[technology opportunity 2005-035]

ANKtide:  Chemotherapeutic Peptide for Metastatic Cancer

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Description:

Researchers at Queen’s University have developed a novel peptide (ANKtide) that is effective in reducing breast cancer tumours in vivo preclinical models. The peptide holds promise as a novel chemotherapeutic for metastatic cancers.

ANKtide was originally identified to overcome resistance to anti-microtubule drugs by interacting with and inhibiting the oncoprotein synuclein-gamma (SNCG).  SNCG, also referred to as Breast Cancer Specific Gene 1 (BCSG1), is not found in normal tissues but is abnormally expressed at high levels in advanced and metastatic cancers.  It significantly stimulates proliferation, invasion and metastasis of cancer cells and confers cellular resistance to anti-microtubule drugs by inhibiting the function of the essential mitotic checkpoint protein, BuBR1, and by binding directly to microtubules.  The ANK peptide neutralizes SNCG and induces drug-mediated mitotic arrest.  The ANK peptide should have utility in a wide range of metastatic cancers, as SNCG has been reported to be expressed in breast, liver, esophageal, colon, gastric, lung, prostate, and cervical cancers.     

Applications:

Novel mechanism for the treatment of metastatic cancer.  It has the potential to become a first-line chemotherapeutic in conjunction with existing gold-standard anti-microtubule drugs or a stand-alone second-line chemotherapeutic.

Status of Development:

Based upon compelling in vitro data with ANKtide in cancer cells we initiated proof-of-concept animal studies in an estrogen-positive breast cancer xenograft model.  In this non-optimized study nude mice were injected subcutaneously with cells from the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 transfected to overexpress SNCG.  The animals were given a dose of either saline or ANKtide (50mg/kg) by IP every day for 5 days when tumours reached 100 mm3.   The animals were followed until tumours reached 600 mm3.

Status of Commercialization:

PARTEQ Innovations, the technology transfer office of Queen’s University, is seeking industrial partners willing to support ongoing development of the product and/or who are interested in licensing the intellectual property.  Patent applications have entered National phase in Canada and the U.S. and entered the regional phase in Europe.

Contact:

Mike Wells, Ph.D., MBA

Manager, Commercial Development, Life Sciences

Phone: 613. 533. 2342, Fax: 613. 533. 6853

Email: mwells@parteqinnovations.com