Technologies

This invention comprises novel compounds of the Glycosylated Antitumor Ether Lipid (GAEL) class, which selectively target apoptosis-resistant cancer stem cells in ovarian cancer and breast cancer.

The invention provides novel compounds: Glycosylated antitumor ether lipids (GAELs) α- or β-D-gluco-configured 2-amino-2-deoxy (2-NH2-Glc) sugar moiety linked to a glycerolipid aglycone. These compounds kill cancer cells via a non-apoptic mechanism and are highly active against cancer stem cells. The molecules inhibited the formation of tumorspheres from BT-474 cancer stem cell lines, caused the disintegration of preformed tumorspheres and resulted in total loss of cell viability of the cancer stem cells at concentrations of 3 to 20 μM. In contrast, the related antitumor ether lipid gold standard, edelfosine (currently in clinical development) was much less effective in preventing tumorsphere formation and affecting the viability of the cancer stem cells.