Release – Esports Entertainment Group Partners with NetEase to Become Official Tournament and Broadcast Provider of Naraka: Bladepoint

 


Esports Entertainment Group Partners with NetEase to Become Official Tournament and Broadcast Provider of Naraka: Bladepoint

Newark, New Jersey–(Newsfile Corp. – October 22, 2021) – Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMBL) (NASDAQ: GMBLW) (or the “Company”) and their EGL brand have signed a partnership with NetEase (NASDAQ: NTES) to become their official North American tournament and broadcasting provider for Naraka: Bladepoint, running the entirety of the Morus Cups Seasons One, Two, and Three, which take place between September and November 2021. The Company will run the tournaments as well as produce the broadcasts to cover it all. This partnership is another six-figure source of revenue for the Company.

The partnership’s promotion began at the end of August with the Asura Showmatch, with players getting an opportunity to go up against some of the world’s most popular streamers. The event drew over 85,000 viewers.

“Nakara: Bladepoint has already taken the gaming world by storm, and we are hoping that in working with NetEase, we can build a fun, competitive and sustainable esport ecosystem,” said Glen Elliott, General Manager of EGL. “It’s a pleasure working with such a global giant like NetEase on launching their esport activation around its new exciting game, Nakara: Bladepoint.”

Each of the three seasons of the Morus Cup will be narrowed down through three stages with each having a distinct prize pool of $20,000, including a qualification into the December Grand Finals that has a $100,000 reward. The Grand Finals will be broadcasted live in studio.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with Esports Entertainment Group and EGL to bring an amazing gaming experience to our Naraka: Bladepoint players,” said Archer Wang, Marketing Executive of NetEase’s 24 Entertainment“With the success of August’s showmatch, we are more than confident in Esports Entertainment Group’s ability to create a top notch event for both our competitors and viewers.”

The Morus Cup kicked off on September 4 and Nakara: Bladepoint looks to be one of the battle royale genre’s hottest new entries. Nakara: Bladepoint has recently been nominated for a Golden Joystick Award in the category of Best Multiplayer Game.

About Esports Entertainment Group

Esports Entertainment Group is a full stack esports and online gambling company fueled by the growth of video-gaming and the ascendance of esports with new generations. Our mission is to help connect the world at large with the future of sports entertainment in unique and enriching ways that bring fans and gamers together. Esports Entertainment Group and its affiliates are well-poised to help fans and players to stay connected and involved with their favorite esports. From traditional sports partnerships with professional NFL/NHL/NBA/FIFA teams, community-focused tournaments in a wide range of esports, and boots-on-the-ground LAN cafes, EEG has influence over the full-spectrum of esports and gaming at all levels. The Company maintains offices in New Jersey, the UK and Malta. For more information visit www.esportsentertainmentgroup.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. The safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 protects companies from liability for their forward-looking statements if they comply with the requirements of the Act.

Contact:

U.S. Investor Relations
RedChip Companies, Inc.
Dave Gentry
407-491-4498

dave@redchip.com

Media Inquiries
brandon.apter@esportsentertainmentgroup.com

Investor Relations Inquiries
Jeff@esportsentertainmentgroup.com

New Uses for Smart Glasses


Image Credit: Riley Kaminer (flickr)

Can Facebook’s Smart Glasses be Smart About Security and Privacy?

Facebook’s global project, referred to as Ego4D is out researching new uses for so-called smart glasses.

In September, Facebook unveiled its Ray-Ban Stories glasses, which have two cameras and three microphones built-in. The glasses capture audio and video so wearers can record their experiences and interactions.

The research project aims to add augmented reality features to smart glasses using artificial intelligence technologies that could provide wearers with a wealth of information, including the ability to get answers to questions like “Where did I leave my keys?” Facebook’s vision also includes a future where the glasses can “know who’s saying what when and who’s paying attention to whom.”

Several other technology companies like Google, Microsoft, Snap, Vuzix and Lenovo have also been experimenting with versions of augmented or mixed reality glasses. Augmented reality glasses can display useful information within the lenses, providing an electronically enhanced view of the world. For example, smart glasses could draw a line over the road to show you the next turn or let you see a restaurant’s Yelp rating as you look at its sign.

However, some of the information that augmented reality glasses give their users could include identifying people in the glasses’ field of view and displaying personal information about them. It was not too long ago that Google introduced Google Glass, only to face a public backlash for simply recording people. Compared to being recorded by smartphones in public, being recorded by smart glasses feels to people like a greater invasion of privacy.

This article was republished with permission from  The
Conversation
, a news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It represents the research-based findings and thoughts of 
Apu Kapadia, Professor of Computer Science, Indiana University

As a researcher who studies computer security and privacy, I believe it’s important for technology companies to proceed with caution and consider the security and privacy risks of augmented reality.

Smartphones vs. Smart Glasses

Even though people are now used to being photographed in public, they also expect the photographer typically to raise their smartphone to compose a photo. Augmented reality glasses fundamentally disrupt or violate this sense of normalcy. The public setting may be the same, but the sheer scale and approach of recording has changed.

A Pair of Sunglasses

Facebook’s Ray-Ban Stories glasses capture photos and video and play audio, but the company has much bigger plans for smart glasses, including AI that can interpret what the wearer is seeing. Courtesy Facebook

Such deviations from the norm have long been recognized by researchers as a violation of privacy. My group’s research has found that people in the neighborhood of nontraditional cameras want a more tangible sense of when their privacy is being compromised because they find it difficult to know whether they are being recorded.

Absent the typical physical gestures of taking a photo, people need better ways to convey whether a camera or microphone is recording people. Facebook has already been warned by the European Union that the LED indicating a pair of Ray-Ban Stories is recording is too small.

