Therapeutics & Vaccines
Vitamin D Analog for Cancer Prevention and Treatment
WARF: P100077US02
Inventors: Hector DeLuca, Katarzyna Barycka, Katarzyna Plonska-Ocypa, Rafal Barycki, Lori Plum, Margaret Clagett-Dame, Izabela Sibilska-Kaminski, Rafal Sicinski
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a vitamin D analog that is potentially useful as a chemotherapeutic agent.
Overview
The hormonally active form of vitamin D, known as calcitriol or 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3, has shown promise for treating diseases ranging from osteoporosis to cancer to psoriasis. However, the hormone mobilizes calcium from bones and increases intestinal absorption of dietary calcium. Effective therapeutic concentrations can lead to hypercalcemia; a condition characterized by elevated blood calcium levels, alterations in mental status, muscle weakness and calcification of soft tissues and organs such as the heart and kidneys. Therefore, a need exists for non-calcemic compounds that provide desirable therapeutic effects without causing dose-limiting hypercalcemia.
The Invention
UW–Madison researchers have developed a novel vitamin D analog, (20S)-25-hydroxy-1-desoxy-2-methylene-19-nor-vitamin D3. This compound binds the vitamin D receptor and causes differentiation of cancer cells nearly as well as calcitriol but does not raise tissue calcium levels to the same degree, suggesting that it could be developed into a useful anticancer agent.
Applications
- Cancer prevention and treatment, particularly for leukemia, colon cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer or prostate cancer
Key Benefits
- Exhibits direct cellular activity in causing cell differentiation and gene transcription and in suppressing cell growth
- Less likely to cause dose-limiting hypercalcemia than calcitriol
- Can be administered in many forms
Additional Information
For More Information About the Inventors
Related Intellectual Property
For current licensing status, please contact Rafael Diaz at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9847