Peptide Antagonist Of Keratinocyte Growth Factor Activity
Description of Invention:
A novel peptide antagonist of the keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) activity has been isolated that may prove to be an effective treatment for diseases in which activation of the KGF receptor plays a role. Growth factors are important mediators of intercellular communication. These molecules are generally released by one cell type and influence proliferation of other cell types. Interest in growth factors has been heightened by evidence of their involvement in neoplasia. In addition, a number of oncogenes are homologs of genes encoding growth factor receptors, and their receptor-mediated signal transduction pathways provide insights into mechanisms of both normal and malignant cell growth. The fibroblast growth factor family affects the growth of a wide variety of cells including connective tissue cells. KGF is a member of this family, but is unique in that its activity is restricted to cells of epithelial origin. Since a vast majority of human malignancies are derived from epithelial tissues, identification of compounds that modulate the effect of KGF may be important in the treatment of carcinomas as well as other conditions in which ligand-dependent proliferation, mediated by the KGF receptor, contributes to the pathologic disorder.
These novel peptides effectively inhibit binding between KGF and its epithelial cell receptor and, thus, are useful in treating carcinomas and other conditions involving epithelial cell proliferation.
Inventors:
D Bottaro (NCI) JS Rubin (NCI) SA Aaronson (NCI)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-142-1993/0 --
U.S. Patent 5,578,566 issued 26 Nov 1996
Portfolios: Cancer
Cancer -Therapeutics-Biological Response Modifiers-Growth Factors Cancer -Therapeutics
For Additional Information Please Contact: Susan S. Rucker J.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-4478
Email: ruckersu@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
