Modulation of telomere length in telomerase positive cells and cancer therapy
OwnerIgor E. Bondarevinventor
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Abstract
Induction of telomere shortening, G2 arrest and apoptosis in telomerase positive cancer cells using acyclic nucleoside analogs has been disclosed. In addition, methods for impairment or prevention of tumorigenic telomerase positive cells from having a chance to grow into a tumor and methods for promoting tumor regression (decrease in size of an established tumor) using acyclic nucleoside analogs has been disclosed.
Claims20
A method for preventing or treating disorders caused by the presence of inappropriately or pathologically proliferating cells or immortal cells or for treating a telomerase positive cancer in a mammal or a human, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising one or more acyclic nucleoside analogs, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to the human suffering from the cancer, wherein the therapeutically effective amount of said composition is that amount effective to reproducibly induce telomere shortening, G2 arrest and/or massive apoptosis in cancer cells in an assay in comparison to levels in untreated cells, wherein said nucleoside analogs induce telomere shortening in said cells, wherein said nucleoside analogs are selected from the group consisting of:
- acyclovir and penciclovir, or a prodrug thereof.
A method of reducing telomeric extension in telomerase positive cancer cells, the method comprising administering to the cells an effective amount of an acyclic nucleoside analog, wherein said nucleoside analog is selected from the group consisting of:
- acyclovir and penciclovir, or a prodrug thereof, wherein said nucleoside analog induces telomere shortening in said cells.
A method of preventing or inhibiting the growth of a telomerase positive cell, the method comprising contacting the cell with a sufficient amount of an acyclic nucleoside analog such that induction of telomere shortening, G2 arrest and apoptosis in said cell is achieved, wherein said nucleoside analog is selected from the group consisting of:
- acyclovir and penciclovir, or a prodrug thereof.
A method for prevention of a cancer in a person in need thereof, wherein the cancer is due to telomerase activity in cells of the person, the method comprising administering to said person a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising one or more acyclic nucleoside analogs, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein said nucleoside analogs are selected from the group consisting of:
- acyclovir and penciclovir, or a prodrug thereof, wherein said nucleoside analogs induce telomere shortening in said cells and impair or prevent tumorigenic telomearse positive cells from having a chance to grow into a cancer.
A method of promoting apoptosis in telomerase positive cancer cells comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising one or more acyclic nucleoside analogs, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof to said cells, wherein said nucleoside analog are selected from the group consisting of:
- acyclovir and penciclovir, or a prodrug thereof, wherein said nucleoside analogs induce telomere shortening in said cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.