Targeted treatment of anaerobic cancer. Patent evaluation of US2016279084 and US2017056350.

INTRODUCTION: Based on the initial studies of J. Folkman in 1970s, which led to the proposal of the antiangiogenic therapy, many drugs targeting VEGF or its receptors have been developed with some of them approved for cancer treatment. However, these molecules so far have shown only a limited effect on survival benefits in patients. Thus, new approaches are needed to treat this disease. Considering that cancer utilizes both aerobic and anaerobic glycolytic pathway, authors of patents US2016279084 and US2017056350 propose a method to eradicate the disease, able to affect both metabolic pathways. Areas covered: Patent US2016279084 describes a method consisting of the utilization of either a pharmaceutical cocktail containing antiglycolytic agents (a lactate transporter inhibitor and a NKCC inhibitor) and an angiogenesis inhibitor or a pharmaceutical cocktail containing a lactate transporter inhibitor and an angiogenesis inhibitor in combination with blood vessel occlusion. Patent US2017056350 is strictly related to US2016279084; indeed, it proposes a method consisting of blood vessel occlusion and treatment with a pharmaceutical cocktail, containing the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor bumetanide in presence or absence of an angiogenesis inhibitor. Expert opinion: Although the proposed methodology is very interesting and promising, further studies are necessary to assess the clinical applicability of the inventions.