Integrin-linked kinase, its inhibitors and methods of medical treatment using these inhibitors, gene therapy and pseudo-substrate inhibitors

Abstract From the Canadian patent

This invention relates to an isolated and purified serine/threonine kinase which is an integrin-linked kinase, designated "ILK". ILK can be used to modulate cell growth, modulate cell adhesion modulate cell , migration and modulate cell invasion. Inhibitors of ILK activity include (1) screens aimed at DNA, RNA or structural components of ILK (2) , pseudo-substrate inhibitors, such as a peptide which mimics a substrate sequence for ILK, and (3) drugs which specifically inhibit ILK activity. The diseases treated by these inhibitors include cancer leukemia, solid tumors, chronic inflammatory disease arthritis, osteoporosis , and cardiovascular disease. Diagnostics of ILK activity include …