In the longer term, however, people might become accustomed to smart glasses as the new normal. Our research found that although young adults worry about others recording their embarrassing moments on smartphones, they have adjusted to the pervasive presence of cameras.

Smart Glasses as a Memory Aid

An important application of smart glasses is as a memory aid. If you could record or “lifelog” your entire day from a first-person point of view, you could simply rewind or scroll through the video at will. You could examine the video to see where you left your keys, or you could replay a conversion to recall a friend’s movie recommendation.

Our research studied volunteers who wore lifelogging cameras for several days. We uncovered several privacy concerns – this time, for the camera wearer. Considering who, or what algorithms, might have access to the camera footage, people may worry about the detailed portrait it paints of them.

Who you meet, what you eat, what you watch and what your living room really looks like without guests are all recorded. We found that people were especially concerned about the places being recorded, as well as their computer and phone screens, which formed a large fraction of their lifelogging history.

Popular media already has its take on what can go horribly wrong with such memory aids. “The Entire History of You” episode of the TV series “Black Mirror” shows how even the most casual arguments can lead to people digging through lifelogs for evidence of who said exactly what and when. In such a world, it is difficult to just move on. It’s a lesson in the importance of forgetting.

Psychologists have pointed to the importance of forgetting as a natural human coping mechanism to move past traumatic experiences. Maybe AI algorithms can be put to good use identifying digital memories to delete. For example, our research has devised AI-based algorithms to detect sensitive places like bathrooms and computer and phone screens, which were high on the worry list in our lifelogging study. Once detected, footage can be selectively deleted from a person’s digital memories.

 

 

X-ray Specs of the Digital Self?

However, smart glasses have the potential to do more than simply record video. It’s important to prepare for the possibility of a world in which smart glasses use facial recognition, analyze people’s expressions, look up and display personal information, and even record and analyze conversations. These applications raise important questions about privacy and security.

We studied the use of smart glasses by people with visual impairments. We found that these potential users were worried about the inaccuracy of artificial intelligence algorithms and their potential to misrepresent other people.

Even if accurate, they felt it was improper to infer someone’s weight or age. They also questioned whether it was ethical for such algorithms to guess someone’s gender or race. Researchers have also debated whether AI should be used to detect emotions, which can be expressed differently by people from difference cultures.

Augmenting Facebook’s View of the Future

I have only scratched the surface of the privacy and security considerations for augmented reality glasses. As Facebook charges ahead with augmented reality, I believe it’s critical that the company address these concerns.

I am heartened by the stellar list of privacy and security researchers Facebook is collaborating with to make sure its technology is worthy of the public’s trust, especially given the company’s recent track record.

But I can only hope that Facebook will tread carefully and ensure that their view of the future includes the concerns of these and other privacy and security researchers.

 

Suggested Reading:



Edge Computing Can Take AI Out of the Cloud and to the Moon



Preparing Investors for the Artificial Intelligence Revolution





AI and Skyborg Technology Will Create Huge Tech Winners



Facebook’s “Supreme Court” to Rule on Favoritism of Elite Users

 

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Inflation is No Baloney


Inflation Is Eating Your Lunch If You’re Doing This One Common Thing

Nearly all savings accounts at U.S. banks are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to $250,000, but beyond that, it makes less and less sense for savers and investors to use them. Households that continue to keep a significant portion of their wealth in the bank should be aware that inflation is eating their lunch at a rate I’ve personally never seen.

This article was republished with permission
from Frank Talk, a CEO Blog by Frank Holmes of U.S. Global Investors (
GROW). Find more of Frank’s articles here – Originally published October 21, 2021

 

Take a look at the chart below, which comes from JPMorgan’s September quarter Guide to the Markets report. In particular, I want you to look at the bars, which represent average annual income earned on $100,000 in a savings account. The blue lines, meanwhile, represent the income that’s needed to beat inflation.

In the 1990s, households generally did well by using savings accounts. Inflation rarely ran above 2% year-over-year, and interest rates were above 5%.

Ever since the financial crisis, though, savings income hasn’t kept pace with inflation. The Federal Reserve slashed rates to near 0%, where they’ve more or less remained. Savers fell underwater.

But then 2021 happened. Due in large part to massive global supply chain disruptions, inflation has jumped to levels unseen in decades. (And this doesn’t even take into consideration so-called shadow inflation.)

As a result, the spread between the average income generated in a savings account and the income needed to beat inflation has never been wider. We’re talking about a difference of $3,907, based on a savings account holding $100,000. What could have been a mortgage payment, a weekend vacation or down payment on a new car instead went poof due to the invisible tax known as inflation.

 

Tax-Efficient Investing Should Also Take Inflation into
Consideration

Most savvy investors are familiar with tax efficiency. They may structure their investments and use certain instruments, including tax-free municipal bonds, to pay the least amount of taxes allowable.

Inflation is a hidden tax that I don’t think enough people account for. They feel the pain at the pump and grocery store, but seldom do they see it with their wealth. If they did, the personal saving rate for the U.S. wouldn’t be as high as it is right now. Although it’s fallen from all-time highs, the share of disposable personal income (DPI) that’s still sitting in bank accounts remains elevated.

But as Warren Buffett famously said, “If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.” (Leave aside for a moment the fact that Buffett, at age 91, is still working fulltime as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.)

Diversify with Alternative Investments,
Including Gold and Bitcoin

Many investors diversify using a number of alternative assets, including art and real estate, but my favorite ways include gold and Bitcoin.

Right now, gold is extremely unloved. The metal is down some 6.5% for the 12-month period and down more than 14% from its all-time high set in August 2020. I believe this makes it the ultimate contrarian investment. What’s more, a number of gold mining stocks look very attractive right now, with many of them generating remarkably higher free cash flow yields than the industry as a whole and the S&P 500.

