Lead Inventor:
Jan K Kitajewski, Ph.D.
Cancer Treatment with Drug and Molecular Pathway Combination:
Recent progress in the treatment of cancer has focused on the development of biologic drugs that target specific molecular pathways. Successful biologic drugs (i.e. Herceptin, Avastin, etc.) focus particularly on cellular processes that are dysfunctionally regulated in cancers, such as excessive growth factors or blood vessel recruitment. Many of these novel drugs can be used in combination with older, standard treatments to provide an enhanced, synergistic effect. Thus, novel and unique molecular pathways that are important for cancer development need to be identified in order to produce the next generation of biologic treatments.
Cancer Treatment drugs target notch receptor pathway:
This technology demonstrates the utility of biologic drugs that target and antagonize the Notch receptor pathway in the treatment of cancers. Specifically, a fusion protein consisting of an extracellular domain of a Notch receptor protein operably affixed to a half-life increasing moiety is used to inhibit Notch pathway activity. Notch pathway antagonism specifically inhibits angiogenesis and cellular differentiation, critical events which are necessary for tumor growth and evolution. Finally, this invention also covers methods for production and delivery of this novel drug.
Applications:
• Cancer treatment -- may be stand alone or in combination with other drugs for synergistic effect
• Research in Notch pathway
Advantages:
• Unique target for cancer treatment
• Inhibits multiple cancer events (angiogenesis, cellular differentiation)
• Biologic drug
Patent Status: Patent Pending (US20060030694A1) ~ see link below.
Licensing Status: Available for Licensing and Sponsored Research Support
Publications:
Dunfraine et al. Notch signaling regulates tumor angiogenesis by diverse mechanisms. Oncogene. 2008 Sep 1;27(38):5132-7.
