EphA2 as a therapeutic target for cancer

Abstract

The present invention is directed to compounds and methods for the treatment of metastatic disease. The compounds of this invention have specificity for EphA2, an epithelial cell tyrosine kinase that is overexpressed in metastatic tumor-cells. The compounds used in accordance with this invention may be provided in a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of metastatic disease.

1 . A method for treatment of a patient having a tumor comprising cells that express EphA2, said method comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an EphA2 agonist that increases the phosphotyrosine content of EphA2 in said tumor cells as compared to untreated tumor cells.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tumor comprises a primary tumor.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tumor comprises a metastatic tumor.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tumor has metastatic potential.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tumor comprises a breast cancer cell.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tumor comprises a prostate cancer cell.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tumor comprises a lung cancer cell.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tumor comprises a colon cancer cell.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the EphA2 agonist comprises an antibody.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the EphA2 agonist comprises a natural EphA2 ligand.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the EphA2 agonist comprises an artificial EphA2 ligand.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the EphA2 agonist comprises a peptide.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the EphA2 agonist comprises a small molecule.