Novel Proteasome Inhibitors for Treating Cancer

Yeda R&D Co. Ltd Israel flag

Israel

Abstract ID: 1520

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease, and the amount of funding for cancer research is higher than for any other

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Introduction/Background

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease, and the amount of funding for cancer research is higher than for any other disease. However, despite major advances in the management of cancer, most tumour types are resistant to conventional treatment modalities.

Aims/Hypothesis

Proteasome inhibitors induce selective cell death of malignant cells, and as such represent a promising class of targeted anticancer agents.

Research

Proteasomal degradation plays an essential role in multiple cellular processes, including cell division and growth, DNA repair and cell cycle control. Despite its widespread distribution and involvement in multiple biological processes in normal cells, the proteasome activity is particularly critical for the survival of transformed cells. Thus, malignant cells are significantly more sensitive to proteasome inhibition than their normal counterparts, and blocking proteasomal degradation may sensitize them to both conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The outlined technology involves a highly sensitive, microscope-aided high throughput screen. It makes use of a fluorescent reporter that translocates into the nucleus upon inhibition of proteasomal activity. Using this screen, several compounds with a pronounced and unique proteasome inhibitory activity were identified.

Conclusion

The current technology involves a unique class of proteasome inhibitors that were discovered using a novel high throughput, image-based screening approach.

Relevance/Opportunity

Please enquire regarding licensing or codevelopment partnerships quoting reference no. 1520.

FEATURED

Last Updated May 2015