Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. with over 500 thousand per year.
Solution
This invention demonstrated that hyaluronidase (HAase) inhibitors may be used to inhibit tumor cell proliferation and/or progression through the cell cycle. These inhibitors are being developed to treat cancer or a precancerous condition with special emphasis on solid tumors. The first applications to be explored based upon definitive preclinical data are the effect of these inhibitors on the growth and progression of bladder and prostate carcinomas. In addition, these compounds may be anti-angiogenic and reduce the risk of cancer cell metastases. These compounds are likely to be effective with little or no side effects.
Competitive Advantage
This non-toxic anti-cancer therapeutic can be administered alone or as an adjunct to traditional chemotherapy or radiation therapy. This feature allows for reduced use of toxic chemotherapy and an improved quality of life.
Applications
This technology is a therapeutic agent for treating solid tumors.
Patent Status
International Patent Application WO2008140500
entitled "Hyaluronidase Inhibitors as Anti-Cancer Agents," was published on November 20, 2008.
Licensing Opportunity
We are seeking a collaborative partnership for preclinical and clinical testing and commercialization of this novel therapeutic for bladder and prostate cancer.
About the Inventors
Dr. Lokeshwar is an Associate Professor of Urology and Cell Biology and Anatomy and an internationally recognized expert in tumor biology with special emphasis on mechanisms of tumor proliferation, apoptosis, and metastases and treatment modalities involving matrix molecules. Her laboratory was the first to link HAase to tumor biology, to establish the diagnostic and prognostic potential of HAase in a variety of carcinomas, and also to identify the first tumor-derived HAase. In 2004-2006, Dr. Lokeshwar served as the Chair of the "International Panel on Cytology and Bladder Tumor Markers" under the project: International Bladder Cancer Consensus, which was supported by several international organizations. She has authored several peer-reviewed and review articles on tumor markers, hyaluronic acid and hyaluronidase. For the last ten years her research on experimental therapeutics related to HAase inhibitors and also tumor markers is funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health.
Selected References
Lokeshwar, V.B., Cerwinka W.H., Lokeshwar B.L. (2005) HYAL1 hyaluronidase: A molecular determinant of bladder tumor growth and invasion. Cancer Res. 65: 2243-2250.
Lokeshwar, V.B., Cerwinka, W.H., Tadahiro Isoyama, Lokeshwar, B.L. (2005) HYAL1 hyaluronidase in prostate cancer: A tumor promoter and suppressor Cancer Research 65: 7782-7789.
Isoyama, T., Thwaites, D., Selzer, M.G., Carey, R.I., Schroeder, G.L., Lokeshwar, V.B. (2005) Differential selectivity of hyaluronidase inhibitors towards acidic and basic hyaluronidases Glycobiology, 16: 11-21.
