History
NeoLek - Integrated Laboratory of Experimental Oncology and Innovative Technologies derives from the Department of Experimental Oncology of Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences in Wroclaw. Since 1969 in this Department, Prof. Czesław Radzikowski’s science team has been conducting research on potential anticancer substances, resulting in significant achievements in science.
- Selection of preparations with potential anticancer activity, including: the introduction of the original drug (Ledakrin) and recommending to the preparations of the group and bromine derivatives of, ifosfamide and imidazo acridinone, synthesized in the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, an international program of preclinical studies. Preparation of symbol CBM-4A (racemic chlorobromofosfamide) has qualified for the phase I/II clinical trials by the committee acting under the Cancer Research Campaign in in the UK;
- Developing models of transplantable mouse tumors, the organization of the Centre Breeding Mice Bank Institute and Cancer Line of animal and human;
- Identification of the antigen ML (mammary leukaemia) on the surface of leukemic cells; demonstrating quantitative differences in the expression of antigens H-2 complex antigens and leukaemia, indicating on significant correlation between the expression of tumour antigens (TAA) and the loss of some of the specificity of the H-2 complex; to demonstrate differences in the expression of surface antigens (TF, Tn, sjaloLea) and profile glycosylation of glycoproteins and glycolipids associated with cancer malignant phenotype; introduction of a human tumor xenotransplantation model to athymic mice;
- Participation in preclinical studies in the field of cancer chemotherapy in the government programme "Combating Cancer", coordinated by the Memorial Cancer Centre Institute – Maria Sklodowska - Curie in Warsaw and in multicentre studies "Synthesis, preclinical studies and the development of production technology and drug compounds for anticancer activity”;
One of the initiators of the creation of NeoLek Laboratory was the first head of the Department of Experimental Oncology – Prof. Adam Opolski (1955-2005). Two laboratories of this department became NeoLek’s backstage – the Laboratory of Experimental Anti-cancer Therapy (study of biological activity of preparations in vitro and in vivo) and the Laboratory of Biomedical Chemistry (at the levels of drugs and their metabolites, biotransformation of drugs and innovative technologies).