RESEARCH TOPICS

Metastasis mechanisms and novel anti-cancer therapeutics.

3B: Development of anti-bladder cancer therapeutics

1st Generation Agents: US Patent 9518114

Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) is an immunomodulatory agent (current adjuvant therapy of choice) that interact with bladder cancer cells via its Fibronectin Interacting Protein (FAP). We produce a purified and active FAP able to replace BCG, but also suitable as a targeting agent (A). We induced micro-clustering of Fibronectin (FBN)-integrin complexes (i.e., activating endocytosis), using multivalent agents such as nanoliposomes decorated with FAP molecules (at an average distance of 10nm) (B).

Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) is an immunomodulatory agent (current adjuvant therapy of choice) that interact with bladder cancer cells via its Fibronectin Interacting Protein (FAP).

C. T24 bladder cells grown on coverslips for 24h were incubated with 10μM His6-FAP, washed, fixed and immunostained with anti-His6 and anti-FBN antibodies. Arrows point to some areas of colocalization. FAP-decorated CF633-Nano-liposomes were Internalized and found inside of enlarged, GFP-Rab5^Q79L labeled endosomes (inset).

Coon BG, Crist S, González-Bonet AM, Kim H-K, Sowa J, Thompson DH, Ratliff TL, Aguilar RC (2012). Fibronectin attachment protein from bacillus Calmette-Guerin as targeting agent for bladder tumor cells. International Journal of Cancer 131(3):591-600.