Novel cancer therapies and methods
AssigneeUlrike Nuber
InventorUlrike Nuber
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides an inhibitor of the ubiquitin-proteasome system for use in treating cancer in a patient, wherein the patient is assessed to establish that the cancer is associated with cells in which the functional activity of SMARCB1 is low or absent. In one embodiment, the patient has, or is suspected of having, breast cancer, an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour (AT/RT) and/or a malignant rhabdoid tumour (MRT). In one embodiment, the proteasome inhibitor is Bortezomib. Further aspects of the invention provide related uses and methods.
Claims23
A method for selecting a pharmaceutical agent for treating cancer in a patient, the method comprising:
- a. determining whether the cancer present in a patient is associated with cells in which the functional activity of SMARCB1 is low or absent;
- and
- b. where the cancer is found in step (a) to be associated with cells in which the functional activity of SMARCB1 is low or absent, selecting an inhibitor of the ubiquitin-proteasome system as a pharmaceutical agent for treating cancer in the patient.
A method for identifying a cancer patient for whom administration of an inhibitor of the ubiquitin-proteasome system would be therapeutically beneficial, the method comprising:
- a. determining whether the cancer present in a patient is associated with cells in which the functional activity of SMARCB1 is low or absent;
- and
- b. where the cancer is found in step (a) to be associated with cells in which the functional activity of SMARCB1 is low or absent, identifying the patient as a cancer patient for whom administration of an inhibitor of the ubiquitin-proteasome system would be therapeutically beneficial.
A method for determining whether a cancer patient or a subpopulation of cancer patients will therapeutically benefit or at least likely will benefit from the administration of an inhibitor of the ubiquitin-proteasome system:
- a. determining whether the cancer present in a patient is associated with cells in which the functional activity of SMARCB1 is low or absent or likely to be low or absent;
- and
- b. where the cancer is found in step (a) to be associated with cells in which the functional activity of SMARCB1 is low or absent or likely to be low or absent, identifying the patient as a cancer patient for whom administration of an inhibitor of the ubiquitin-proteasome system will be or will likely be therapeutically beneficial;
- and where the cancer is found in step (a) to be associated with cells in which the functional activity of SMARCB1 is present and the level is not significantly lower than the level in a normal control, identifying the patient as a cancer patient for whom administration of an inhibitor of the ubiquitin-proteasome system is likely not to be therapeutically beneficial.
A method for treating cancer in a patient having a cancer in which the functional activity SMARCB1 is low or absent or at least likely to be low or absent, the method comprising:
- a. administering a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of the ubiquitin-proteasome system to said patient.
A method for treating cancer in a patient, the method comprising:
- a. determining whether the cancer present in a patient is associated with cells in which the functional activity of SMARCB1 is low or absent;
- and
- b. where the cancer is found in step (a) to be associated with cells in which the functional activity of SMARCB1 is low or absent, administering to the patient an inhibitor of the ubiquitin-proteasome system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.