As you can see, there are quite a few companies that have very strong cash positions at a time when investor sentiment for gold miners is very low. Again, when sentiment has been this low, returns have historically been attractive six months later. The companies above, I think, would be a good place for investors to start hunting for opportunities in anticipation of the next bull run. We invest in several of the names here at U.S. Global Investors.

And then there’s Bitcoin. The crypto is up more than 430% for the 12-month period, having receded from its record high of nearly $67,000. Inflation has certainly been a demand driver, as has this week’s launch of the first U.S.-based Bitcoin-linked ETF, the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF, ticker BITO, which now holds the record for reaching $1 billion in assets in the fewest days, according to Bloomberg’s Eric Balchunas. (Appropriately enough, the former recordholder was State Street’s SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD), which made its debut way back in 2004.)

Clearly BITO has found a market, but keep in mind that it does not invest in Bitcoin directly; instead, it holds Bitcoin futures contracts, which some investors may not prefer. A spot Bitcoin ETF is not available at the moment, but it probably won’t take long for one or more to be issued.

And don’t forget about listed crypto miners. I’m obviously biased, but 
HIVE
Blockchain Technologies (Nasdaq: HIVE)
 is the only one that mines both Bitcoin and Ether on an institutional scale, and the first to use 100% green renewable energy sourced in Iceland, Sweden and Canada.

Today HIVE announced that it would be purchasing 6,500 next-generation Bitcoin miners, which will have an aggregate hash power of 585 Petahash per second (PH/s). These machines, when fully installed, are estimated to generate an additional 3.7 Bitcoin per day, or the equivalent to an additional $250,000, or $7.5 million in monthly run rate income. 

Channelchek invites
you subscribe to the U.S. Global Investors YouTube channel by 
clicking here!

 

Suggested Reading:



Deflation Not Inflation is Risk Says Cathie Wood



Four Inflation Growth Possibilities and their Impact on Stocks





The PCE Deflator and the Trimmed PCE Inflation Rate Tell Different Stories



Blockchain Beverages and Baloney

US Global Investors Disclaimer

The NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index is a modified market capitalization weighted index comprised of publicly traded companies involved primarily in the mining for gold and silver. The S&P 500 Stock Index is a widely recognized capitalization-weighted index of 500 common stock prices in U.S. companies. Free cash flow (FCF) represents the cash a company generates after accounting for cash outflows to support operations and maintain its capital assets. Frank Holmes has been appointed non-executive chairman of the Board of Directors of HIVE Blockchain Technologies. Both Mr. Holmes and U.S. Global Investors own shares of HIVE. Effective 8/31/2018, Frank Holmes serves as the interim executive chairman of HIVE.

Holdings may change daily. Holdings are reported as of the most recent quarter-end. The following securities mentioned in the article were held by one or more accounts managed by U.S. Global Investors as of (09/30/2021): Torex Gold Resources Inc., Centerra Gold Inc., Gran Colombia Gold Corp., Dundee Precious Metals Inc., Pretium Resources Inc., Endeavour Mining PLC, Barrick Gold Corp., Eldorado Gold Corp., SSR Mining Inc., Silver Lake Resources Ltd., Karora Resources Inc.

All opinions expressed and data provided are subject to change without notice. Some of these opinions may not be appropriate to every investor. By clicking the link(s) above, you will be directed to a third-party website(s). U.S. Global Investors does not endorse all information supplied by this/these website(s) and is not responsible for its/their content.

 

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Gray Television (GTN) – Putting The Pieces Together To Close On Meredith

Thursday, October 21, 2021

Gray Television Inc. (GTN)
Putting The Pieces Together To Close On Meredith

Gray Television, Inc. operates as a television broadcast company in the United States. As of April 6, 2010, it operated 36 television stations in 30 markets, including 17 affiliated with CBS Inc.; 10 affiliated with the National Broadcasting Company, Inc.; 8 affiliated with the American Broadcasting Company (ABC); and 1 affiliated with FOX Entertainment Group, Inc. (FOX). The company also operated 39 digital second channels comprising 1 affiliated with ABC, 4 affiliated with FOX, 7 affiliated with CW Network, LLC, 18 affiliated with Twentieth Television, Inc., 2 affiliated with Universal Sports Network, and 7 local news/weather channels. Gray Television, Inc. was founded in 1897 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

    Updates Q3 Guidance.  The updated Q3 guidance was an increase from original guidance that included the Quincy acquisition and divestitures on August 2. Total company revenues are expected to be in the range of $590 million to $600 million, an increase from the previous guidance range of $571 million to $581 million.

    Revise Q3 estimates upward.  We are increasing our Q3 revenue estimate from $579 million to $600 million at the higher end of the company’s guide. Based on expense guidance, we are tweaking upward our Adj. EBITDA from $177 million to…



This research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary.  Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Release – Engine Media Announces Upcoming Name Change to Engine Gaming and Media, Inc.

 


Engine Media Announces Upcoming Name Change to Engine Gaming and Media, Inc.

NEW YORK, October 15, 2021 — Engine Media Holdings, Inc. (“Engine” or the “Company”; NASDAQ: GAME; TSX-V: GAME), an esports/sports gaming and next-generation media solutions company, is pleased to announce that it has filed with the TSX Venture Exchange (the “Exchange”) a notice of name change to “Engine Gaming and Media, Inc.”  The name change is expected to be effective at the start of trading on October 19, 2021, and the Company’s shares will continue to trade under the “GAME” symbol.

“For some time we have believed that our corporate name, Engine Media Holdings, didn’t fully capture the scope of our operations and the centrality of gaming in our company’s overall business model, given that, Engine’s WinView, UMG, Eden and Stream Hatchet units, are all gaming related businesses” noted Lou Schwartz, Engine’s CEO.  “While this update is minor, we believe it will be an important step in highlighting our gaming DNA to the various communities and marketplaces in which we operate.”  The foregoing name change remains subject to final TSXV acceptance.

