YAP/SOX2 inhibitors for cancer treatment and prevention

OVERVIEW

Georgetown University researchers discovered a potential drug treatment method whereby the YAP pathway is inhibited in YAP-dependent cancer cells with a synergistic combination of YAP/SOX2 inhibitor(s). This method counteracts cancer cell resistance to YAP inhibitors by opposing SOX2 upregulation, leading to cell death and growth arrest in cancer cells.

BACKGROUND

The activation of transcriptional co-activator yes-associated protein 1 (YAP) is critical for tumor initiation and progression. Although YAP inhibitors are effective to a certain extent, many cancer cells develop resistance to such treatments through a pathway involving the upregulation of SRY-Box Transcription Factor 2 (SOX2). Therefore, solutions with the ability to inhibit both YAP and SOX2 may prove helpful in treating YAP-dependent cancer.

Benefit

Method to counteract SOX2-mediated resistance to YAP inhibitors.

Market Application

Treatment or prevention of cancer, noncancerous tumors or lesions through the administration of YAP/SOX2 inhibitors.

Publications

US patent No. 17/636,735

A Yap-Myc-Sox2-p53 Regulatory Network Dictates Metabolic Homeostasis and Differentiation in Kras-Driven Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinomas (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2019.07.022) (link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1534580719306288)

YAP/TAZ Signaling and Resistance to Cancer Therapy (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trecan.2019.02.010) (link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2405803319300287)