Treatment of hyperproliferative diseases
AssigneeVampex Limited
InventorsSimon Ward, Claes Bavik, Michael Cork, Rachid Tazi-Aahnini
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Abstract
We describe methods and compositions for treating a patient suffering from a hyperproliferative disorder or photoageing. Our methods involve blocking the activity of a retinol binding protein receptor (RBPr) in cells of the patient, and/or administering to the patient an antagonist of a retinol binding protein receptor (RBPr) and/or lowering the endogenous level of retinoic acid (RA) in cells of said patient.
Claims39
A method of treating a patient suffering from a hyperproliferative disorder or photoageing, which method comprises lowering the endogenous level or activity of retinoic acid (RA) in a cell of the patient.
3 The method of claim 1, wherein the endogenous level of retinoic acid in the cell is lowered to an extent that cell proliferation is reduced or abolished, and/or to an extent that cell differentiation is activated or enhanced.
A method of treating a patient suffering from a hyperproliferative disorder or photoageing, which method comprises administering to the patient a compound capable of interfering with the biosynthesis of retinoic acid.
An agent or antagonist capable of lowering the endogenous level of retinoic acid in a cell for use in a method of treating a hyperproliferative disorder or photoageing in a patient.
A method for identifying a compound capable of lowering the endogenous level of retinoic acid in a cell, which method comprises:
- contacting a cell which expresses a retinol binding protein receptor with a candidate compound, and determining whether the level of retinoic acid in said cell is lowered as a result of said contacting;
- or, contacting a retinol binding protein receptor, or a fragment thereof capable of binding retinol binding protein, with a candidate compound in the presence of retinol binding protein and determining whether the levels of retinol binding protein binding to the receptor are reduced;
- or, contacting a cell with a candidate compound, and determining whether the level of retinoic acid within the cell is reduced;
- or exposing a cell expressing a retinol dehydrogenase to a compound and determining whether the levels of retinal within the cell are reduced.
A method of preventing proliferation of a cell, the method comprising lowering the endogenous level or activity of retinoic acid (RA) in the cell.
A method of activating a differentiation program in a cell, the method comprising contacting the cell with a compound capable of interfering with the biosynthesis of retinoic acid.
A method of treating or alleviating the symptoms of a patient suffering from a disease, disorder, or condition, wherein the method comprises reducing the endogenous level or activity of Retinoic Acid (RA) in a cell of the patient.
A pharmaceutical composition suitable for treating a patient suffering from a hyperproliferative disorder or photoageing, comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or agent, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.