Use of Bombesin/Gastrin Releasing Peptide Antagonists for Treatment of Liver Cancer
Andrew Schally, Karoly Szepeshazi and Ren-Zhi Cai
Problem
Liver cancer is a rapidly fatal disease and difficult to treat. The current therapies are not very effective, have a variety of untoward side effects. In many cases of disease progression, tumor growth is often the cause of morbidity and mortality.
Solution
A synthetic Bombesin/GRP antagonist has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of human liver cancer tumors, with a significant reduction in tumor weight and volume when compared to the untreated controls. These compounds represent a new anti-growth factor therapy for cancer with little or no side-effects, and are effective and well tolerated at therapeutic doses.
Competitive Advantage
Current therapies for liver cancer, including chemotherapy and/or high dose radiotherapy are not effective, and only modest results are seen with Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor. Because antagonists of Bombesin/GRP are not toxic and well tolerated at therapeutic doses, the new therapy should be superior to other existing therapies for various cancers.
Applications
The Bombesin/GRP antagonist of the present invention can be the subject for clinical development. After toxicological and clinical efficacy studies, a Bombesin/GRP antagonist drug may be put on the pharmaceutical market.
Patent Status
United States Patent application 12/316,995 was received by the USPTO on December 18, 2008.
Licensing Opportunity
We are seeking partnerships to commercialize a novel and effective approach to treat liver cancer, with minimal side effects.
About the Inventors
Andrew Schally, M.D., Ph.D., is a Distinguished Leonard M. Miller Professor of Pathology and Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology in Department of Medicine at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Schally was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1977. He is a world leader in targeting hormone-related cancers and is largely responsible for the field of hormone ablation for the treatment of prostate and other cancers. Dr. Schally is also Chief, Endocrine, Polypeptide Cancer Institute at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida and Distinguished Medical Research Scientist, US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Dr. Karoly Szepeshazi is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Dr. Ren-Zhi Cai is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Selected References
Schally AV. New approaches to the therapy of various tumors based on peptide analogues. Horm Metab Res. 2008, 40:315-322.
Schally AV, Comaru-Schally AM, Nagy A, Kovacs M, Szepeshazi K, Plonowski A, Varga JL, Halmos G. Hypothalamic hormones and cancer. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology. 2001, 22:248-291.
