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BIOTEK2021-Bioteknologi for verdiskaping

KOMM: Development of a novel targeted therapy against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Alternative title: Targeting the sphingolipid pathway in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Awarded: NOK 7.0 mill.

Breast cancer is a devastating disease for all affected patients. Fortunately for some, breast cancer comes in many variations. Some are extremely aggressive while others can be treated effectively or removed by surgery. A subgroup of the most aggressive breast cancers is called triple-negative breast cancer. Triple-negative refers to the fact that this tumor subtype does not contain the proteins that are targeted by our most efficient anti-cancer therapies. Rather this group of patients is left with more or less ineffective chemotherapy. This project aims to develop a new therapy for the group of triple-negative breast cancer. The project is based on established findings that the balance of a specific type of lipids is fundamentally important for cancer cells to maintain high growth rates. These lipids are called sphingolipids. One of these, ceramides, is toxic to cells while another. Inactivation of this protein leads to higher levels of toxic ceramides and therefore cell death.

While the overall goal of developing first-in-class small molecule inhibitors for the treatment of triple-negative breast remains the same we have revised our technology and business development over the course of the project. We have obtained funding to continue the project, and thus still strive to create a new alternative for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer patients.

Funding scheme:

BIOTEK2021-Bioteknologi for verdiskaping