Background:
Prostate cancer is the second-most commonly diagnosed cancer among men and the fifth most common cause of male cancer death worldwide. Although tumors are often initially sensitive to medical or surgical therapies that decrease levels of testosterone, continued disease progression generally represents a transition to the lethal variant. In spite of the fact that prostate tumors are generally depend on the androgen receptor (AR) signaling WSU research is focused on developing novel and proprietary therapy for the treatment of early stage and castrate resistant prostate cancer ("CRPC") in patients whose disease is progressing despite treatment with current therapies.
Technology:
Newly discovered compounds and their derivatives act by disrupting the androgen receptor signaling pathway. This new class of drugs specifically designed to target ELK1 steroid hormone receptor that drives hormone receptor dependent cancers growth. In preclinical studies, This novel approach has been shown to be effective in blocking prostate tumor growth when current therapies are no longer effective.
Commercial Applications:
Novel androgen-directed therapeutic strategies for the management of early stage and advanced prostate cancer.
First line treatment against hormone-receptor-dependent cancers
Stage of Development:
Pre-clinical
Competitive Advantages:
- New class of drugs targeting the androgen receptor pathway
- Obviate the need for testosterone suppression in prostate cancer treatment