NU 2010-015 

Inventors

Irina Budunova* 

Alexander Yemelyanov 

Short Description

Novel therapy for cancer and other proliferative disorders that relies on the use of an FDA-approved proteasome inhibitor

Abstract

Northwestern researchers have developed a novel therapeutic strategy to improve glucocorticoid therapy. While glucocorticoids find application in treating various proliferative and inflammatory disorders, many patients develop resistance over the course of treatment. It has been shown that resistance to glucocorticoids is mediated by degradation of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) during treatment. This novel therapeutic strategy developed by Prof. Budunova and colleagues, aims to prevent GR degradation by co-administration of glucocorticoids with an FDA-approved proteasome inhibitor. Interestingly, administration of this proteasome inhibitor also increases expression of GR proteins and this multimodal mechanism of action could ensure that patients become and stay glucocorticoid sensitive. This novel treatment methodology is expected to improve quality of life and treatment outcomes for patients with diseases such as asthma, psoriasis and several types of blood cancers. 

Applications

• Treatment for hyper-proliferative and inflammatory diseases (asthma, psoriasis, dermatitis etc.)
• Treatment for blood cancers

Advantages

• FDA approved
• Multiple diseases can be treated
• Multimodal mechanism of action

Publications

Lesovaya E, Yemelyanov A, Krisanov K, Popa A, Belitsky G, Yakubovskaya M, Gordon L, Rosen S, Budunova I (2013) Combination of a Selective Activator of the Glucocorticoid Receptor Compound A with a Proteasome Inhibitor as a Novel Strategy for Chemotherapy of Hematologic Malignancies, Cell Cycle, 12: 133-144. 

IP Status

Issued US Patent No. 9,126,997.