This technology is a targeted anti-tumor agent designed to treat adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) by utilizing retinoid receptor modulation to promote cancer cell differentiation and selective cell death.
Unmet Need: Effective therapeutic for adenoid cystic carcinoma
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an aggressive cancer of the salivary glands. ACCs often metastasize, and 60% of patients affected die within 15 years of their initial diagnosis. There are currently no FDA-approved systemic or targeted therapies for treating ACC.
The Technology: Anti-tumor agent for adenoid cystic carcinoma treatment
This technology employs both direct and inverse agonists of retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR) signaling to modify the composition of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) tumors, causing aggressive myoepithelial-like cells to differentiate into less tumorigenic ductal-like cells. These ductal-like cells can then be killed using inverse agonists of RAR/RXR signaling, with or without other forms of treatment.
This technology has been validated with patient-derived human cancer cell lines and three-dimensional organoids.
Applications:
- Treatment for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and other epithelial carcinomas
- Research tool for studying cell differentiation and tumorigenesis
- Adjuvant therapy for radiation and chemotherapy
- Preclinical model for testing combination therapies
- Platform for drug discovery
- Precision medicine treatments for ACC patients
Advantages:
- Cytotoxic therapeutic targeted for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC)
- Enhances the efficacy of radiation and chemotherapy
- Selectively toxic against ductal-like cancer cells
- Lower systemic toxicity
- Mechanism-based approach to overcome drug resistance
Lead Inventor:
Piero D. Dalerba, M.D.
Patent Information:
Patent Issued (US 12,115,140)
Related Publications:
- Viragova S, Aparicio L, Palmerini P, Zhao J, Salazar LEV, Schurer A, Dhuri A, Sahoo D, Moskaluk CA, Rabadan R, Dalerba P. “Inverse agonists of retinoic acid receptor/retinoid X receptor signaling as lineage-specific antitumor agents against human adenoid cystic carcinoma.” JNCI. 2023 Jul; 115(7).
Tech Ventures Reference:
IR CU20036, CU21018, CU21357, CU23276
Licensing Contact: Sara Gusik
