Technology Licensing Office (TLO) @ SFU’s Post

NEW COMPOUND THAT MIGHT CHANGE THE GAME FOR A RARE EYE CANCER BY FLIPPING A SWITCH TO MAKE MALIGNANT CELLS SELF-DESTRUCT We are thrilled to share this discovery, which may be a game changer in the fight against metastatic uveal melanoma (MUM), a challenging eye cancer. Three CRYSTAL3 Fellows among the authors who have discovered that a compound called 14-dihydroxy quininib activates ferroptosis—a type of cell death driven by iron and lipid peroxidation—in cancer cells, potentially opening new avenues for treatment. This compound not only alters key markers in the ferroptosis pathway but also identifies a novel biomarker signature that could predict patient outcomes. This research paves the way for novel cancer treatments targeting ferroptosis, and introduces a promising biomarker signature offering new hope to patients facing this rare eye cancer. Free access to the whole paper 👇 https://lnkd.in/dYz2RAjv Congrats to lead author Valentina Tonelotto and all collaborators!! This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101007931. #InvestEUResearch #CancerResearch #UvealMelanoma #MSCA #Horizon2020

Exciting Developments in Targeted Cancer Treatment with Nanoparticles! In the fight against cancer, researchers are constantly seeking innovative methods for drug delivery. Our latest research explores the potential of "crocin-loaded zein beta-cyclodextrin nanoparticles (CrZeCD-NPs)" as a promising new approach. These nanoparticles encapsulate crocin, a natural compound, within a biocompatible and biodegradable carrier. This design offers several advantages: Targeted Delivery: The nanoparticles have a small size (around 165nm) and controlled release properties, potentially allowing for targeted delivery of the drug to cancer cells. High Efficiency: Our study achieved a 96% encapsulation rate, indicating successful loading of crocin within the nanoparticles. Enhanced Cell Death: The CrZeCD-NPs significantly inhibited pancreatic cancer cell growth while sparing healthy cells. This suggests they may induce apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death in cancer cells. Our findings are encouraging, but further research is needed to explore the full potential of CrZeCD-NPs. This study paves the way for future advancements in targeted cancer therapies! https://lnkd.in/e2D-M63Y #nanotechnology #cancerresearch #drugdelivery #apoptosis

🔬🧬 Time for a Change in Cancer Nomenclature? 🧬🔬 A recent Nature commentary (https://buff.ly/3wgLVqN) raises an interesting question: Should we rethink how we name tumors? 📜 Traditionally, cancer types are named based on their organ of origin - think lung, breast, or prostate cancer. This approach, however, is increasingly misaligned with the strides made in precision oncology, which relies on molecular profiling for treatment guidance. 💡 A pivotal moment came over a decade ago with nivolumab, a drug targeting the PD1 receptor. It proved effective across various cancer types, but organ-based classifications delayed its wider application, especially for cancers with high PD-L1 expression. 🔄 The impact? Delayed access to vital drugs for patients and a pressing need to shift from organ-based to molecular-based cancer classification. This change could be particularly transformative for metastatic cancers, responsible for a significant portion of cancer deaths. 🌐 The call is for a holistic cancer characterization, blending molecular details with traditional factors like organ of origin and tumor aggressiveness. 📢 Join the Conversation 📢 what are your views on this paradigm shift? Let's discuss and share insights in the comments! 👇 💬 #CancerResearch #PrecisionOncology #MolecularBiology #HealthcareInnovation #Biotech

In the exciting world of drug discovery, protein degradation is making headlines! Imagine targeting cancer not just by inhibiting troublesome proteins but by kicking them out of the cell entirely. That’s the innovative promise of targeted protein degradation (TPD). The recent article dives deep into how TPD is revolutionizing cancer treatment, with a special focus on Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2). CDK2 is like that unwanted guest at the party, driving cancer cell proliferation. TPD steps in as the ultimate bouncer, escorting CDK2 out of the cell, potentially offering a more effective and less resistance-prone approach than traditional therapies. From bridging CDK2 to E3 ubiquitin ligases for its degradation to exploring a wide range of oncogenic targets, TPD strategies are shaping up to be the Swiss Army knife of precision oncology. While there are challenges—like ensuring high specificity and overcoming resistance—ongoing research is paving the way for next-gen cancer therapies. For those intrigued by the latest in protein degradation, this resource is a must-read! Dive in, stay informed, and get ready to be amazed by what the future holds. #DrugDiscovery #ProteinDegradation #CancerResearch #Oncology #PrecisionMedicine #NextGenTherapies #ScientificInnovation

🔬 Big breakthrough in cancer research! A recent study, published in Cell Chemical Biology on November 16, 2023, introduces a new hope against cancer drug resistance: PROTACs (Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras). These mighty molecules target and break down PIM kinases, notorious for helping cancer cells thrive even under tough conditions. 🎯 While current drugs slow down PIM kinases, cancer often fights back, growing stronger. But with PROTACs, scientists found a way to not just slow, but stop the kinases, dramatically reducing tumor growth in lab tests. 🛑✨ Imagine combining this with chemotherapy—cancer cell death jumped from 12% to 40% in experiments. This promising strategy could change the game for patients battling prostate, breast, colon, and many more types of cancer. 🌟 Though we’re looking at first-gen PROTACs, the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment is undeniable. More research could bring these powerful tools from the lab to the clinic, offering new hope to those fighting cancer. 💪 #CancerResearch #PROTACs #BreakthroughScience #HopeForCancerPatients #InnovativeTherapies” Source: https://lnkd.in/gcRv6PD7

