University of Illinois

Matthew W Boudreau

Paul Joseph Hergenrother

David J Shapiro

Jessie Peh

A set of small molecules ERα biomodulators that kill therapy-resistant ERα positive breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer cells. These small molecules have increased therapeutic potential because of an increased ability to kill therapy-resistant breast cancer cells compared to BHPI and other conventional therapies (endocrine therapies, tamoxifen and fulvestrant/ICI). The new compounds do not only inhibit proliferation of the cancer cells but actually kills them, which prevents reactivation of tumors years later.

Activators of the unfolded protein response

The discovery of mutant or fusion kinases that drive oncogenesis, and the subsequent approval of specific inhibitors for these enzymes, has been instrumental in the management of some cancers. However, acquired resistance remains a significant problem in the clinic, limiting the long-term effectiveness of most of these drugs. Herein is demonstrated a strategy to overcome this resistance through drug-induced MEK cleavage (via direct procaspase-3 activation) combined with targeted kinase inhibition. This combination effect is shown to be general across diverse tumor histologies (melanoma, lung cancer, and leukemia) and driver mutations (mutant BRAF or EGFR, fusion kinases EML4-ALK and BCR-ABL). Caspase-3-mediated degradation of MEK kinases results in sustained pathway inhibition and substantially delayed or eliminated resistance in cancer cells in a manner superior to combinations with MEK inhibitors. These data suggest the generality of drug-mediated MEK kinase cleavage as a therapeutic strategy to prevent resistance to targeted anticancer therapies.

Cancer therapy by degrading dual MEK signaling

Synergistic drug combinations with the small molecule PAC-1 against uveal or cutaneous melanoma. There are no current targeted drug treatments for the mutations associated with uveal melanoma. Despite primary radiation or surgical therapy, up to 50% of patients eventually develop metastatic disease, for which there is no standard therapy nor treatment shown to improve overall survival. Drug combinations with PAC-1 allow the use of lower dosages of this compound that result in cancer cell death in uveal melanoma. Drug combinations of PAC-1 with the kinase inhibitor entrectinib have shown a synergistic effect against uveal melanoma cell lines. Specifically, PAC-1 and entrectinib are synergistic against wild-type and mutant uveal melanoma cell lines (e.g., GNAQ and GNA11).

Combination therapy for the treatment of uveal melanoma

A set of small molecules ER&#x3b1; biomodulators that kill therapy-resistant ER&#x3b1; positive breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer cells. These small molecules have increased therapeutic potential because of an increased ability to kill therapy-resistant breast cancer cells compared to BHPI and other conventional therapies (endocrine therapies, tamoxifen and fulvestrant/ICI). The new compounds do not only inhibit proliferation of the cancer cells but actually kills them, which prevents reactivation of tumors years later.

Growing community of inventors

Urbana, IL, United States of America

Matthew W Boudreau