Synergistic Combination Agent for Cancer Therapy

14:37 EDT 12 Jul 2018 | NIH

Work by the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL), a joint initiative of NCI, NIST, and the FDA, has led to the discovery of a novel combination chemotherapy. This combination is shown to have synergistic effects on cytotoxicity to cancer cells in vitro, and to cause a substantial decrease in tumor growth in preclinical tumor models in vivo. Combination therapy using these agents may enhance the response rate of different cancers to these drugs and may significantly reduce side effects by permitting a lower therapeutic dose to be administered.

SAIC Frederick''s Nanotechnology Characterization  Laboratory  seeks parties interested in collaborative research to co-develop a ceramide and vinca alkaloid combination therapy for treatment of cancer.  Potential commercial applications include cancer treatment, especially for cancers sensitive to treatment with vinca alkaloids such as breast cancer, testicular cancer, head and neck cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and non-small cell lung cancer.

The instant invention relates to a novel combination of ceramide and vinca alkaloids, which synergistically decrease cancer cell growth without increasing the toxicity profile compared to the individual drugs. The drug combination has been rigorously evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo models of cancer, and a dose range-finding toxicology study has been conducted in rodents.

This combination induces cell death via a novel mechanism (induction of autophagy with simultaneous blockade of autophagy flux). This mechanism appears to impart selectivity of the therapy to cancer cells.

Development Status:

  • The drug combination has been evaluated in both human hepatocarcinoma models (in vitro cell culture assays) and human colon cancer models (in vivo mouse xenografts).
  • Additional in vivo studies with other cancer types and early stage preclinical toxicology studies are being planned.
IC: 
NCI
NIH Ref. No.: 
E-007-2011
Advantages: 
  • Vinca alkaloids alone at therapeutic doses produce the standard side effects of cancer chemotherapy.
  • The vinca alkaloid-ceramide combination can be administered at lower doses with comparable efficacy and may allow for more frequent dosing (metronomic dosing).
  • The novel mechanism of action of this combination appears to be selective to cancer cells.
Applications: 
  • Treatment for cancers such as breast cancer, testicular cancer, head and neck cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and non-small cell lung cancer
Development Status: 

Pre-clinical (in vivo)

Updated On: 
May 30, 2018
Provider Classifications: 
Publications: 
Patent Application: 
61/451,925
PCT/US2012/028567
Patent Authority: 
U.S. Provisional
Foreign Filed
Licensing Contacts: 
Lead Inventor: 
Inventor IC: 
NCI
Inventor Lab URL: 
https://nanolab.cancer.gov/about-ncl/staff/stephan-t-stern
LPM FIrst Name: 
John
LPM Last Name: 
Hewes
Inv Is lead: 
LPM Phone: 
240-276-5515
LPM Email: 
John.Hewes@nih.gov
LPM Suffix: 
Ph.D.
LPM Organization: 
NCI - National Cancer Institute
DTDT Classification: 
Therapeutics
DTDT Description: 
Therapeutics
Pat Filing Date: 
2011-03-11
2012-03-09
Collaboration Sought: 
Yes
Institute or Center: 
Collaboration Opportunity: 

Licensing and research collaboration

E Number Only: 
E-007-2011
Inventor First Name: 
Stephan
Inventor Last Name: 
Stern

Original Article: Synergistic Combination Agent for Cancer Therapy

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