Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

Background:
The Molecular Genetics and Carcinogenesis Section of the National Cancer Institute is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to obtain pre-clinical developmental data to be used to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and it is very heterogeneous in terms of its clinical presentation as well as genomic and transcriptomic patterns. HCC can originate from both adult hepatocytes and hepatic progenitor cells. The extent of progenitor cell activation and the direction of differentiation are correlated with the severity of the disease. HCC patient variability indicates that HCC comprises several biologically distinct subtypes. This heterogeneity and the lack of appropriate biomarkers have hampered patient prognosis and treatment. Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNA) have the potential to act as tumor suppressors and can be used to classify tumors with high accuracy.

Further R&D Needed:

• microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers that are associated with four HCC subtypes: hepatic stem cell-like, bile duct epithelium-like, hepatocytic progenitor-like, and mature hepatocyte-like.
• Diagnostic assays where HCC treatment can be individualized according to patient HCC subtype as well as assays that can prognose patient survival.

R&D Status:
Pre-clinical

IP Status:
U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/942,833 filed on 03/08/2007.

Contact Information:
John D. Hewes, Ph.D., NCI Technology Transfer Center
Phone: 301-435-3121
E-mail: Hewesj@mail.nih.gov

Reference:  #574 KB

Posted 11/13/2007