University of Southern California

New York University

Dorothy Rodriguez

Peter C Brooks

Danielle Morais

Leonard Liebes

The present invention provides a method of treating cancer using benzoic acid derivatives, alone or in combination with standard treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Also provided are methods of screening for benzoic derivatives based on their ability to inhibit the enzyme tyrosinase or to bind to and activate PXR/SXR xenobiotic receptors.

Treatment of cancer using benzoic acid derivatives

The present invention relates to the inhibition of melanogenesis with para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and its use in treating melanotic cancer.

Inhibition of melanogenesis and melanoma metastasis with p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)

Antagonists for modifying protein-protein interactions involving certain amino acid sequences within MMP-9 and/or &#x3b2;1 integrins are described. Such antagonists inhibit angiogenesis, tumor growth and disease states. Example antagonists are polypeptide and non-polypeptide molecules, including the novel antibody Mab FM155 and the novel synthetic peptide FRIP-1. Methods for inhibiting angiogenesis and disease states by administering such antagonists are disclosed. Methods for identifying antagonists that modify protein-protein interactions involving certain amino acid sequences within MMP-9 and/or &#x3b2;1 integrins are also described.

Method and composition for inhibition of angiogenesis using antagonists based on MMP-9 and &#x3b2;1 integrins

The present invention provides methods and compositions for inhibiting angiogenesis, tumor growth and treating disease states using a peptide that contains a specific amino acid sequence of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2). In one embodiment, the invention provides a peptide, which comprises the amino acid sequence Ile-Phe-Ala-Gly-Asp-Lys-Phe-Trp-Arg, preferably flanked by cysteine residues at the amino and carboxy termini. Additionally, the invention provides compositions for inhibiting angiogenesis or tumor growth or for treating disease states comprising organic and non-peptidic mimetics based on the above amino acid sequence as well as optimized sequences flanking the region of MMP-2 within which the sequence lies. Also provided are methods for detecting angiogenesis, tumorous tissue, metastases, and tumor invasion into a tissue by contacting a composition of the invention with a tissue and methods for screening compositions of the invention.

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Rowland Heights, CA, United States of America

Dorothy Rodriguez