A group led by Ben Shen, Professor in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, and researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York have modified a family of potent bioactive compounds known as enediynes to enhance their anticancer activity.

The engineered enediynes may be shown to be therapeutically advantageous, especially in solid tumors. The work is highlighted in a news brief, “Enediynes Taught to Act Better” in the November 5, 2007 edition of Chemical & Engineering News. The full paper explaining the findings was published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.