Therapeutics: Solute carrier family 15 H+ peptide transporter member 2 (SLC15A2; PEPT2)

Mouse and patient sample studies suggest inhibiting SLC15A2 could help treat CML. Levels of the dipeptide transporter SLC15A2 were higher in bone marrow samples from CML patients than healthy controls, and levels of SLC15A2 and intracellular dipeptides were higher in CML stem cells from a mouse model of CML than in hematopoietic stem cells from normal mice. In the mouse model, the SLC15A2 inhibitor Duricef cefadroxil plus Gleevec imatinib decreased the number of CML stem cells compared with Gleevec alone. In patient-derived leukemia initiating cells, Duricef decreased colony formation compared with vehicle and Duricef plus Gleevec decreased colony formation compared with Gleevec alone. Next steps include determining whether dipeptides accumulate in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) or solid tumors.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. markets the cephalosporin antibiotic Duricef to treat urinary tract and other infections...