I have pancreatic cancer. Can someone tell me what this is? N-[8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl) amino] Caprylate?

I am 39 years old. There is as major breakthrough using a drug called Cromolyn which cannot absorb orally (only 1%). This substance "N-[8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl) amino] Caprylate (SNAC)" allows it to pass through the gastric membranes into the bloodstream. It appears to be a N-acylated amino acid. Can someone tell me if it is common and if there is a "trade name" or "common name"? i.e. Tuarine or baking soda or if it is a drug of somekind?. The potential cure for pancreatic cancer is involved here. Thank you for any assistance.

This type of technology seems to be presently developped by a small company named Emisphere technologies.

They have developped in this way oral insulin, oral heparin and other orally active formulations using N-alkylated peptides as transporters. They seem to be bent on putting ready made oral formulations on the market.

The name you have given is the chemical, 'common' name. You can probably find it at some chemical-selling company like Aldrich, although I doubt that it will be 'acceptable for drug use', meaning they wont guarantee its purity from trace metals and solvents.

But I doubt that it is only 'take a pill of that' and 'take a pill of this'. I think the actual formulation, the mix proportion, pH and adjuvants are also important to make it work. This company must have published some patents. You might look them up. But you will need a competent chemist with a decent lab to make such a thing...

Pancreatic cancer (also called cancer of the pancreas) is a malignant tumour within the pancreatic gland. Each year about 32,000 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with this condition, and more than 60,000 in Europe. Depending on the extent of the tumour at the time of diagnosis, the prognosis is generally regarded as poor, with few victims still alive 5 years after diagnosis, and complete remission still extremely rare.

About 95 percent of pancreatic tumors are adenocarcinomas .The remaining 5 percent include other tumors of the exocrine pancreas (e.g. serous cystadenomas), acinar cell cancers, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (such as insulinomas).These tumors have a completely different diagnostic and therapeutic profile, and generally a more favorable prognosis.

have you asked your oncologist?

Caprylate refers to some kind of salt, and there are many, magnesium caprylate, sodium caprilate, and lots more. The one you mention appears to be synthetic.

As for Cromolyn it has been used by asthmatics for many years. It is well absorbed through the respiratory tract, so if absorption is the only concern here, why add an unknown like the Caprylate you mention to gain absorption in the gastric tract? Why not just use the inhaler already available?

the drof oral absorption of heparin with sodium N-[8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino] caprylate.
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Pharm Res. 2002; 19(8):1180-4 (ISSN: 0724-8741)
Malkov D; Wang HZ; Dinh S; Gomez-Orellana I
Emisphere Technologies, Inc., Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA.

PURPOSE: The oral bioavailability of heparin is negligible. Recent studies, however, have shown that sodium N-[8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl) amino]caprylate (SNAC) and other N-acylated amino acids enable oral heparin absorption. To investigate the mechanism by which heparin crosses the intestinal epithelium in the presence of SNAC, we have used fluorescence microscopy to follow the transport of heparin across Caco-2 cell monolayers. METHODS: The experiments were carried out on Caco-2 monolayers and Caco-2 cells grown to confluence on culture dishes, using different concentrations of SNAC. The localization of fluorescently labeled heparin was determined using epi-fluorescence and confocal microscopy. DNA dyes were used to determine the effect of SNAC on the plasma membrane integrity. F-actin was labeled with fluorescent phalloidin to investigate the stability of perijunctional actin rings in the presence of SNAC. RESULTS: Heparin was detected in the cytoplasm only after incubation of the cells with heparin and SNAC. No DNA staining was observed in cells incubated with a DNA dye in the presence of SNAC concentrations at which heparin transport occurred. In addition, no signs of actin redistribution or perijunctional ring disbandment were observed during the transport of heparin. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that SNAC enables heparin transport across Caco-2 monolayers via the transcellular pathway. Heparin transport in the presence of SNAC is selective and does not involve permeabilization of the plasma membrane
ug is heparin with sodium. look it up on www. medscape drug info .com

I think you should ask your pharmacicst. They know more about drugs than even your Oncologist knows. Its way over my head. I have been a cancer RN for 12 yrs, but never heard of this. Of course, I just give the treatments. I am not a chemist.
God bless you. and good luck finding the answer.