Ferroptosis-inducing mouse diet for selective tumor targeting with minimal systemic toxicity
This technology is a specialized mouse diet that selectively induces ferroptosis in tumors in vivo to suppress tumor growth while preserving normal tissue function.
Unmet Need: Safe induction of tumor-selective ferroptosis in vivo
Current approaches to induce ferroptosis in cancer primarily rely on small-molecule agents or genetic modulation, which often lack tumor selectivity and can lead to systemic toxicity like weight loss and organ failure in mice. Additionally, many strategies demonstrate efficacy in vivo but fail to translate effectively in vivo due to delivery limitations and off-target effects. There remains a need for approaches that can safely and selectively enhance ferroptosis within tumors while minimizing damage to normal tissues and organs in an in vivo system.
The Technology: Systemically safe diet for selective tumor ferroptosis induction in vivo
This technology is a specialized dietary formulation, termed Harmonic chow, that modulates the in vivo metabolic environment to promote ferroptosis in tumor cells. Tumor cells, which often exhibit elevated iron levels and oxidative stress, are more susceptible to ferroptosis. In contrast, normal tissues maintain tighter regulation of redox balance, enabling selective targeting without widespread toxicity. By enhancing tumor sensitivity to ferroptosis, this approach provides a non-invasive strategy to suppress tumor growth and may enhance the efficacy of anticancer therapies.
This technology has been validated in tumor-bearing mice. In tumor-bearing mouse models, administration of Harmonic chow reduced tumor volume without causing chronic weight loss.
Applications:
- Dietary therapy for cancer treatment
- Research tool for studying ferroptosis biology and tumor metabolism in vivo
- Platform for investigating tumor resistance mechanisms to ferroptosis-based therapies
- Preclinical model for evaluating combination strategies with ferroptosis-inducing agents
- Potential foundation for personalized nutrition strategies in oncology
Advantages:
- Enables tumor-selective ferroptosis induction in vivo
- Reduces tumor growth while preserving normal tissue function
- Demonstrates a favorable safety profile without chronic weight loss in mouse models
- Non-invasive, diet-based approach compared to conventional therapeutics
- Potential to enhance the efficacy of existing anti-cancer therapies
Lab Director:
Lead Inventor:
Related Publications:
Tech Ventures Reference:
IR CU26233
Licensing Contact: Joan Martinez