Invention:
This innovation identified lead molecules that target specific nucleic acid structures involved with forming G-Quadruplex structures. These G-Quadruplex structures are a highly stable nucleic acid fold with planar stacks of guanine tetrads which regulate genome stability, transcription, and telomere maintenance. This innovation details a therapeutic method that targets and prevents the proliferation and malignant growth in Ewing sarcoma.
Background:
Ewing sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that begins as a growth of cells in the bones and the soft tissue around the bones. While it has mainly been observed in children and young adults, it can develop at any age. Currently, there are many different therapeutics for treating Ewing sarcoma. Some of the more common treatments focus on transcription, associated alterations to DNA structure, and cell stress. However, despite intensive multimodal therapy, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, the 5-year survival rate for patients with metastatic or recurrent Ewing sarcoma remains less than 30%. The lack of targeted therapies and high propensity for relapse underscore the urgent need to better understand molecular mechanisms driving Ewing sarcoma pathogenesis and therapeutic resistance.
Applications:
- Ewing sarcoma therapeutics and monitoring
- G-Quadruplex targeted treatment
- Pharmaceutical development
- Expansion into other illnesses tied to G-Quadruplex structures
Advantages:
- Targeted therapy
- Provide critical molecular mechanistic insight
- Increase the survival rate of Ewing sarcoma patients
- Broaden screening to evaluate tumor-type specificity
- Expand applications for cancer therapeutics
