Project Grant R41CA254834

IMPROVED TREATMENT OF COLORECTAL CANCER WITH CF10 DIVERSITY SUPPLEMENT - PROJECT SUMMARY FOR SUPPLEMENT TO CA254834 THIS MINORITY ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENT TO CA254834 REQUESTS FUNDS FOR TRAINING CHARLES CHIDI OKECHUKWU IN THE TRANSLATIONAL OBJECTIVES OF THE PHASE 1 STTR PROJECT AND DEVELOPING NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS FIR THE CANDIDATE THAT WILL SUPPORT COMPANY GROWTH. THE FUNDED PHASE 1 STTR PROJECT (CA254834) FOCUSES ON DEMONSTRATING THAT A NOVEL FP POLYMER, CF10, DISPLAYS IMPROVED ACTIVITY IN PRE-CLINICAL MODELS OF METASTATIC COLORECTAL CANCER (MCRC). CURRENTLY FUNDED AIMS ARE: I) DEMONSTRATE CF10 INHIBITS CRC METASTATIC PROGRESSION IN AN ORTHOTOPIC COLON TUMOR MODEL; AD II) DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED ANTI-METASTATIC ACTIVITY FOR CF10 IN A RAT SYNGENEIC CRC LIVER MET MODEL. WITH SUPPLEMENT FUNDING, CHARLES WILL INVESTIGATE IF CF10 WILL BE EFFECTIVE IN TREATING CRC WITH ACQUIRED RESISTANCE TO 5-FU AND WILL BE POTENTIATED IN COMBINATION WITH LEUCOVORIN (LV; FOLINIC ACID), WHICH COMPLEMENTS ONGOING STUDIES. THE SUPPLEMENTAL AIMS ARE: S1) DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED ANTI-METASTATIC ACTIVITY FOR CF10 IN 5-FU-RESISTANT ORTHOTOPIC CRC MODELS; AND S2) EVALUATE LEUCOVORIN POTENTIATION OF CF10 IN 5-FU-RESISTANT ORTHOTOPIC CRC MODELS. THE MENTORING PLAN FOR CHARLES WILL INCLUDE TRAINING IN TECHNICAL SKILLS RELATED TO PRE-CLINICAL DRUG DEVELOPMENT, TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. TRAINING WILL INCLUDE INTERFACING WITH RESEARCHERS, CLINICAL EXPERTS, AND WITH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS. CHARLES WILL ALSO RECEIVE MENTORING IN WRITING SKILLS, INCLUDING BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT, AND PRESENTATION SKILLS, INCLUDING PRESENTATION TO INVESTORS. TRAINING WILL ENHANCE THE LONG-TERM CAREER OPPORTUNITIES OF THE APPLICANT, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT OF A PROFESSIONAL NETWORK, AND ADVANCE THE GOALS OF THE COMPANY IN COMMERCIALIZING CF10 TECHNOLOGY.