WARF TECHNOLOGIES

The hormonally active form of vitamin D, known as calcitriol or 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D₃, has shown promise for treating diseases ranging from osteoporosis to cancer to psoriasis. However, the hormone mobilizes calcium from bones and increases intestinal absorption of dietary calcium. Effective therapeutic concentrations can lead to hypercalcemia; a condition characterized by elevated blood calcium levels, alterations in mental status, muscle weakness and calcification of soft tissues and organs such as the heart and kidneys. Therefore, a need exists for non-calcemic compounds that provide desirable therapeutic effects without causing dose-limiting hypercalcemia.

UW–Madison researchers have developed a novel vitamin D analog, (20S)-25,26,27-trinor-24-(p-methylphenylsulfonate)-vitamin D₃, also known as TS-17. This analog binds the vitamin D receptor with very low affinity and has very low ability to stimulate gene transcription. TS-17 has little calcemic activity and showed no calcium-related toxicity issues. It does not promote cellular differentiation, but has been shown to kill cancer cells in a leukemia cell line as well as in a small cell lung carcinoma cell line, making it potentially useful for the treatment of some types of cancer.

• Cancer treatment, particularly for leukemia and lung cancer

• Specifically kills cancer cells
• Does not increase calcium intake or mobilization
• Can be administered in many forms

For More Information About the Inventors

• Margaret Clagett-Dame

Tech Fields

• Therapeutics & Vaccines : Oncology
• Therapeutics & Vaccines : Vitamin D