PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ: PMCB) disclosed that it has started a pivotal study to determine if the treatment PharmaCyte uses for locally advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer Cell-in-a-Box (CypCaps) combined with the cancer-killing prodrug ifosfamide can also delay the rate of production and growth of malignant ascites.
Malignant ascites are fluid released by abdominal tumors which include liver, breast, colon, stomach, intestine, ovarian, and uterine cancers. This fluid contains cancer cells that can make new tumors throughout the abdomen. Malignant ascites gather in the abdominal cavity. It caused swelling of the abdomen, serious breathing difficulties, and extreme pain. It needs to be removed periodically, which is painful and costly.
Furthermore, PMCB disclosed that it is happy to restart its malignant ascites program and recommence its work on developing a treatment for malignant ascites. The company intends to carry out another preclinical study in Germany with Heidelberg Pharma that simulates an earlier study that indicates the production of malignant ascites can be delayed by its cancer treatment. The cancer cells the firm will be using in the study have been ordered, and the design of the protocol is in progress.
In addition, the company revealed that there is no cure available that prevents or delays the production and accumulation of malignant ascites. PharmaCyte is striving to change the treatment environment for malignant ascites fluid using its treatment.