On World Cancer Research Day, we join with others at the forefront of research into new treatments for cancer to raise awareness of the importance of cancer research in improving the lives of people living with cancer. The vision of our company is to become a global leader in precision oncology by redefining Synthetic Lethality to develop new first in class medicines against novel, validated oncology targets, turning a broader class of cancer patients into cancer survivors. We are developing precision medicines that target unexplored or difficult to drug pathways exploring Synthetic Lethality beyond Homologous Recombination Deficiency (#HRD). Our lead program targets complexes that regulate the Alternative lengthening of telomeres (#ALT) mechanism. We celebrate the dedicated contribution of our team and our work with our academic partners at CMRI Children's Medical Research Institute and Instituto de Medicina Molecular in driving innovation. Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Together, we can change that. Discover more about our pioneering science at www.tessellatebio.com #WorldCancerResearchDay #WCRD24 #oncology #drugdiscovery #syntheticlethal  

Too much of a good thing is a bad thing, even for 'bad guys'... Nature Reviews Cancer has just published a research highlight on our recent work published in the AACR Journals Cancer Discovery. Check out this interesting piece from Nature Portfolio: https://lnkd.in/d-696Drr This piece outlines the rationale behind our approach: overwhelming #cancer cells with excessive signaling can overstress them, making them vulnerable to drugs that target stressed cells. The highlight also concisely summarizes our journey, from finding the right drugs for this strategy in colon cancer models to uncovering mechanisms of toxicity and observing how resistance to this strategy actually renders cancer cells less malignant. Congrats to Anna Dart for the spot-on write-up—definitely worth a read. For more details on our findings, you can read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/d__cnGE6 Feel free to drop any comments or questions below!

Hello, this is Dr. James Doroshow, DCTD Director. I wanted to let the scientific community know about how NCI’s research resources can uniquely enable cancer researchers to make crucial scientific advances. Here’s one collaborative example that was brought forth with help from researchers across institutions and divisions, including from within NCI Center for Cancer Research.   A first-in-class lactate dehydrogenase inhibitor developed through the NCI Experimental Therapeutics (NExT) Program/Chemical Biology Consortium showed cancer cell death and reduced tumor growth in a Hurthle cell carcinoma (HTC) PDX model that was sourced from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Patient-Derived Models Repository (PDMR).   This work highlights the value of NCI’s research resources to advancements in this area of research, especially in a rare cancer: understanding the effectiveness of targeting glycolysis in tumor harboring mitochondria electron transfer complex mutations.   Learn more about the PDMR - https://pdmr.cancer.gov/ and the NExT Program - https://next.cancer.gov/ - and see a full list of DCTD research resources - https://lnkd.in/dkCpBTn7   Reference: https://lnkd.in/d48DuA-s

Exciting news to share from AIM ImmunoTech (NYSE American: AIM), one of our featured companies at B2i Digital. In today’s press release, the company announced that enrollment is now open for their Phase 1b/2 trial evaluating Ampligen plus Imfinzi in pancreatic cancer. Hear more from CEO Tom Equels on this announcement in AIM's latest video. https://lnkd.in/esUSYhF2 According to the CEO, this milestone means  - Combining Ampligen with the PD-L1 drug Imfinzi could boost outcomes in this difficult cancer. - The new trial will build on prior preclinical data to study whether Ampligen may enhance checkpoint inhibitors. - The trial is being conducted at the top cancer center, Erasmus MC, in the Netherlands. Up to 18 patients in Phase 1b portion. - Positive data could support larger future pivotal studies. We look forward to updates as the first patients begin treatment soon in this pancreatic cancer study. Kudos to the AIM team including COO Peter Rodino III, Chief Scientific & Medical Officer David Strayer, and CFO Robert Dickey, on their continued work in developing Ampligen for hard-to-treat diseases. Thank you to Jenene Thomas at JTC IR (jtcir.com) for sharing these 2 noteworthy news items. #ImmunoOncology #PancreaticCancer #ClinicalTrials #Cancer #Biotech #immunotherapy #Ampligen #B2iDigital #AIMImmunoTech

Promising news for cancer research! A team from the University of Pavia, Italy, leveraged AtomNet #AI to design small molecules targeting Voltage-dependent Anion-selective Channel 1 (VDAC1), a protein implicated in various cancers. Their approach focused on immobilizing a flexible helix within VDAC1, thereby modifying a metabolite binding site and a putative protein-protein interaction (PPI) implicated in tumor cell proliferation. These VDAC1 molecular glues demonstrated dose-dependent efficacy in reducing cancer cell viability while exhibiting minimal impact on healthy cells and organoids. The research lays a foundation for future development of these molecules as potential cancer therapeutics. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e3wp5kHd