Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of mortality from cancer among men in the U.S. The Recent studies have revealed the presence of cancer stern cells (CSCs) with the exclusive ability to regenerate tumors. CSCs exist in most tumor types and are functionally linked to malignant growth, metastasis, recurrence, and drug resistance. The development of drugs that target CSCs may, therefore, lead to more efficacious cancer therapies. BBI503 is a novel, potent, small molecule kinase inhibitor that targets CSCs. In preclinical studies, BBI503 inhibited CSC renewal in cell lines and in xenograft tumors. Moreover, BBI503 exhibited potent anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo. The long-term goal of this SBIR proposal is to develop a clinically compatible CSC therapy based on BBIS03.
