A small molecule broad spectrum inhibitor of antiapoptotic genes to treat cancer

Abstract The goal of this fast-track SBIR proposal is to file an investigational new drug (IND) application for testing a novel anticancer drug (FL118) that is designed to overcome inherent and acquired treatment resistance. Many types of cancers are not detected until they are very advanced and have already become resistant to FDA approved treatments. In addition, many non-advanced cancers respond well to initial treatments and then develop resistance. Therefore, overcoming resistance to treatment is a major goal in the field. We are focused first on treatment of colorectal cancer, as it accounts for 9% of all cancer deaths in the United States. Many colorectal cancers have developed resistance by the time they are detected and many develop resistance during treatment, even though the cancer was detected fairly early on. These treatment resistant cancers result in painful deaths. Upregulation of Survivin, XIAP, cIAP2, and Mcl-1 contributes the treatment (drug, radiation) resistance of colorectal cancer. FL1