USE OF PEPTIDES IN ANTIANGIOGENIC THERAPY IN RELATION TO CANCER

CATEGORY

Class A61K31 18
 

AVAILABILITY

Not available
 

PATENT PHASE

Recognised patent no.0001397874
 

INVENTOR

Dott.ssa Adriana Albini - no longer pertaining to the Authority
 

FIELD OF INTEREST

The present invention relates to the use of peptides deriving from the intracellular sequence of the c-Met receptor in antiangiogenic therapy in relation to diseases characterised by dysregulation of the mechanisms of angiogenesis itself.

DESCRIPTION

c-Met is the tyrosine kinase receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Both molecules are expressed in numerous tissues, although their expression is confined to the epithelial and mesenchymal cells. The interaction of HGF with its receptor gives the cells an invasive phenotype and, when inappropriately activated, induces tumour genesis and metastatic dissemination. Furthermore, in cancer, c-Met can act as an oncogene on tumour cells, and as a pro-angiogenic factor that activates the endothelial cells and induces the formation of new blood vessels.
Angiogenesis is a physiological process that occurs during the growth and development phase of an individual and involves the formation of new blood vessels starting from those of the pre-existing vascular compartment. Angiogenesis is a process that characterises various pathological phenomena, not only tumours, but also cardiovascular diseases and diseases associated with a state of chronic inflammation and vasculopathy. Some autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, are characterised, in certain phases, by angioproliferative thrusts and by increased levels of proangiogenic factors that lead to excessive or altered angiogenesis, responsible for the chronicisation of the inflammatory process itself. Angiogenesis phenomena are also implied in pathologies with a degenerative character associated with the peroxidation of the tissues and hypoxia, such as, for example, atherosclerotic processes. It is now known that the immune system has an important role in the regulation of angiogenesis: various studies indicate that the cytokines released by leukocytes are able to stimulate vascular proliferation and therefore promote angiogenesis.
Furthermore, endothelial cells recall the immune cells to the inflammation site, through an up-regulation of cell adhesion molecules induced by the inflammation itself.
There is currently a great focus on the relationship existing between angiogenesis and inflammation in cardiovascular diseases and in chronic inflammations. In the acute inflammation phase, the vasodilation observed is followed by an increase in vascular permeability and subsequent endothelial activation; in the chronic phase an increase in capillary density is observed following the increased mitotic activity of the endothelium.
Therefore blocking angiogenesis represents an innovative and original approach for inhibiting chronic inflammation and for treating non-tumoural diseases associated with the endothelium.
The present invention is based on the use of designed peptides on the intracellular sequence of c-Met. The sites of bonds for intracellular transducers and adaptors are located in this portion of the receptor, therefore this region mediates the coupling of the receptor with various effectors. The peptides according to the present patent are able to block signal transduction, therefore inhibiting the activity of the receptor.
The present invention sets out to develop new antiangiogenic therapeutic approaches for inflammatory diseases characterised by dysregulation of the mechanisms of angiogenesis itself, as an alternative to currently known therapies.

HOLDER

AUSL-IRCCS with registered office in Via Amendola n. 2 in Reggio Emilia.
Patent recognition abandoned on 17/7/2019
 

DOCUMENTS

Patent certificate. Transcription for authority merger.
Report of deleted cases dated 22/7/2019.