Treating Cancer with Drug Combinations

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure find application in the field of cancer therapy. Receptor protein kinases (RPTKs) transmit extracellular signals across the plasma membrane to cytosolic proteins, stimulating formation of complexes that regulate key cellular functions. Over half of the known tyrosine kinases are implicated in human cancers and are therefore highly promising drug targets.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of treating cancer, comprising: a) providing i) a subject with cancer, ii) a inhibitor of a tyrosine kinase, and iii) an EGFR inhibitor, and b) treating said subject with said inhibitors. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancer is breast cancer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said breast cancer is HER2+ breast cancer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tyrosine kinase is Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tyrosine kinase is a variant of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase comprising an amino-terminal extension. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said EGFR inhibitor is lapatinib. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said EGFR inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of gefitinib, erlotinib, cetuximab, panitumumab, and vandetanib. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tyrosine kinase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of ibrutinib (PCI-32765), AVL-292 and CGI-1746. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said treating said subject with said inhibitors is sequential. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said treating said subject with said inhibitors is simultaneous. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein treating with said inhibitors results in reduced proliferation of at least some of said cancer cells within said subject. 
     
     
         12 . A method of treating cancer, comprising: a) providing i) a subject with cancer and ii) AVL-292, iii) lapatinib, and b) treating said subject with said AVL-292 and lapatinib. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said cancer is breast cancer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said breast cancer comprises Her-2 positive cells. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said treating said subject with said inhibitors is sequential. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said treating said subject with said inhibitors is simultaneous. 
     
     
         17 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A pharmaceutical anticancer composition comprising AVL-292 and lapatinib. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)