TOWARD TRANSLATION OF NANFORMULATED PACLITAXEL-PLATINUM COMBINATION The goal of this proposal is to obtain pre-clinical data to enable the translation of a novel nanotechnology-based drug combination to treat triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC accounts for ∼10-20% of breast cancers and is associated with relatively poor prognosis, earlier disease recurrence and higher number of visceral metastases. Chemotherapy, in particular with anthracyclines and taxanes, remains the backbone medical management for both early and metastatic TNBC but a significant proportion of patients with early-stage TNBC unfortunately develop metastatic disease. Combination treatments using platinates and taxanes were shown to increase pathologic complete response rates in TNBC and improve survival in neoadjuvant treatment settings. We propose to use nanotechnology to improve the treatment of TNBC by co-delivering platinum and taxane drugs in the same nanoparticle to attack cancer cells in a synergistic fashion and produce greater antitumor effect. To address poor miscibility and drug loading of platinates and taxanes in many nanoparticles, we propose to use a high capacity polymeric micelles (PMs) of poly(2-oxazolne) (POx) block copolymers to incorporate drugs. In preliminary work we developed POXOL-CP PMs, a combination of PTX and hydrophobic cisplatin prodrug co-loaded in POx block copolymer micelles that has shown pharmacological synergy of solubilized drugs, better delivery of both drugs to tumors and improved efficacy in several animal models compared to the small molecule agents or their combination administered separately. The goal of this proposal is to obtain additional pre-GLP data for our new combination nanotherapeutic in rodent and non-human primate (NHP) models, develop validated assays and procedures for POXOL-CP PMs, further demonstrate its safety and efficacy and establish path for translation of POXOL-CP PMs to the clinic for TNBC patients. The project addresses the following aims: 1) Manufacture reproducible, stable, and safe POXOL-CP PMs, validate its safety and improved drug delivery to tumors in a mouse model of TNBC; 2) Demonstrate activity of POXOL-CP PMs compared to standard of care in Orthotopic Syngeneic Transplant (OST) and Genetically Engineered Mouse Models (GEMM) of TNBC that recapitulate the human disease. 3) Assess safety and PK profiles of POXOL-CP PMs in rat and NHP models. We will follow Good Experimental Practice (GEP) in data keeping and recording and develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and follow guidance of a clinical and translational panel. If successful the results of this project will allow forming data package to support the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) work and compete for NCI Experimental Therapeutics (NExT) program, and/or other resources to advance development of POXOL-CP PMs on a path to the clinic to improve treatment outcomes for patients with TNBC.

Project Narrative The goal of this proposal is to obtain pre-clinical data to enable the translation of a novel nanotechnology-based immunotherapeutic drug to treat triple negative breast cancer that is currently associated with poor prognosis. We use nanotechnology for combination therapy with two drugs in the same nanoparticle allowing drugs to attack cancer cells in a collaborative fashion and produce greater antitumor effect. We will develop validated procedures for manufacturing and analysis of the combination therapeutic and assess its safety, delivery to tumors and efficacy in comparison with the standard therapeutics in animal models that recapitulate human disease.