB^HKt ^H'^"v gagppH 0fj& ^^^MBBKMHf:: Staff Photo by DAVE GRIMLEY Ronny Jacobs contributes to Alpha Tau j Omega fundraiser for the American Cancer Society Wednesday afternoon on the Russell - House patio. (JSC Baseball: Gamecocks vs. thi at Clemson University Sunday ternoon. STUDENT \ '^FNT I C^VV USC Chemists D< ror Anti-Lancer E USC chemists have developed a new metnod for producing i the potential anti-cancer drug quadrone, paving the way for its successful use in chemotherapy. The process developed at USC provides pharmaceutical chemists with the key to designing chemical variants of quadrone that will react with specific cancerous cells and cause fewer side effects, according to Dr. Steven Burke, research director of the USC quadrone project and an assistant professor in USC's department of chemisty. The research data will be presented March 29 at the National Meotinc of t.hfl Amprican f!hf?miral Sooipfv in I.as Vegas, Nev. New chemical compounds that have arisen from this study will be screened at the National Cancer Institute for anti-cancer activity before they can be used on humans in clinical applications. "The ability to modify quadrone's molecular structure will allow scientists to design the drug for a more targeted application," Burke explained. "And the high-yield process should prove very attractive for laboratory production." South Carolina's research has been supported during the past three years with grants totalling $187,235 from the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, Research Corp. and petroleum Research Fund. Discovered in 1978, quadrone was available only in limited quantities extracted from organic matter. Studies indicated that this natural substance would produce harmful side effects in addition to attacking cancerous cells. Burke said. During the past three years, about 25 research institutions e Clemson Tigers The Gamecock and Monday af- the following M ml ^ ' I o/^tA&^lasA Ca%\e*N- I iK I ^ S^\ I I the Russell and the svelop Method rue Production n the United States independently have investigated synhetic production of quadrone to improve its characteristics ind increase its availability. Three have made breakthroughs, including the University of South Carolina, {ale University and the State University of New York at itony Brook. "The other two developments share a general strategic chemical theme, while USC's takes an entirely different :actical approach," Burke said. "As is true in such chemical syntheses, every compound in the molecular sequence is an entirely new substance never before made or characterized. "The underlying principle guiding USC's synthetic strategy was to form all key carbon-carbon bonds by intramolecular processes," the USC assistant professor said. "While the chances for any single compound to be clinically useful are rather small, this technology advances the possibility of generating many compounds of similar structure and modified biological activity? increasing the clinical potential." Burke said the procedures developed in the synthesis of quadrone provide an important training ground for the next generation of scientists in pharmaceutical and academic communities. In addition to Burke, USC's quadrone research team comprises chemistry graduate students Bill Murtiashaw, Jeff Saunders, and post doctoral associate Dr. Meera Dike. "It is now clear that with available synthetic methods and analytical tools we can build in a rational way quite complex molecules. Our overall goal is to devise new chemistry and apply it to some significant problem? like chemotherapy." - * ^ /vill not be published on Friday or I unday due to the holiday. I ar& co/v/ia/ius incntew ? to- attend H + J ikfast with the [ a &% 4* -I /a//, /<?&? I aty.SO a/.m\ I roomy <33J2 I e/l tftaa&es 9/rm>ersit^ cl/s?ioris I > Ms tAe^ ^/CctuHtie& Office^ 1 t/i& yrl/i?&e/lffloa-s& 1 CZ? / n I ^j/ruted' U eaa/up jj Sponsored by I House University Union { | | H Dffiee of the President foss?l house -,5 ^ B