Wip1 Peptide Inhibitors as Cancer Therapeutics
Background:
The National Cancer Institute's
Laboratory of Cell Biology is seeking statements of capability or
interest from parties interested in collaborative research to
further develop, evaluate, or commercialize Cyclic Phosphopeptide
Inhibitors of Protein Phosphatase 2C Delta, Wip1.
Wip1 (PP2Cdelta or PPM1D) is a protein phosphatase that negatively
regulates apoptosis by preventing p53-mediated cell-cycle arrest
and apoptosis. Wip1 is overexpressed in several human cancers,
including breast cancer, ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma and
neuroblastoma, suggesting it may play an important role in
oncogenesis. Inhibiting Wip1 may be a necessary step for inducing
apopotsis and prohibiting tumor growth, accentuating the need for
Wip1-directed therapies.
Technology:
This technology involves the
development of specific peptides that serve as Wip1 peptide
inhibitors and can be used as anti-cancer agents, particularly as
promoters of apoptosis. The inventors have modified the natural
substrate of the Wip1 protein phosphatase in order to produce the
inhibitors, allowing for specific and efficient inhibition of Wip1.
The inhibitors may be combined with other pro-apoptosis
therapeutics to improve patient survival, providing an advantage to
previous pro-apoptosis approaches. Because these peptide inhibitors
are the first specific Wip1 inhibitors, they represent the first
opportunity to pursue this therapeutic strategy.
R&D Status:
Pre-clinical (discovery)
IP Status:
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/850,218; Pending PCT
Application PCT/US2006/022180.
Value
Proposition:
Therapeutics to treat a variety of
cancers, including breast cancer, ovarian, cancer, and
neuroblastomas.
Contact
Information:
John D. Hewes, Ph.D., NCI
Technology Transfer Center
Phone: 301-435-3121
E-mail: Hewesj@mail.nih.gov
Reference: #594 LW
Posted 12/17/2007