About Engine Media Holdings, Inc.

Engine Media Holdings Inc. is traded publicly under the ticker symbol (NASDAQ: GAME) (TSX-V: GAME). Engine provides premium social sports and esports gaming experiences, as well as unparalleled data analytics, marketing, advertising, and intellectual property to support its owned and operated direct-to-consumer properties while also providing these services to enable its clients and partners. The company’s subsidiaries include Stream Hatchet, the global leader in gaming video distribution analytics; Sideqik, a social influencer marketing discovery, analytics, and activation platform; Eden Games, a premium motorsport video game developer and publisher across console and mobile gaming; WinView Games, a social predictive play-along gaming platform for viewers to play while watching live events; UMG, an end-to-end competitive esports platform powering and broadcasting major esports events, as well as daily community tournaments, matches, and ladders; and Frankly Media, a digital publishing platform used to create, distribute and monetize content across all digital channels. Engine Media generates revenue through a combination of direct-to-consumer and subscription fees, streaming technology and data SaaS-based offerings, programmatic advertising, and sponsorships.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Engine to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. In respect of the forward-looking information contained herein, including the name change described herein and the potential outcomes and benefits to be derived therefrom, Engine has provided such statements and information in reliance on certain assumptions that management believed to be reasonable at the time. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements stated herein to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information contained in this news release.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Engine does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf, except as required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For Further Information:

Investors

Ryan Lawrence, ICR

Ryan.Lawrence@icrinc.com

332-242-4321

 

Media

James Goldfarb, Sloane & Company

jgoldfarb@sloanepr.com

212-446-1869

Release – enCore Energy and Azarga Uranium Provide Update on Proposed Transaction and Shareholder Vote


enCore Energy and Azarga Uranium Provide Update on Proposed Transaction and Shareholder Vote

Corpus Christi, Texas – October 21, 2021: enCore Energy Corp. (“enCore”) (TSXV: EU, OTCQB: ENCUF) and Azarga Uranium Corp. (“Azarga”) (TSX: AZZ, OTCQB: AZZUF, FRA: P8AA) are pleased to provide a corporate update including information concerning the definitive agreement (the “Agreement”) whereby enCore will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Azarga pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement (the “Transaction”).  An Azarga information circular will be mailed on or before October 26, 2021 to Azarga shareholders of record as of October 12, 2021. The shareholder vote will be held on November 16, 2021 at 10:00 AM (Vancouver time) at the offices of Azarga at Unit 1 – 15782 Marine Drive, White Rock, BC, V4B 1E6.

Terms of the Agreement

Under the terms of the Agreement, Azarga shareholders will receive 0.375 common shares of enCore for each Azarga common share held (the “Exchange Ratio”) subject to adjustment as described in the information circular. The Exchange Ratio implied consideration of $0.71 per Azarga common share based on the closing price of the enCore common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on September 3, 2021.  Additional details may be found in the Azarga information circular.

Transaction Highlights

•             Creation of a top-tier American uranium in-situ recovery (“ISR”) mining company with multiple assets at various stages of development;

•             Two licensed ISR production facilities and multiple potential satellite exploration and development projects in South Texas;

•             Advanced stage Dewey Burdock development project in South Dakota with key federal permits issued;

•             Recently published preliminary economic assessment for the Gas Hills project in Wyoming;

•             Large uranium resource endowment in New Mexico including the Marquez-Juan Tafoya project, for which a recent preliminary economic assessment was published and the Crownpoint and Hosta Butte project;

•             Well positioned to benefit from America’s nuclear renaissance, which boasts bi-partisan political support; and

•             Management team and board with unrivaled experience in the permitting, development, and mining of ISR uranium deposits in the USA.

Transaction Details

The proposed Transaction will be effected by way of a plan of arrangement completed under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). The Transaction will require approval by at least 66 2/3% of the votes cast by Azarga shareholders and, if required by Multilateral Instrument 61-101, a simple majority of the votes cast by Azarga shareholders excluding certain interested or related parties, in each case by shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at a special meeting of the shareholders of Azarga to be called in connection with the Transaction.

Closing of the Transaction is subject to the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of certain other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature, including, without limitation, court and stock exchange approval. 

None of the securities to be issued pursuant to the Transaction have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or any state securities laws, and any securities issuable in the Transaction are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable exemptions under state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.

enCore also wished to recognize and thank Andrew Weekly of the SmithWeekly Group and Edward Sendrea of Gravedigger Capital Ltd. for providing the company with industry evaluation and consultation with regards to the company’s merger & acquisitions goals.

About enCore Energy Corp.

enCore Energy Corp. is a U.S. domestic uranium developer focused on becoming a leading in-situ recovery (“ISR”) uranium producer. The company is led by a team of industry experts with extensive knowledge and experience in the development and operations of in situ recovery uranium operations. enCore Energy’s opportunities are created from the company’s transformational acquisition of its two South Texas production facilities, the changing global uranium supply/demand outlook and opportunities for industry consolidation. These short-term opportunities are augmented by our strong long term commitment to working with local indigenous communities in New Mexico where the company holds significant uranium resources.

About Azarga Uranium Corp.

Azarga Uranium is an integrated uranium exploration and development company that controls ten uranium projects and prospects in the United States of America (“USA”) (South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado), with a primary focus of developing in-situ recovery uranium projects. The Dewey Burdock in-situ recovery uranium project in South Dakota, USA (the “Dewey Burdock Project”), which is the company’s initial development priority, has received its Nuclear Regulatory Commission License and Class III and Class V Underground Injection Control permits from the Environmental Protection Agency and the company is in the process of completing other major regulatory permit approvals necessary for the construction of the Dewey Burdock Project.

Contact Information

enCore Energy Corp.

