New Fused Thiophenes as Small Molecule Anticancer Agents
Benefit
- New small molecule cancer therapeutics.
- Low cost starting materials.
- Short synthesis for final product (2 steps).
- May be used for several types of cancer (such as colon cancer).
Technology Description
Inventors at the University of Iowa have developed new thiophene based small molecule inhibitors of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs). JNKs are members of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family that respond to stress stimuli and mediate key cellular activities in cancer initiation and progression and are an attractive target for anti-neoplastic therapies. The developed compounds are easily produced using a two-step synthesis process, and the starting materials are cost efficient for large production. Treatment with nanoparticle formulation of the new JNK inhibitors reduces tumor volume and increases survival in a colon cancer mouse model, most likely by promoting cell apoptosis through G2/M cell cycle arrest. These new inhibitors are promising compounds for the development of potent anti-cancer agents.
UIRF Case No. 2019-055
Stage of Development
Lead compounds have been tested in animal studies of colon cancer. Cell cycle arrest was studied using A549 cells.