This technology concerns separate inventions to specific compositions of hyaluronan (HA) fragments and/or agents useful for wound healing or the treatment of cancer.

Summary of Invention:

This technology concerns separate inventions to specific compositions of hyaluronan (HA) fragments and/or agents useful for wound healing or the treatment of cancer. In some cancers, e.g., prostate and breast, HA levels correlate well with malignancy and poor prognosis. The inventors discovered an unexpected correlation between a narrow range of sizes of HA fragments and the stimulation of cell migration and proliferation. Based on this new knowledge and the correlation between HA and cancer, currently marketed compositions of HA may contain components that enhance or promote certain cancers. One aspect of our technology includes compositions comprising HA fragments of a specific size that have beneficial effects on wild-type cells (e.g. promotion of wound healing), while other exemplary compositions do not include the HA fragments of this invention. Both compositions may prove useful in the treatment of cancer. A second aspect of our technology concerns novel peptides that bind HA and interfere with binding of HA to its receptors. Our data show that these peptides attenuate fibroblast and breast cancer cell migration in vitro, attenuate the anchorage independent growth of prostate cancer cells and reduce fibrosis in wound repair in vivo. As a result, an opportunity could exist for development of HA compositions or peptide formulations that specifically inhibit the progression of tumor growth in breast or prostate cancer or that improve the process of wound repair. It is expected that new therapies developed based on these inventions will lead to more effective and safer treatment options for these diseases and conditions. 

Market Opportunity:

Hyaluronan has been widely used in cosmetic, wound healing, osteoarthritis and ophthalmology applications. The world market for development of HA-based products for cosmetic and therapeutic purposes has been estimated to be in excess of $10 billion. Demand for HA-based products in these categories is expected to continue to increase with the aging population. In the past ten years, there has been increased interest in investigating the application and use of HA in the treatment of cancer. In 2004, the global market for cancer therapies was US$42.2 billion and was forecasted to grow annually by 14% to US$82 billion by 2009. Therapies that specifically target cancer cells and spare healthy cells and tissue are expected to gain broader acceptance. As such, a peptide with specific effects in treatment of cancer has tremendous clinical value. The market for development of a new HA-based product for use in the treatment of cancer alone has been estimated to be worth in excess of US$2 billion.