Use of Ritonavir and Metformin for treatment of Multiple Myeloma
- Technology Benefits
- Provides an effective method to target cancer metabolism Repurposes current therapeutics Combination therapy yields potent lethality across a variety of cancers in cell-based studies
- Detailed Technology Description
- Novel approach to treating multiple myeloma and other cancers using existing therapeutics. #therapeutics #cancer
- *Abstract
-
Northwestern researchers have identified a novel approach to treating cancers that demonstrate high glucose metabolism, such as multiple myeloma (MM), using existing therapeutics. Elevated glucose metabolism is a key diagnostic and prognostic indicator in MM. GLUT4 plays a major role in this process and inhibition of this protein results in inhibition of cell growth and/or apoptosis. MM cells resistant to GLUT4 inhibition switch to utilize mitochondrial metabolism coupled to oxidative phosphorylation to maintain viability. The novel approach centers on repurposing HIV protease inhibitors (ritonavir/indinavir) that inhibit GLUT4 and using them in combination with metformin (GLUCOPHAGE) that can be used to target mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.
- *Inventors
- Malathy Shanmugam* Steven T. Rosen
- Country/Region
- USA
