Inhibitors of Cell Adhesion by Nectin Peptides

IP Status: US Patent Issued; Patent No. 10,907,212

Applications

• Ovarian cancer metastasis
• Inhibition of spheroid formation
• Lung cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer

Key Benefits & Differentiators

• Prevent cancer cell adhesion: Nectin-derived peptides prevent Nectin-4/Nectin-1 interaction, limiting cancer metastasis
• Improves cell sensitivity to chemotherapy: Peptides limit spheroid formation

Technology Overview

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, resulting in over 14,000 deaths annually in the U.S. Due to the vague symptoms and lack of a screening test suitable for the general population, most women are diagnosed at a late stage of the disease, when patients have a poor prognosis. Although most ovarian cancer patients will respond to initial treatment with surgery and chemotherapy, the majority relapse with chemoresistant disease. Metastasis is a major contributor to disease progression and death in these patients. Tumor cells use cell-cell adhesion to adhere to other sites or form cell-cell aggregates that are resistant to chemotherapy and migrate into the vasculature. By blocking these adhesions, it may be possible to limit or block cancer metastasis. Specifically, the cell adhesion molecule Nectin-4 is overexpressed in epithelial cancers, including ovarian cancer. Studies have shown that Nectin-4 promotes cell-cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed synthetic peptides that can functionally block cell adhesion. The synthetic peptides prevent binding to the Nectin-4 protein expressed on the surface of ovarian cancer cells. The synthetic peptides have been demonstrated to inhibit ovarian cancer cell aggregation and spheroid formation in vitro.

Phase of Development

TRL: 3
Synthetic peptides demonstrate the capacity to inhibit cell adhesion and spheroid formation in vitro

Desired Partnerships

This technology is now available for:

• License
• Sponsored research
• Co-development

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Researchers

• Amy Skubitz, PhD Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology
• Kristin Boylan, PhD Assistant Director, Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Program