# LEECH ANTIMETASTATIC FACTORS:  ISOLATION & ACTION

> **NIH NIH R01** · PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL (PHILADELPHIA) · 1988 · $128,727

## Abstract

The purpose of this grant proposal is study the mechanism of
action of the inhibition of lung tumor colonization in mice
produced by a novel protein purified from the salivary gland
extract of Haementeria officinalis, the Mexican leech.  The
protein termed antistasin will further characterized
biophysically and biochemically.  The molecular weight,
carbohydrate composition, amino-acid sequence, and isoelectric
point of the purified material will be determined.

The effect of this protein will be investigated on the following
steps postulated to be involved in the metastatic mechanism: a)
fibrin dependent tumor cell adhesion, b) heparin-like dependent
tumor cell adhesion to the subendothelial extracellular matrix,
and c) tumor cell extravasation dependent on tumor specific
Type IV collagenase activity.  The immediate goal of these
studies is to develop an adjuvant for the treatment of metastasis
in mice.  In addition, the long-range goals of this research
proposal will be to develop the production of antistasin by
recombinant DNA technology for preclinical and clinical trials.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3171164
- **Project number:** 5R01CA033209-05
- **Recipient organization:** PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL (PHILADELPHIA)
- **Principal Investigator:** GABRIEL J GASIC
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $128,727
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1984-04-01 → 1990-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3171164

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3171164, LEECH ANTIMETASTATIC FACTORS:  ISOLATION & ACTION (5R01CA033209-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3171164. Licensed CC0.

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