Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide, making the search for effective treatments an urgent imperative for the medical community. Now, one biotechnology company has developed a new cancer treatment targeting prostate cancer: Regulated Induced Proximity Targeting Chimeras (RIPTAC) therapeutics. Preclinical data suggests that RIPTAC therapeutics show a high level of oral efficacy as a monotherapy — superior to the current standard of care agent in prostate cancer, in fact. Now, the treatment will enter Phase I clinical trials.
The revolutionary potential of RIPTAC therapeutics was introduced at a recent industry conference by lead author Xinheng Yu, PhD. The presentation was entitled “Prostate Cancer RIPTAC Therapeutics Demonstrate Activity in Preclinical Models of Enzalutamide-Resistant Prostate Cancer.” Read on to find out more about this novel treatment, and the possibilities it presents for individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer.
New Cancer Treatment Addresses Androgen Abnormalities
Prostate cancer is closely related to the androgen receptor (AR), which is a cellular transcription factor serving to regulate genes within the body. The current standard of care for prostate cancer relies on a combination of androgen deprivation therapy and artificial AR-signaling inhibitors (ARSIs). However, many patients experience resistance to these measures eventually. For patients who develop treatment resistance, the long-term survival prognosis can decline dramatically. For example, patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), an advanced form of prostate cancer, often display amplifications of the AR gene. This amplification reduces the overall effectiveness of ARSIs. Fortunately, RIPTAC therapeutics may address this need should Phase I testing prove successful.
Preclinical Data Proves Promising
The team behind RIPTAC therapeutics showcased an impressive amount of preclinical data showing the anti-tumor capabilities of RIPTAC therapeutics. Unlike other treatments for prostate cancer, these treatments use a unique “hold and kill” mechanism. This kills select cancer cells by combining the tumor-specific protein androgen receptor (AR) with an essential protein involved in transcription regulation.
The results of the “hold and kill” mechanism were promising. First, in castrated mice used as animal models of prostate cancer, multiple RIPTAC therapeutics demonstrated superior oral efficacy compared with enzalutamide, which is the current standard of care for prostate cancer. Additionally, according to the press release, “the design of the RIPTAC therapeutics targeting prostate cancer achieved desired anti-tumor activity and pharmacology through optimized trimeric complex formation, AR-selective cell killing, and oral bioavailability.” This occurred via a combination of an optimized trimeric complex formation, AR-selective cell killing, and oral bioavailability in the preclinical animal models.
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Now that the new cancer treatment modality has achieved promising results in preclinical trials, the researchers will advance to Phase I trials. Given the exciting results achieved during early studies, researchers are optimistic that a new treatment for prostate cancer could be just around the corner.
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