Cancer Therapeutics licences breast cancer programs

Two FAK inhibitors developed by Australia's Cancer Therapeutics CRC – which are showing promise in treating triple-negative breast cancers and other solid tumours – are on their way to commercialisation.

Cancer Research Therapeutics (CRT), the commercial arm of Cancer Research UK, has exercised its option to take out licenses to commercialise the FAK inhibitor programs.

CRT is seeking an exclusive license to the programs, which involve two small molecule inhibitors. These include a selective FAK inhibitor as well as CTx-0294886, an inhibitor of FAK, vascular growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR3) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3).

FAK is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase involved in controlling the growth and spread of solid tumours including triple-negative breast cancers.

Triple-negative breast cancers refer to any breast cancers where growth is not supported by estrogen, progresterone or HER2 receptors. This renders hormonal therapies and those targeting HER2 receptors unsuitable treatments. An estimated 10-20% of breast cancers are triple-negative.

CRT director of business management Dr Phil L'Huillier said the two FAK inhibitors could potentially be developed into alternative treatments.

“These molecules have already shown promise in preclinical research to treat triple-negative breast cancer – for which there is [not yet a] standard chemotherapy treatment,” he said.

“We hope that commercialisation of this project will pave the way for entry into early clinical trials – leading to new adjuvant treatment options for this disease and other cancers.”

In separate studies, both small molecules have been shown to boost the effectiveness and response length of Avastin to treat triple negative breast cancer in mice.

FAK also has a role in cancer stem cell survival, suggesting the small molecules may be able to induce a cytotoxic response.

Cancer Research CRC was founded in 2007 with the support of the federal Cooperative Research Centres program.