Abstract: The invention relates to compounds and pharmaceutical compositions capable of treating amyloid diseases and other diseases characterized by oligomerization and/or fibrillation of amyloidogenic peptides such as islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP).

Abstract: Methods of inducing tumor regression, inhibiting tumor growth, and inducing apoptosis with selective peptidomimetic inhibitors of geranylgeranyltransferase I (GGTase I), are provided. In one aspect, GGTI-2418 and its methylester GGTI-2417, increase levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p27Kip1 and induce breast tumor regression in vivo. In another aspect, GGTI-2417 inhibits the Cdk2-mediated phosphorylation of p27Kip1 at Thr187 and accumulates p27Kip1 in the nucleus.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds and pharmaceutical compositions capable of treating amyloid diseases and other diseases characterized by oligomerization and/or fibrillation of amyloidogenic peptides such as amyloid beta peptide (Abeta or A?).

Abstract: The invention relates to oligopyridylamide alpha-helix mimetic compounds and their use to inhibit p53 aggregation and restore its tumor suppressor function for treating diseases, e.g., cancers, associated with p53 mutations, e.g., R248W p53 mutation.

Abstract: The invention relates to oligopyridylamide alpha-helix mimetic compounds and their use to inhibit p53 aggregation and restore its tumor suppressor function for treating diseases, e.g., cancers, associated with p53 mutations, e.g., R248W p53 mutation.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds and pharmaceutical compositions capable of treating amyloid diseases and other diseases characterized by oligomerization and/or fibrillation of amyloidogenic peptides such as islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP).

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds and pharmaceutical compositions capable of treating amyloid diseases and other diseases characterized by oligomerization and/or fibrillation of amyloidogenic peptides such as amyloid beta peptide (Abeta or A?).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a species of peptide and non-peptide inhibitors of Akt, an oncogenic protein. Beginning with a residue of Akt target substrate GSK-3, the functional domains of the GSK-3 residue were characterized. Functionally homologous non-peptide groups were substituted for the amino acids of the GSK-3 creating a hybrid peptide-non-peptide and non-peptide compounds capable of binding to Akt. The non-peptide compounds show increased stability and rigidity compared to peptide counterparts and are less susceptible to degradation. The bound non-peptide compounds exhibit an inhibitory effect on Akt, similar to peptide-based Akt inhibitors.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a species of peptide and non-peptide inhibitors of Akt, an oncogenic protein. Beginning with a residue of Akt target substrate GSK-3, the functional domains of the GSK-3 residue were characterized. Functionally homologous non-peptide groups were substituted for the amino acids of the GSK-3 creating a hybrid peptide-non-peptide and non-peptide compounds capable of binding to Akt. The non-peptide compounds show increased stability and rigidity compared to peptide counterparts and are less susceptible to degradation. The bound non-peptide compounds exhibit an inhibitory effect on Akt, similar to peptide-based Akt inhibitors.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a species of peptide and non-peptide inhibitors of Akt, an oncogenic protein. Beginning with a residue of Akt target substrate GSK-3, the functional domains of the GSK-3 residue were characterized. Functionally homologous non-peptide groups were substituted for the amino acids of the GSK-3 creating a hybrid peptide-non-peptide and non-peptide compounds capable of binding to Akt. The non-peptide compounds show increased stability and rigidity compared to peptide counterparts and are less susceptible to degradation. The bound non-peptide compounds exhibit an inhibitory effect on Akt, similar to peptide-based Akt inhibitors.

