Antioxidant Activity of GH-RH Antagonists for Treatment of Cancer and Conditions Caused by Oxidative Stress
Andrew Schally, Nektarios Barabutis, Marta Zarandi, Jozsef Varga and Ren-Zhi Cai
Problem
Cancer is difficult to treat and the current therapies have a variety of untoward side effects. In many cases of disease progression, tumor growth is often the cause of morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress, or the accumulation of oxidants in the body, contributes to the development of cancer tumors and countless other conditions and diseases, including aging, atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
Solution
Novel synthetic analogs of GH-RH antagonists have been shown to inhibit the proliferation of human prostate cancer cells through a direct effect on the cells. A new discovery that the antagonists act as antioxidants can lead to improvements in therapeutics for cancer, as well as numerous other disorders and conditions caused by oxidative stress. These compounds represent a new anti-growth factor therapy for cancer with little or no side-effects, and are effective in far lower doses (50-fold less) than other anti-growth factor therapeutics of this class used in clinical practice today.
Competitive Advantage
Current therapies for cancer are not satisfactory and new therapeutic agents are needed to develop more effective and/or less toxic therapeutic regimens. In addition, many neurodegenerative disorders and conditions have as yet, no cure. Because GH-RH antagonists are devoid or relatively free of side-effects, the new therapy should be superior to other existing therapies for cancer, and for other diseases and conditions caused by oxidative stress.
Applications
The most potent GH-RH antagonists of the present invention will be selected for clinical development. After toxicological and clinical efficacy studies, a GH-RH antagonist drug may be put on the pharmaceutical market.
Patent Status
International Patent Application was filed on November 29, 2009.
Licensing Opportunity
We are seeking partnerships to commercialize a novel and effective approach to treat diseases and conditions caused by oxidative stress, 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. Nektarios Barabutis is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine.
Dr. Marta Zarandi is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Pathology at the Miller School of Medicine.
Dr. Jozsef Varga is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Miller School of Medicine.
Dr. Ren-Zhi Cai is a Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at the Miller School of Medicine.
Selected References
Barabutis N, Schally AV. Antioxidant activity of growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonists in LNCaP human prostate cancer line. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2008, 105(51):20470-20475.
Schally AV, Varga JL, Engel JB. Antagonists of growth-hormone-releasing hormone: an emerging new therapy for cancer. Nat Clin Pract Endocrinol Metab. 2008, 4(1):33-43.
