Targeting a Nononcogene Addiction to the Autocrine SEMA3C Growth Pathway for the Treatment of Lethal Metastatic Prostate Cancer

One of the mechanisms through which cancers become resistant to therapy is to activate new pathways different from the ones that the present drugs target. We have developed a drug (B1SP) that inhibits a gene named SEMA3C. In contrast to many other drugs, B1SP is able to target several important cancer pathways at the same time. Furthermore, utilizing cancer cells and mouse models, we have shown that B1SP is able to significantly delay progression of the most dangerous type of prostate cancer namely metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Therefore, B1SP could potentially represent a new therapeutic agent. However, not all patients are equally responsive to the same drug. Therefore, in order to identify who would benefit most from B1SP, we will be using 49 mouse models that carry real patient tumors and as a result very closely mimic cancer patients. Using advanced molecular biology techniques, we have found out about the genetic structure of these tumors. After treating the animals with B1SP, we will discover which tumor types, each representing a patient, are most responsive to B1SP. Therefore, in the future by characterizing the genes of patients' tumors we will be able to find out individuals who are the best candidates for B1SP treatment. This a leap towards personalized medicine which is shaping the future of medicine. Personalized medicine has the potential to tailor therapy with the best response and highest safety margin to ensure better patient care. By enabling each patient to receive earlier diagnoses, risk assessments, and optimal treatments, personalized medicine holds promise for improving health care while also lowering costs. In order to further learn about the mechanism of action of B1SP and SEMA3C, we will also be utilizing patient tissues from two clinical trials, as well as different cancer cell lines available, to find out more about the relationship between SEMA3C expression and other important genes for cancer progression. This information will further increase our knowledge about selecting the best candidates for B1SP treatment. Additionally, part of the funding will be used for production of sufficient amount of clinical-grade B1SP suitable for usage in clinical trials for treating actual patients in a safe and controlled experimental setting. Our plan is to make B1SP available to the patients who can significantly benefit from it as soon as possible. We expect to take our drug to clinical trials in 2 to 3 years from now, and we are quite optimistic that, after successful completion of clinical trials, we will be able to gain the permission to make B1SP available to all the patients in urgent need all around the world.