Summary of InventionOne of the major obstacles in effective cancer chemotherapy today is the problem of drug-resistant cancer cells that persist in the face of the chemotherapeutic agents administered. It is believed that drug resistance is a result of inherent genetic heterogeneity of the neoplastic process; therefore, a therapeutic approach that is universally effective is ideal for future treatment efficacy. It is well known that all cells need Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to survive. Cancer cells grow and divide unchecked, and therefore are more dependent than noncancerous cells on the key metabolic pathways that generate ATP, such as glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. We present here an invention that relates to the composition and method of administering compounds that deplete ATP to lethal levels in cancerous cells. AdvantagesATP depletion therapy can be given in addition to standard chemotherapy and has the potential to be effective against all cancerous cells, including those with drug resistance. Areas of ApplicationTherapeutic drug. Stage of DevelopmentA cocktail of ATP-depleting compounds has been tested in mice bearing tumor xenografts. Lead InventorDr. Daniel S. Martin Patent Information
ReferencesMartin DS, et al. Cancer Res. 60:6776-83 (2000). Contact InformationJeff Horenstein, PhD Return to Therapeutics Main Page
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