William M. Sheriff

Executive Chairman

972-333-2214

info@encoreenergycorp.com

www.encoreenergycorp.com

 

Azarga Uranium Corp.

Blake Steele

President & CEO

605-662-8308

info@azargauranium.com

www.azargauranium.com

 

 

Cautionary Statements

Certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking information or statements under applicable securities legislation and rules. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as “may”, “will”, “plan”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “intend”, “indicate”, “scheduled”, “target”, “goal”, “potential”, “subject”, “efforts”, “option” and similar words, or the negative connotations thereof, referring to future events and results.  Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to the anticipated completion of the Transaction, the terms of the Transaction, the benefits of the Transaction, the combined company, the directors and officers of the combined company, the merits of the properties of enCore and Azarga, the potential share consolidation and listing of the shares of the combined company on a U.S. stock exchange and all statements related to the business plans, expectations and objectives of enCore and Azarga.

Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of enCore and/or Azarga to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: any inability of the parties to satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Transaction on acceptable terms or at all; receipt of necessary stock exchange, court and shareholder approvals; the ability of enCore and Azarga to achieve their stated goals and objectives; the costs associated with the companies’ objectives; risks and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken to attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19; and the risks and uncertainties identified in enCore’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and Azarga’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2020, each filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although management of each of enCore and Azarga has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Neither party will update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. The parties caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and it does not undertake any obligation to revise and disseminate forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of or non-occurrence of any events.

This press release is not and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States. The distribution of the enCore common shares in connection with the transactions described herein will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the “U.S. Securities Act”) and the enCore common shares may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the enCore common shares, nor shall there be any offer or sale of the enCore common shares in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Neither the TSX, the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX and TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.                                                                                                                                                                     

Release – PDS Biotech Provides Update on National Cancer Institute-Led Phase 2 Clinical Trial of PDS0101-Based Combination


PDS Biotech Provides Update on National Cancer Institute-Led Phase 2 Clinical Trial of PDS0101-Based Combination

Temporary administrative suspension of recruitment – no
safety or efficacy concerns related specifically to the novel PDS0101-based
combination study

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Oct. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing novel cancer therapies based on the Company’s proprietary Versamune® T-cell activating technology, today announced the temporary suspension of recruitment in the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-led Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT04287868) evaluating PDS0101 (Versamune®-HPV16) in combination with two investigational immune-modulating agents in advanced HPV cancers.

The issue is not specific to the PDS0101 trial and is unrelated to any safety or efficacy concerns with the triple combination. The NCI anticipates that the issue should be resolved timely, at which time the PDS0101 trial recruitment will resume. The timing of clinical data resulting from this trial is not expected to be affected by the recruitment suspension.

“We know from the interim data that this combination has the potential to significantly improve clinical outcomes for patients with advanced, refractory HPV16-associated cancers who have limited treatment options. While the trial is experiencing a slight administrative delay, we are pleased to report that the PDS0101 trial recruitment has progressed well and it is anticipated that it will resume recruitment shortly. We believe, based on the previously reported results, that this treatment could significantly improve survival benefit for these patients, and we look forward to resumption of the trial in the near term,” said Dr. Lauren V. Wood, PDS Biotech’s Chief Medical Officer.

The trial is evaluating the novel combination in both checkpoint inhibitor naïve and refractory patients with advanced HPV-associated cancers that have progressed or returned after treatment. The vast majority of these cancers are caused by HPV16.

 

About PDS Biotechnology

PDS Biotech is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of cancer immunotherapies based on the Company’s proprietary Versamune® T-cell activating technology platform. Our Versamune®-based products have demonstrated the potential to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapy by inducing in vivo, large quantities of high-quality, highly potent polyfunctional tumor specific CD4+ helper and CD8+ killer T-cells. PDS Biotech has developed multiple therapies, based on combinations of Versamune® and disease-specific antigens, designed to train the immune system to better recognize diseased cells and effectively attack and destroy them. The company’s pipeline products address various cancers including breast, colon, lung, prostate and ovarian cancers. To learn more, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com or follow us on Twitter at @PDSBiotech.

About PDS0101

PDS Biotech’s lead candidate, PDS0101, combines the utility of the Versamune® platform with targeted antigens in HPV-expressing cancers. In partnership with Merck & Co., PDS Biotech is evaluating a combination of PDS0101 and KEYTRUDA® in a Phase 2 study in first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer. PDS Biotech is also conducting two additional Phase 2 studies in advanced HPV-associated cancers and advanced localized cervical cancer with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, respectively.

Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the “Company”) and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “forecast,” “guidance”, “outlook” and other similar expressions among others. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the Company’s anticipated cash runway and the Company’s current expectations regarding its plans for future equity financings; the Company’s dependence on additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates, and the risks that raising such additional capital may restrict the Company’s operations or require the Company to relinquish rights to the Company’s technologies or product candidates; the Company’s limited operating history in the Company’s current line of business, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s prospects, the Company’s business plan or the likelihood of the Company’s successful implementation of such business plan; the timing for the Company or its partners to initiate the planned clinical trials for PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® based products; the future success of such trials; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations, including any collaboration studies concerning PDS0101, PDS0203 and other Versamune® based products and the Company’s interpretation of the results and findings of such programs and collaborations and whether such results are sufficient to support the future success of the Company’s product candidates; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including our ability to fully fund our disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to our currently projected expenses), futility analyses, presentations at conferences and data reported in an abstract, and receipt of interim results, which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials; any Company statements about its understanding of product candidates mechanisms of action and interpretation of preclinical and early clinical results from its clinical development programs and any collaboration studies; the acceptance by the market of the Company’s product candidates, if approved; the timing of and the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain U.S. Food and Drug Administration or other regulatory authority approval of, or other action with respect to, the Company’s product candidates; and other factors, including legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments not within the Company’s control, including unforeseen circumstances or other disruptions to normal business operations arising from or related to COVID-19. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors included in the Company’s annual and periodic reports filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media & Investor Relations Contact:

Deanne Randolph

PDS Biotech

Phone: +1 (908) 517-3613

Email: drandolph@pdsbiotech.com

Rich Cockrell

CG Capital

Phone: +1 (404) 736-3838

Email: rich@cg.capital

QuickChek – October 21, 2021



Engine Media Announces Upcoming Name Change to Engine Gaming and Media, Inc.

