Experiments in vitro demonstrate that these novel SMO inhibitors potentially suppress the growth of cancer cells and inhibit the expression of the HH/PTCH pathway genes.

Cancer is caused by the improper regulation of certain signaling proteins in the cell.  One of these pathways is the Hedgehog/Patched (HH/PTCH) pathway.  Hedgehog is a secreted protein involved in the growth and development of embryonic cells.  Patched is the receptor for hedgehog proteins and regulates a membrane protein called Smoothened (SMO).  This pathway is activated in many tumor cells, including those in prostate, pancreas, stomach, and small cell cancer.

The technology is directed towards several synthetic peptides (including all-D analogs) corresponding to specific region of the SMO protein.  Experiments in vitro demonstrate that they potentially suppress the growth of cancer cells and inhibit the expression of the HH/PTCH pathway genes.  These novel SMO inhibitors are much more effective in inhibiting cell growth than currently available cyclopamine and cyclopamine derivatives.  These novel peptides and their metabolically more stable analogs have a high potential for cancer therapy.  Due to their high hydrophobic properties, these can be easily formulated for specific intratumor delivery or topical creams for skin disorders.

 

Applications and Modality: 

• A potent, highly soluble cancer therapeutic
• Novel compounds that inhibit HH/PTCH pathway genes
• Skin permeable compounds that can be formulated into tropical creams for skin malignancies treatment and prevention and treatment of psoriasis

Market: 

• 600,000 deaths from cancer related diseases estimated in 2006
• This technology involving therapeutics for the treatment of several cancers has a potential market of several billion U.S. dollars
• Psoriasis affects an estimated 2-3 percent of the world's population
• Dermatologic diseases affect an estimated 50 million Americans
• Skin therapeutic market is worth over $2 billion in annual sales of prescription medications with an estimated yearly growth rate of 5%
• The overall annual cost of psoriasis treatment has been estimated to be from $650 million to $2 billion in the United States

Related Publication: 

L Covic et al. Activation and inhibition of G protein-coupled receptors by cell-penetrating membrane-tethered peptides. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2002 Jan 22;99(2):643-648.  [PubMed abs]

U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/855,422 filed 31 Oct 2006 (HHS Reference No. E-014-2007/0-US-01)

Inventors: 

Nadia Tarasova, Michael Dean, and Lou Hong (NCI)

Licensees Sought: 

Available for exclusive or non-exclusive licensing.

Collaborative Research Opportunity: 

The NCI-Frederick Structural Biophysics Laboratory is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize Peptide and Peptidomimetic Inhibitors of Smoothened Protein as Anti-neoplastic Agents.  Please contact John Hewes, Ph.D., at 240-482-3453 for more information.