IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,564,623
Granted Patent B2
US 12,564,623 · App. 16/621,549 · Granted Mar 3, 2026

Methods and compositions for treating cancer

Inventors: Lev Becker (Chicago, IL); Chang Cui (Chicago, IL)
Assignee: The University of Chicago
A61K38/54A61K38/465A61K38/48C12Y301/26003C12Y304/21037
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,564,623
App. No.
16/621,549
Granted
Mar 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments are directed to: (i) neutrophil secreted factors that have the capacity to kill a broad range of cancer cells without affecting the viability of non-cancer cells. Two neutrophil killing factors have been identified by the inventors: (1) eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and (2) neutrophil elastase (ELANE); or (ii) therapeutic compositions that include CD95 degrading polypeptide components and methods of treating cancer with the same.

Claims (9)

1 . A method for killing a cancer cell by CD95 degradation comprising administering to a patient that has cancer an effective amount of a serine protease that cleaves CD95, wherein the cancer expresses CD95, and wherein the serine protease comprises:

a pancreatic porcine elastase (pELA1) polypeptide that is 96% to 100% identical to SEQ ID NO: 6; or

a pELA1 polypeptide having 225 to 250 contiguous acids of pELA1 that is 98% to 100% identical to SEQ ID NO:6 (pELA1).

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the serine protease is a component in a fusion protein.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the serine protease is administered intratumorally.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cancer cell is a bladder, blood, bone, bone marrow, brain/nervous system, breast, colorectal, esophageal, gastrointestinal, head, kidney, liver, lung, nasopharynx, neck, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, skin, stomach, testicular, tongue, or uterine cancer cell.

5 . The method of any one of claims 1, 1, or 3-4 , further comprising administering a second anticancer therapy, wherein the second anticancer therapy is a chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or anti-hormonal therapy.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pELA1 polypeptide is coupled to a nanoparticle.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide starts from amino acid 27 and ends at amino acid 266 of SEQ ID NO:6 (PELA1).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2020
From: BECKER, LEV; CUI, CHANG
To: THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Reel/Frame 052907/0790 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62610711 · Dec 27, 2017
Provisional Application 62520325 · Jun 15, 2017
Related Publication 20210299234A1 · Sep 30, 2021
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