Marshall Edwards Inc.

About Phenoxodiol

Frequently asked questions

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Sphingosine Kinase

Continuous exposure to chemical growth factors in the blood is the reason that cells remain alive. Each growth factor connects to its corresponding receptor on the surface of the cell. This connection then triggers a signal transduction process that ultimately instructs the cell's DNA to maintain survival and growth.

There are possibly hundreds of different types of growth factors, but some of the main ones are:

platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
fibroblast growth factor (FGF)
vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF)
insulin-like growth factor (ILGF)
epidermal growth factor (EGF)
interleukins
ß-integrins.

A combination of any of these growth factors with their specific receptors triggers the enzyme, sphingosine kinase. Lipids (fats) such sphingosine and ceramide are assembled in the cell's membrane in the vicinity of the receptors. The purpose of sphingosine kinase is to convert the lipid, sphingosine, to sphingosine-1-phosphate (S-1P). S-1P then acts as the trigger to the ensuing signalling process that ultimately activates various pro-survival mechanisms in the cell's genome.

Cancer cells
In cancer cells, sphingosine kinase activity is increased dramatically. This means that cancer cells produce more S-1P than normal, with the result that cancer cells over-activate their pro-survival mechanisms. In this way, cancer cells survive indefinitely.

Phenoxodiol
Phenoxodiol reduces the ability of the cancer cell to make S-1P. Without S-1P, the cancer cell's pro-survival mechanisms are not activated and the cell is able to enter apoptosis.

Phenoxodiol has no effect on S-1P levels in normal cells.

Contact Details

Marshall Edwards, Inc.
140 Wicks Road
North Ryde NSW 2113
Australia

T: +61 2 8877 6196
F: +61 2 9878 8474

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