Engine Media Holdings, Inc. announced that it has filed with the TSX Venture Exchange a notice of name change to “Engine Gaming and Media, Inc.” The name change is expected to be effective at the start of trading on October 19, 2021, and the Company’s shares will continue to trade under the “GAME” symbol.

Research, News & Market Data on Engine Media
Watch a recent interview with Engine Media executives



enCore Energy and Azarga Uranium Provide Update on Proposed Transaction and Shareholder Vote

enCore Energy Corp. and Azarga Uranium Corp. provided a corporate update including information concerning the definitive agreement whereby enCore will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Azarga pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement.

Research, News & Market Data on enCore Energy
Watch enCore Energy’s presentation from the Uranium Power Players Investor Forum



PDS Biotech Provides Update on National Cancer Institute-Led Phase 2 Clinical Trial of PDS0101-Based Combination

PDS Biotechnology Corporation announced the temporary suspension of recruitment in the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-led Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT04287868) evaluating PDS0101 (Versamune®-HPV16) in combination with two investigational immune-modulating agents in advanced HPV cancers.

Research, News & Market Data on PDS Biotechnology Corporation
Watch a recent interview with PDS Biotech management team



Cocrystal Pharma to Present Data from its Oral and Intranasal COVID-19 Therapeutics Programs at the World Antiviral Congress 2021

Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. announced that President and co-interim CEO Dr. Sam Lee will present new data from its COVID-19 programs at the World Antiviral Congress 2021 being held in San Diego. Dr. Lee is scheduled to present the “Discovery of oral, broad-spectrum SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors: advancing to clinical development” on Thursday, December 1, 2021 at 11:55 a.m. Pacific time.

Research, News & Market Data on Cocrystal Pharma
Watch a recent interview with Cocrystal management



CoreCivic Announces 2021 Third Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call Dates

CoreCivic, Inc. announced today that it will release its 2021 third quarter financial results after the market closes on Monday, November 8, 2021.

Research, News & Market Data on CoreCivic
Watch a recent road show replay with CoreCivic management



Esports Entertainment Group Announces Fan-Centered EGL ClubClash Program with Professional Sports Teams

Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. is excited to unveil a brand new, immersive program titled “EGL ClubClash”, which gives fans the opportunity to play on their professional sports team’s behalf to prove which team has the greatest gamers.

Research, News & Market Data on Esports Entertainment Group
Watch a recent interview with Esports Entertainment Group

 

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Release – Cocrystal Pharma to Present Data from its Oral and Intranasal COVID-19 Therapeutics Programs at the World Antiviral Congress 2021


Cocrystal Pharma to Present Data from its Oral and Intranasal COVID-19 Therapeutics Programs at the World Antiviral Congress 2021

BOTHELL, Wash., Oct. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: COCP) (“Cocrystal” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics, announces that President and co-interim CEO Dr. Sam Lee will present new data from its COVID-19 programs at the World Antiviral Congress 2021 being held in San Diego. Dr. Lee is scheduled to present the “Discovery of oral, broad-spectrum SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors: advancing to clinical development” on Thursday, December 1, 2021 at 11:55 a.m. Pacific time.

“We are grateful to the conference organizers for once again selecting Cocrystal to speak at this prestigious gathering of antiviral experts,” said Dr. Lee. “We look forward to sharing exciting new preclinical data from our novel COVID-19 oral and intranasal protease inhibitors. We plan to share the data in a press release to be issued in conjunction with my presentation.”

The World Antiviral Congress 2021 provides a venue for discussing antiviral vaccines, immunotherapies and antiviral therapies. The World Antiviral Congress 2021 agenda is available here.

About Cocrystal Pharma, Inc.

Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics that target the viral replication process of coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2), influenza viruses, hepatitis C virus and noroviruses. Cocrystal employs unique structure-based technologies and Nobel Prize-winning expertise to create first- and best-in-class antiviral drugs. For further information about Cocrystal, please visit www.cocrystalpharma.com.

Investor Contact:

LHA Investor Relations

Jody Cain

310-691-7100

jcain@lhai.com

Release – CoreCivic Announces 2021 Third Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call Dates


CoreCivic Announces 2021 Third Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call Dates

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Oct. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CoreCivic, Inc. (NYSE: CXW) (the Company) announced today that it will release its 2021 third quarter financial results after the market closes on Monday, November 8, 2021. 

A live broadcast of CoreCivic’s conference call will begin at 10:00 a.m. central time (11:00 a.m. eastern time) on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, and will be accessible through the Company’s website at www.corecivic.com under the “Events & Presentations” section of the “Investors” page. The live broadcast can also be accessed by dialing 800-437-2398 in the U.S. and Canada, including the confirmation passcode 1667596. An online replay of the call will be archived on our website promptly following the conference call. In addition, there will be a telephonic replay available beginning at 1:00 p.m. central time (2:00 p.m. eastern time) on November 9, 2021, through 1:00 p.m. central time (2:00 p.m. eastern time) on November 17, 2021. To access the telephonic replay, dial 888-203-1112 in the U.S. and Canada. International callers may dial +1 719-457-0820 and enter passcode 1667596.

