Epistem progresses a potential therapeutic candidate through mode of action studies, dose optimisation and scheduling, through to functional efficacy.

Readouts:

• Apoptosis and proliferation within the small intestinal epithelium
• Crypt survival
• Diarrhoea duration and severity

Tumour Effects
Agents that protect normal tissue may also protect tumours from cytotoxic therapy and/or promote tumour growth. All anti-mucositis agents need to demonstrate that they do not compromise tumour therapy within the clinic. Epistem can assess likely tumour effects using subcutaneous xenograft models.

Specialist GI Toxicity
Many of the traditional chemotherapy agents cause severe GI toxicity. Critical to the level of severity is whether the agent affects the GI epithelial stem cells. Epistem's mucositis models can identify agents that cause mucositis and elucidate the mode of action. Preventatitive dosing regimes can then be assigned to reduce GI toxicity in the clinic.