AIB-1, A Steroid Receptor Co-Activator Amplified In Breast And Ovarian Cancer
Description of Invention:
Breast cancer is the number one cancer in U.S. women, with over 185,000 cases in 1996 and an estimated 44,560 deaths in the past year. Breast cancer arises from estrogen-responsive breast epithelial cells. Estrogen activity is thought to promote the development of breast cancer, and many breast cancers are initially dependent on estrogen at the time of diagnosis. Anti-estrogen compositions have therefore been used to treat breast cancer.
AIB-1 (Amplified in Breast Cancer-1) is a novel gene that is pivotal to a crucial metabolic pathway linked to the growth and progression of human breast cancer. In many cancers, especially breast cancer, tumor cells have amplified copies of genes that can give the cancer a growth advantage. AIB-1, located on the long arm of chromosome 20, is one such amplified gene. High-level AIB-1 amplification and overexpression have been observed in several estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast and ovarian cancer cell lines, as well as in uncultured breast cancer specimens. AIB-1 has also been found to be expressed in prostate epithelial cells. AIB-1 is the most recently identified member of a gene family known as SRC-1 (steroid receptor coactivator), all of which interact with genes for steroid hormone receptors, ultimately enhancing tumor cell growth.
This invention provides the gene for AIB-1, a novel steroid receptor co-activator which is overexpressed in breast cancer cells. It also encompasses diagnostic assays for steroid hormone-responsive cancers and screening assays to identify compounds which could inhibit interactions of the co-activator with steroid hormone receptors and other proteins in this pathway.
Inventors:
PS Meltzer (NHGRI) JM Trent (NHGRI)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-018-1997/0 --
U.S. Patent No. 6,562,589 issued 13 May 2003
U.S. Patent No. 7,232,890 issued 19 Jun 2007
U.S. Patent Application No. 11/789,761 filed 24 Apr 2007
Portfolios: Cancer
Cancer -Diagnostics-In Vitro-DNA Based Cancer -Diagnostics-In Vitro-MAb Based Cancer -Therapeutics-Biological Response Modifiers-Other Cancer -Diagnostics Cancer -Therapeutics
For Additional Information Please Contact: Mojdeh Bahar J.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
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Phone: (301)435-2950
Email: baharm@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