About CoreCivic

CoreCivic is a diversified government solutions company with the scale and experience needed to solve tough government challenges in flexible, cost-effective ways. CoreCivic provides a broad range of solutions to government partners that serve the public good through corrections and detention management, a network of residential reentry centers to help address America’s recidivism crisis, and government real estate solutions. CoreCivic is the nation’s largest owner of partnership correctional, detention and residential reentry facilities, and believes it is the largest private owner of real estate used by government agencies in the U.S. CoreCivic has been a flexible and dependable partner for government for more than 35 years. CoreCivic’s employees are driven by a deep sense of service, high standards of professionalism and a responsibility to help government better the public good.

 

Contact:
              
Investors: Cameron Hopewell – Managing Director, Investor Relations – (615) 263-3024

Media: Steve Owen – Vice President, Communications – (615) 263-3107

Release – Esports Entertainment Group Announces Fan-Centered EGL ClubClash Program with Professional Sports Teams

 


Esports Entertainment Group Announces Fan-Centered EGL ClubClash Program with Professional Sports Teams

Newark, New Jersey–(Newsfile Corp. – October 21, 2021) – Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMBL) (NASDAQ: GMBLW) (or the “Company”) has partnered with a number of professional sports teams as their official esports tournament provider. Over the past year, fans of these organizations have enjoyed playing in one-off tournaments to see who is the best gamer. In an effort to provide fans more opportunities for interaction with one another and all of the participating teams, the Company is excited to unveil a brand new, immersive program titled “EGL ClubClash”, which gives fans the opportunity to play on their team’s behalf to prove which team has the greatest gamers.

As competitors play different games, they will earn team and individual points called “ClubClash Rep” which can be used to redeem everything from team merchandise to tickets. Some of the top prizes include tickets to a home game, signed and game worn memorabilia, video messages from players and more.

“With the unveiling of EGL ClubClash, we’re thrilled to bring a unique experience to sports and esports fans alike,” said Magnus Leppäniemi, President of Esports at Esports Entertainment Group. “Competitors will get to play their favorite games while also being able to earn exclusive experiences that bring them closer to the team they follow and represent during this program.”

Each professional team participating in EGL ClubClash will have their own leaderboards with constant updates on weekly and lifetime ranking in addition to where the team stands in the overall program standings. EGL Club Clash will have two distinct areas – Arena and Arcade – with arena being a more traditional competitive platform where players will vie for Rep and cash prizes through solo play and tournaments. Meanwhile, Arcade allows players to compete at any time to earn Rep.

EGL ClubClash’s Arena mode opens up preseason registration on October 25, 2021 with the preseason getting underway on November 24. The preseason finals will take place December 15-18. Madden, Fortnite, Rocket League and Valorant are the four games selected for the preseason. The first full season (arcade and arena) kicks off on January 3, 2022, with the finals taking place March 23-26.

About Esports Entertainment Group

Esports Entertainment Group is a full stack esports and online gambling company fueled by the growth of video-gaming and the ascendance of esports with new generations. Our mission is to help connect the world at large with the future of sports entertainment in unique and enriching ways that bring fans and gamers together. Esports Entertainment Group and its affiliates are well-poised to help fans and players to stay connected and involved with their favorite esports. From traditional sports partnerships with professional NFL/NHL/NBA/FIFA teams, community-focused tournaments in a wide range of esports, and boots-on-the-ground LAN cafes, EEG has influence over the full-spectrum of esports and gaming at all levels. The Company maintains offices in New Jersey, the UK and Malta. For more information visit www.esportsentertainmentgroup.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. The safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 protects companies from liability for their forward-looking statements if they comply with the requirements of the Act.

Contact:

U.S. Investor Relations
RedChip Companies, Inc.
Dave Gentry
407-491-4498

dave@redchip.com

Media Inquiries
brandon.apter@esportsentertainmentgroup.com

Investor Relations Inquiries
Jeff@esportsentertainmentgroup.com

Trump Media SPAC Merger Details


Image Source: Trump Media & Technology Group/Overview

The Financing of Trump’s TRUTH Social and Video on Demand Service

Blank check company Digital World Acquisition Group ($DWACU, $DWAC) stock has moved up sharply after the announcement that they will merge with a new entrant to the digital media world, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG). Trump Media released a statement that its mission is to “create a rival to the liberal media consortium and fight back against the ‘Big Tech’ companies of Silicon Valley, which have used their unilateral power to silence opposing voices in America.”

The Special Acquisition Corp (SPAC) merger announcement comes at a time when FTC antitrust suits have been filed against big tech companies like Facebook and Google. TMTG plans to launch a social-media platform backed by the former President called TRUTH Social. It will be available for select guests in November with nationwide registration available during the first quarter of 2022. The plan is to rival the Facebook ($FB) and Twitter ($TWTR) platforms.

The de-SPAC merger is pending shareholder approval. The venture is valued at $875 million including debt, TMTG said in a release. The SPAC currently has $293 million in trust which it will use to fund Trump Media’s initial growth plans, said Digital World Chief Executive Patrick Orlando.

 

Excerpt from TMTG News Release

 

Trump Media also plans a subscription, video-on-demand service, called TMTG+, featuring “non-woke” programming to rival Netflix (NFLX) and Disney+ streaming services, according to a slide deck on the company’s website. The company also will roll out podcasts and news services to rival CNN and iHeart Media, according to the deck. An information web page inviting initial users for TRUTH Social’s beta launch describes the platform as “America’s ‘Big Tent’ social media platform that encourages an open, free, and honest global conversation without discriminating against political ideology.”

Within two hours after the stock market opened the day after the announcement, the SPAC was trading at twice the opening price. The ex-president said in a statement that he is “excited to send out my first TRUTH on TRUTH Social very soon.”

