Transcobalamin Receptor Peptides for the Treatment of Cancer

Background:

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality, resulting in over 8 million deaths worldwide. Furthermore, the incidence is expected to rise by more than 50% over the next 15 years to 22 million patients and accounts for over $156 billion in yearly healthcare costs. Although treatments have dramatically improved over the past several decades, many patients are still left without a viable treatment option.

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin, CBL) is essential for cellular proliferation and interest in oncology. Research has shown its functions are crucial within tumor cells for their growth, proliferation, and migration; hence elucidating the importance of tumor cells for cobalamin is essential, while the inhibition of B12 uptake in vitro has anti-proliferating effects. In addition to the high B12 needs and uptake by cancer cells, the link between cobalamin and neoplasms also involves B12-binding proteins called transcobalamin. Hence, drugs targeting transcobalamin may be a new potential treatment for cancer.

Technology Overview:

Researchers at SUNY Downstate have developed a novel class of peptides that selectively attenuate the uptake of cobalamin into cancer cells via transcobalamin. Through several preclinical studies within the laboratory, the inventors showed their peptides could bind to the cancer cells, leading to uptake and subsequent targeted inhibition of transcobalamin in various human cancer cell lines. The inventors believe that inhibiting this critical pathway for growth may reduce tumor growth and migration. Hence, further development of this technology could become a viable class of drugs for several cancers for which cobalamin is driving growth and metastasis.

Advantages:

Although new immunotherapies and cellular therapies are changing the paradigm of cancer treatment, they are still limited to small populations of patients. However, this technology is a novel class of potential drugs that can target a significant metabolic pathway involved in cancer, thereby improving the treatment outcomes alone or in combination with leading therapies. In addition, it may also treat Vitamin B12 deficiency which affects about 6% of those younger than 60 and over 20% of the elderly.

Applications:

Cancer and cobalamin deficiency.

Intellectual Property Summary:

Issued patent: 8,524,454 (2007)

Stage of Development:

Preclinical proof of concept.

Licensing Status:

Available for license. SUNY Research Foundation is seeking a commercial partner for licensing and/or collaborative (sponsored) research activities in this area.