Specific Delivery of a Tumor-ablating Agent by a DECApeptide to Colon and Esophageal Cancer Cell Lines as a Therapeutic Treatment
Abstract (Set) Targeted tumor therapy is commonly based on the use of antibodies directed against a specific molecule, and tagged with a tumor ablating material to deliver therapy to the target cell. Now, scientists at JHU have discovered a new method of targeting therapy to tumor cells, by using a DECApeptide that can be radioactively labeled. The DECApeptide has been shown to permanently deliver therapeutic radioisotope to colon and esophageal cancer cell lines at an efficiency that is 35 to 150 times higher than the background radiation level other cancer cell lines tested or to normal cells. This experimental approach is a possible first example of "substrate therapy" for the treatment of colon and esophageal cancer. Description (Set) The effectiveness of immunotherapeutic antibodies is limited by their relatively large size. This attribute results in the antibody attachment being limited to the exposed areas of a solid tumor. The DECApeptide, by contrast, is far smaller and this size advantage is predicted to facilitate tumor penetration. In addition, by using a high-energy beta-emitting radioisotope, the electron's path length will range up to 5 mm, allowing substantial penetration of solid tumors. Due to a predicted "bystander" effect, one beta particle will penetrate hundreds or thousands of cells within the tumor, even those not directly binding the DECApeptide. Moreover, since the molecular weight of the tiny peptide is far less than the 5,000 Dalton exclusion limit of the kidneys, this peptide will readily be eliminated in the urine. Thus, it will be feasible for both a radioactive dose and unbound radioactively to be eliminated easily and in a relatively short time. Proposed Use (Set) The development of a new targeted therapy for colon cancer will be of interest some of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. There are already a number of targeted immunotherapy products on the market including Avastin, Zevalin, and Erbitux, all of which represent traditional monoclonal antibody treatments. The invention presented here will be a "substrate therapy" that utilizes a tiny molecular substrate to deliver tumor-ablating material (e.g., isotope) to malignant cells and could represent a novel and markedly improved approach to the immunotherapy of colon and other cancers.Inventor(s): Abraham, John ,Meltzer, Stephen
Type of Offer: Licensing
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