Suggested Reading:



The Lifecycle of a SPAC



Analysis of a SPAC



Regulation of a SPAC



Merger of a SPAC

 

Sources:

https://channelchek.vercel.app/companies/DWACU

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/04/technology/facebook-ftc-antitrust-suit.html

https://www.the-sun.com/news/3901481/trump-new-social-media-network-truth-social-next-year/

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-new-social-media-company-plans-to-go-public-via-spac-11634786531

https://tmtgcorp.com/static/tmtg-company-overview-f6cfb16513c78a61681aea3bbdae7a78.pdf

 

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Possible Cancer Therapies Based on the Appetite of Tumors


Image Credit: Christine Daniloff (MIT)

How Diet Affects Tumors

A New Study Finds Cutting off Cells’ Supplies of Lipids Can Slow the Growth of Tumors in Mice.

Anne Trafton | MIT News Office

In recent years, there has been some evidence that dietary interventions can help to slow the growth of tumors. A new study from MIT, which analyzed two different diets in mice, reveals how those diets affect cancer cells, and offers an explanation for why restricting calories may slow tumor growth.

The study examined the effects of a calorically restricted diet and a ketogenic diet in mice with pancreatic tumors. While both of these diets reduce the amount of sugar available to tumors, the researchers found that only the calorically restricted diet reduced the availability of fatty acids, and this was linked to a slowdown in tumor growth.

The findings do not suggest that cancer patients should try to follow either of these diets, the researchers say. Instead, they believe the findings warrant further study to determine how dietary interventions might be combined with existing or emerging drugs to help patients with cancer.

“There’s a lot of evidence that diet can affect how fast your cancer progresses, but this is not a cure,” says Matthew Vander Heiden, director of MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and the senior author of the study. “While the findings are provocative, further study is needed, and individual patients should talk to their doctor about the right dietary interventions for their cancer.”

 

Metabolic Mechanism

Vander Heiden, who is also a medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, says his patients often ask him about the potential benefits of various diets, but there is not enough scientific evidence available to offer any definitive advice. Many of the dietary questions that patients have focus on either a calorie-restricted diet, which reduces calorie consumption by 25 to 50 percent, or a ketogenic diet, which is low in carbohydrates and high in fat and protein.

Previous studies have suggested that a calorically restricted diet might slow tumor growth in some contexts, and such a diet has been shown to extend lifespan in mice and many other animal species. A smaller number of studies exploring the effects of a ketogenic diet on cancer have produced inconclusive results.

“A lot of the advice or cultural fads that are out there aren’t necessarily always based on very good science,” Lien says. “It seemed like there was an opportunity, especially with our understanding of cancer metabolism having evolved so much over the past 10 years or so, that we could take some of the biochemical principles that we’ve learned and apply those concepts to understanding this complex question.”

Cancer cells consume a great deal of glucose, so some scientists had hypothesized that either the ketogenic diet or calorie restriction might slow tumor growth by reducing the amount of glucose available. However, the MIT team’s initial experiments in mice with pancreatic tumors showed that calorie restriction has a much greater effect on tumor growth than the ketogenic diet, so the researchers suspected that glucose levels were not playing a major role in the slowdown.

 

To dig deeper into the mechanism, the researchers analyzed tumor growth and nutrient concentration in mice with pancreatic tumors, which were fed either a normal, ketogenic, or calorie-restricted diet. In both the ketogenic and calorie-restricted mice, glucose levels went down. In the calorie-restricted mice, lipid levels also went down, but in mice on the ketogenic diet, they went up.

Lipid shortages impair tumor growth because cancer cells need lipids to construct their cell membranes. Normally, when lipids aren’t available in a tissue, cells can make their own. As part of this process, they need to maintain the right balance of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, which requires an enzyme called stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD). This enzyme is responsible for converting saturated fatty acids into unsaturated fatty acids.

Both calorie-restricted and ketogenic diets reduce SCD activity, but mice on the ketogenic diet had lipids available to them from their diet, so they didn’t need to use SCD. Mice on the calorie-restricted diet, however, couldn’t get fatty acids from their diet or produce their own. In these mice, tumor growth slowed significantly, compared to mice on the ketogenic diet.

“Not only does caloric restriction starve tumors of lipids, it also impairs the process that allows them to adapt to it. That combination is really contributing to the inhibition of tumor growth,” Lien says.

 

 

Dietary Effects

 

In addition to their mouse research, the researchers also looked at some human data. Working with Brian Wolpin, an oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an author of the paper, the team obtained data from a large cohort study that allowed them to analyze the relationship between dietary patterns and survival times in pancreatic cancer patients. From that study, the researchers found that the type of fat consumed appears to influence how patients on a low-sugar diet fare after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, although the data are not complete enough to draw any conclusions about the effect of diet, the researchers say.

Although this study showed that calorie restriction has beneficial effects in mice, the researchers say they do not recommend that cancer patients follow a calorie-restricted diet, which is difficult to maintain and can have harmful side effects. However, they believe that cancer cells’ dependence on the availability of unsaturated fatty acids could be exploited to develop drugs that might help slow tumor growth.

One possible therapeutic strategy could be inhibition of the SCD enzyme, which would cut off tumor cells’ ability to produce unsaturated fatty acids.

“The purpose of these studies isn’t necessarily to recommend a diet, but it’s to really understand the underlying biology,” Lien says. “They provide some sense of the mechanisms of how these diets work, and that can lead to rational ideas on how we might mimic those situations for cancer therapy.”

 

The researchers now plan to study how diets with a variety of fat sources — including plant or animal-based fats with defined differences in saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acid content — alter tumor fatty acid metabolism and the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids.

Suggested Reading:



Learning to “Speak the Language” of Viruses



Weighing Cancer Cells to Personalize Drug Choices



Biologists Identify New Targets for Cancer Vaccines



Stem Cell Science and The New Age of Therapeutic Discovery

 

 

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