Prediction of L-Asparaginase resistance in tumor therapy
Invention Novelty
Asparaginase treatment has been a major driver of improved clinical outcomes in T-cell and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALL and B-ALL) and it also demonstrated therapeutic activity in colorectal cancers recently. However, L-Asparaginase resistance can be observed in a significant number of patients leading to a failure of treatment and resulting in a loss of time with an additional burden for patients. At present, no reliable prediction of a successful outcome of L-Asparaginase treatment is possible. The novel technology for the first time provides the possibility to predict the efficacy of L-Asparaginase treatment outcome in tumor therapy by analyzing the activity of SOD2 and/or UBR1 and/or of UBR2.
Value Proposition
Although L-Asparaginase treatment is a promising therapeutic approach in treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and other tumor diseases the efficiency of L-Asparaginase treatment is still unpredictable. For the first time, the herewith presented diagnostic approach enables the prognosis of therapy outcome. Therefore, the novel technology perfectly complies with the urgent need for successful prediction of L-Asparaginase treatment efficacy.
SOD2 activity and L-Asparaginase sensitivity in drug-resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Technology Description
Detailed studies revealed that the lack of therapeutic success in L-Asparaginase treatment is based on the activity of SOD2 and its interaction with the UBR proteins, which have been associated with the N-degron pathway. The efficacy of asparaginase induced asparagine depletion in drug resistant patients is hindered by SOD2 activity leading to activation of UBR-mediated protein breakdown and subsequent release of amino acids in tumor cells. Additional studies have shown that the inhibition of SOD2 and/or UBR proteins in ALL and colorectal tumor cells results in a significant sensitization towards asparaginase in resistant tumor cells. Thus, analysis of the activity of SOD2 and/or UBR1 and/or of UBR2 is a valuable diagnostic tool to assess the outcome of L-Asparaginase treatment. Based on this diagnostic analysis the inhibition of the key proteins UBR1 and/or UBR2 can resensitize tumor cells to L-Asparaginase therapy.
Commercial Opportunity
In-licensing is possible.
Development Status
In vitro and in vivo studies have been performed at Hannover Medical School.
Patent Situation
Patent applications in EP and US (based on WO 2023/217840 A1) with priority of 2022 are pending.
Further Reading
Ibrahim NK, Schreek S, Cinar B, Stasche AS, Lee SH, Gutierrez A, Hinze L et al. 2025. SOD2 is a regulator of proteasomal degradation promoting an adaptive cellular starvation response. Cell Rep. 44(4):115434. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115434.
Hinze L, Pfirrmann M, Karim S, Degar J, McGuckin C, Stegmaier K, Gutierrez A et al. 2019. Synthetic Lethality of Wnt Pathway Activation and Asparaginase in Drug-Resistant Acute Leukemias. Cancer Cell. 35(4):664-676.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2019.03.004
Institute of Origin
