Therapeutics and Diagnostics for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
Background:
The National Cancer Institute's
Center for Cancer Research, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis is
seeking statements of capability or interest from parties
interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate,
or commercialize unique genetic changes associated with early onset
lung cancer.
Lung cancer is responsible for one-third of all cancer related
deaths. Epidemiological studies have provided evidence for the
involvement of genetic factors in the onset of lung cancer.
Currently, there are no reliable markers for early lung cancer
diagnostics and no effective treatment outside of tumor resection.
As a result, it is difficult to diagnose lung cancer without
invasive methods and before significant progression of the disease
has occurred.
Technology:
NIH inventors have have recently
discovered that a gene called CCDC36 (LELA1) is frequently
inactivated in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In
many instances of lung cancer, particularly early onset NSCLC, one
copy of CCDC36 will be lost due to the chromosomal deletion while
the other will be inactivated by promoter methylation resulting in
reduction or loss of CCDC36 gene expression. In addition, several
single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found in the gene appeared
to be associated with the early onset NSCLC. These results indicate
that the technology has the potential to be used to diagnose NSCLC
and other forms of lung cancer as well as predispoistion to these
diseases. CCDC36 gene replacement could also be utilized as a
potential therapeutic strategy.
Further R&D
Needed:
- Independent validation of the association between the
discovered SNPs and the early onset of lung cancer
- Examine the mechanism of action for CCDC36
R&D Status:
Pre-clinical, in vitro, proof-of-concept
IP Status:
PCT Application No. PCT/US2008/059800 filed 09 April 2008
Value Proposition:
- Ability to develop noninvasive methods to treat NSCLC and other
forms of lung cancer
- Potential to diagnose early stage lung cancer and
predisposition to lung cancer
- Ability to treat NSCLC using CCDC36-based therapeutics
- Certain SNPs may have unique responses to certain
treatment
Contact
Information:
John D. Hewes, Ph.D.
NCI Technology Transfer Center
Phone: 301-435-3121
E-mail: Hewesj@mail.nih.gov
Reference: #676 RW
Posted 07/16/2008