Technology Overview

Treating brain tumors remain a challenging target due to challenges associated with crossing the blood brain barrier, accessibility, rapid spread, and tumor complexity. For all brain tumors, including benign tumors, the five-year survival rate is 33 percent. This survival rate drops to 5 percent for glioblastoma multiforme, the most malignant brain tumor type. One promising avenue to target cancerous cells is to alter components of their metabolism, as cancerous cells seem to require higher levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a cofactor central to metabolism, than noncancerous cells. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) plays a key role in the biosynthesis of NAD and can be upregulated in a variety of tumor types. Unfortunately, these trials have had limited success due to dose-limiting toxicities and low efficacy, potentially due to alternative cellular pathways for NAD synthesis. Hutch researchers have discovered alternative pathways not present in some cancer cells, which allow non-cancerous cells to produce NAD. By treating with a combination of these salvage pathway precursors and NAMPT inhibitors, researchers can selectively eliminate cancer cells and increase the therapeutic index of NAD synthesis inhibitors in specific subtypes of cancer, which include a variety of glioblastomas.

Applications

• Treatment of a variety of cancers, including glioblastomas and brain cancers

Advantages

• Increased therapeutic index of NAMPT inhibitors

Patent Information

Patent Pending

Market Overview

The market for brain tumor pharmaceuticals market is expected to grow to $3.41 billion at a CAGR of 9.2% through 2022, driven by the increasing prevalence of neurological disorders and increased focus on treatment.

Investigator Overview

• Patrick Paddison, Ph.D; Human Biology Division
David Hockenbery, M.D; Clinical Research, Human Biology, and Public Health Divisions