Abstract: Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) proteins have a fundamental role cell signaling, and are activated by a large number of cytokines and growth factors. One member of the STAT family, STAT3, has a critical role in oncogenesis. The present invention relates generally to disruption of the pathway of STAT3 signaling in the treatment of human cancer. STAT3 activation is shown to be present in diverse tumor cell lines and tumors, to promote oncogenesis, to inhibit apoptosis, and to reduce sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Inhibition of STAT3 signaling induces apoptosis specifically in tumor cell lines, and increases sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. The invention relates more particularly to methods, compositions, means of administering such compositions, and means for identifying such compositions for the inhibition of STAT3 intracellular signaling in the treatment of human cancers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds according to the formula I: Where Ra is H or an optionally OH-substituted C1-C3 alkyl; R1 is OR1, an optionally substituted C4-12 carbocyclic group which may be saturated or unsaturated (including aromatic) or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; R1 is an optionally substituted C1-C14 hydrocarbyl group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; R2, R3 and R4 are each independently H, an optionally substituted C1-C4 alkyl group (preferably CH3, CH2CH3 or CF3), halogen (preferably F, Cl, Br), OR, CN, NO2, a C1-C6 thioether, a C1-C6 thioester group, an optionally substituted CO2R group, an optionally substituted COR group or an optionally substituted OCOR group (preferably R4 is H); R is H or an optionally substituted C1-C6 alkyl group; RHET is an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or polymorphs thereof.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns compositions and methods for blocking cancer cell growth or proliferation and/or inducing cancer cell death. Compositions of the present invention are compounds that inhibit Rho-protein associated kinase function. Compounds of the invention include piperazinyl pyridines, piperazinylmethyl pyridines, piperazinyl ureas and carbamates, piperazinyl pyridines and quinoilines (including isoquinliones) as well as piperazinyl (including piperazinylmethyl) pyridines and quinolines (including isoquinolines). Compounds of the invention disrupt Rho-kinase activation and function and significantly inhibit tumor cell growth and induce tumor cell death.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds derived from a chemical structure according to the formula (I) wherein X comprises oxygen or sulfur, R1 comprises a phenyl or naphthyl group, R2 comprises an amide group and R3 comprises a phosphate group. The disclosed compounds demonstrate inhibitory activity against STAT3, a protein found in certain tumor tissues and which promotes cellular overproliferation and resistance to apoptosis. The invention includes compositions containing the disclosed compounds, as well as methods of treatment therewith.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a species of peptide and non-peptide inhibitors of Akt, an oncogenic protein. Beginning with a residue of Akt target substrate GSK-3, the functional domains of the GSK-3 residue were characterized. Functionally homologous non-peptide groups were substituted for the amino acids of the GSK-3 creating a hybrid peptide-non-peptide and non-peptide compounds capable of binding to Akt. The non-peptide compounds show increased stability and rigidity compared to peptide counterparts and are less susceptible to degradation. The bound non-peptide compounds exhibit an inhibitory effect on Akt, similar to peptide-based Akt inhibitors.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a species of peptide and non-peptide inhibitors of Akt, an oncogenic protein. Beginning with a residue of Akt target substrate GSK-3, the functional domains of the GSK-3 residue were characterized. Functionally homologous non-peptide groups were substituted for the amino acids of the GSK-3 creating a hybrid peptide-non-peptide and non-peptide compounds capable of binding to Akt. The non-peptide compounds show increased stability and rigidity compared to peptide counterparts and are less susceptible to degradation. The bound non-peptide compounds exhibit an inhibitory effect on Akt, similar to peptide-based Akt inhibitors.

Abstract: A small-molecule Stat3 dimerization inhibitor, S3I-M2001, is described and the dynamics of intracellular processing of activated Stat3 within the context of the biochemical and biological effects of the Stat3 chemical probe inhibitor are elucidated. S3I-M2001 is a newly-identified oxazole-based peptidomimetic of the Stat3 Src Homology (SH) 2 domain-binding phosphotyrosine peptide that selectively disrupts active Stat3:Stat3 dimers. Stat3-dependent malignant transformation, survival, and migration and invasion of mouse and human cancer cells harboring persistently-activated Stat3 were inhibited by S3I-M2001. S3I-M2001 inhibited Stat3-dependent transcriptional regulation of tumor survival genes, such as Bcl-xL. The disclosed compound is useful as a new potential treatment for certain cancers.

Abstract: A novel BH3 ?-helical mimetic, BH3-M6, which binds to Bcl-XL and prevents its binding to fluorescently-labeled Bak-BH3 peptide in vitro with an IC50 value of 734 nM is presented herein. BH3-M6 is a pan-Bcl-2 antagonist that inhibits the binding of Bcl-XL, Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 to multi-domain Bax or Bak, or BH3-only Bim or Bad in a cell-free system and in intact human cancer cells, freeing up pro-apoptotic proteins to induce apoptosis. BH3-M6-induced apoptosis is caspase- and Bax-dependent. Furthermore, human cancer cells with high Bcl-2 or Bcl-XL levels are more sensitive to BH3-M6-induced cell death, suggesting that this compound can overcome drug resistance due to Bcl-2 or Bcl-XL overexpression. The pan-Bcl-2 inhibitor BH3-M6 may be encapsulated in a micelle to provide a more bioavailable therapeutic agent. Specifically, the BH3-M6 compound may be encapsulated within a micelle comprising a multiblock copolymer according to the methods described herein.

Abstract: Growth factor binding molecules having a plurality of peptide loops attached to a non-peptide organic scaffold, preferably having pseudo-six amino acid peptide loops with four amino acid sidechains. The growth factor binding molecules specifically bind various growth factors and are suitable for treating a subject having tumors or restinosis. In one embodiment a platelet-derived growth factor binding molecule is disclosed that is used to inhibit tumor growth and angiogenesis in solid tumors.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns compositions and methods for blocking cancer cell growth or proliferation and/or inducing cancer cell death. Compositions of the present invention are peptidomimetics that inhibit STAT function. Peptidomimetics of the invention display selective inhibition of specific STAT isoform homo-dimerization. The peptidomimetic probes of STAT1 function, described herein, provide the means to preferentially inhibit STAT1 over STAT3 through the exploration of the C-terminus.