Cancer

Patient sample and mouse studies suggest inhibiting USP7 could help treat metastases of melanoma. In 114 melanoma patients, high primary tumor levels of USP7 correlated with poor survival, and in eight xenograft mouse models of metastatic melanoma, levels of USP7 in bone marrow metastases were higher than in circulating tumor cells. In six other xenograft mouse models of metastatic melanoma and a syngeneic mouse model of the disease, the USP7 inhibitor P5091 or a USP7 inhibitor tool compound decreased metastasis to the lungs and bone marrow compared with vehicle, and in the syngeneic model, the agents decreased metastasis to the liver, brain and lymph nodes. Next steps include testing USP7 inhibition in combination with undisclosed agents in models of melanoma.

Progenra Inc. has P5091 in preclinical testing to treat multiple myeloma (MM)...