This technology is a nucleic acid-based polymer system that can be engineered to target the expression of specific cancer-associated genes for therapeutic benefit.
Given that cancer cells arise from normal cell types, conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy can result in the targeting and destruction of non-cancer cell populations. This can lead to systemic toxicity and limit the efficacy of a given treatment. As such, there has been increased emphasis on developing new therapeutics that can avoid these unwanted side effects. Although some treatments have been developed to target cancer cell-specific mutations, there remains a need for truly selective cancer cell-targeting therapeutics with clinically-relevant bioavailability profiles.
This technology is a peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-based platform that can specifically alter the expression of target genes in cancer cells. This polymer system can be engineered to be complementary to a desired nucleic acid sequence, such as those containing cancer cell-specific mutations. The addition of cationic/hydrophobic domains enhances the uptake of the PNA by cells and stabilizes the PNA/target complex. Administration of the PNA therapeutic can inhibit the expression of oncogenes and decrease the survival of cancer cells.
This technology has been validated in cell culture and xenograft mouse models of cancer bearing the V600E mutant form of the BRAF oncogene.
Patent Issued (US 11,518,996)
Tech Ventures Reference:
IR CU16241, CU18028, CU18281, CU20048, CU22101
Licensing Contact: Joan Martinez