ML115

ML115 is a highly selective, bisphosphonate-based small molecule inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2). Developed by researchers at the Moffitt Cancer Center, it is specifically designed to target the bone microenvironment to prevent the reawakening of dormant prostate cancer cells, which are responsible for late-stage skeletal metastases. The drug utilizes a bisphosphonate moiety to achieve bone-targeting, allowing it to localize in the skeletal niche where disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) reside. By blocking MMP-2 activity, ML115 inhibits the transition of these cells from a dormant state to an active, proliferative state without significantly impacting overall cell viability, offering a potential therapeutic strategy to maintain dormancy and prevent relapse in prostate cancer patients.