Background
For 30 years, synchronization of proliferating cells at a particular phase of the cell cycle has attracted attention for its potential to enhance the efficacy of cytotoxic cancer chemotherapeutics.
Tau’s discovery of the novel target Cav3 and the ability of Cav3 inhibitors, also known as T-channel blockers, to arrest cancer cells at the G1/S checkpoint and prevent their proliferation is the fulfillment of cell cycle synchronization.
Scientists have attempted cell cycle synchronization for over three decades. However, Tau Therapeutics is the first to achieve the goal of cell cycle synchronization both safely and effectively through its non-toxic, cytostatic, T-channel blockers.
Realizing the potential of cell cycle synchronization by means of T-channel inhibitors to enhance the efficacy of conventional chemotherapies, Tau developed Interlaced Therapy™.
Interlaced Therapy™: How It Works
Interlaced Therapy™ is a synergistic cancer therapy involving sequential administration of a T-type calcium channel blocker and a cytotoxic agent.
In Interlaced Therapy™, a T-channel blocker is administered to synchronize cells at the G1/S checkpoint of the cell cycle. Then, administration of the T-channel blocker is stopped and administration of chemotherapy begins. Many conventional cytotoxic chemotherapies exert their effect during S or M phases of the cell cycle. The T-channel blocker synchronizes the cells and increases the number of cancer cells entering S phase at the same time. As a result, the number of cancer cells susceptible to the toxic effect of the various S phase cytotoxins is greatly increased. Without a T-type calcium channel blocker, the number of tumor cells destroyed is limited to those cells that happen to be in S or M phase during the period of chemotherapy treatment. By synchronizing the cell cycle with a T-type calcium channel blocker first and then withdrawing it and administering a cytotoxic drug, tumor cell destruction increases without increasing patient exposure to chemotherapy and its side effects. This sequential administration results in magnifying the effects of conventional cancer chemotherapies on cancer cells while preserving the healthy cells. If approved, Interlaced Therapy™ may greatly increase the efficacy of current chemotherapies, minimize their side effects, and help overcome resistance to them.
Interlaced Therapy™: Glioblastoma Multiforme
In the example below of Tau's Interlaced Therapy™, mibefradil dihydrochloride, a T-type calcium channel blocker, is interlaced into the standard of care treatment for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and administered just prior to the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide.
Interlaced Therapy™: A Better Way of Treating Cancer
- More than 50% of GBM patients are resistant to temozolomide. Interlaced Therapy™ may overcome resistance.
- Interlaced Therapy™ magnifies the cancer fighting effects of standard chemotherapies – making chemotherapies better.
- Interlaced Therapy™ uses a non-toxic drug that may have the ability both to reduce tumor burden and provide analgesic effects.
- Cav3 is a targeted therapy which does not harm healthy cells.
- Easy oral administration given prior to standard of care.
- Should significantly increase life-span.