Gene Therapy to Treat Lung Cancer
Background:
The National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development is seeking statements of capability or
interest from parties interested in collaborative research to
obtain pre-clinical data to be used to further develop, evaluate,
or commercialize Caliban/Sdccag1 as a novel therapeutic and
diagnostic target for lung cancer and other diseases.
In the United States, lung cancer is responsible for more than
160,000 deaths a year, more than breast, prostate, and colorectal
cancers combined. Diagnosis of lung cancer is made difficult by the
fact that signs and symptoms may not appear until the disease
reaches an advanced stage and are often confused with symptoms of
less serious conditions. Additionally, there is no generally
accepted screening test for lung cancer.
Technology:
This invention relates to the
identification of a new tumor suppressor gene named Caliban from
Drosophila melangaster and Serologically determined colon cancer
antigen gene 1 (Sdccag1) from humans. Sdccag1 is inactive in human
lung cancer cells but active in normal lung cells. When full length
Caliban or Sdccag1 is expressed in human lung cancer cells, the
cells lose their tumorigenicity, suggesting that Caliban/Sdccag1
can be used as both a therapeutic and diagnostic for cancer.
Use of gene therapy to replace inactive genes with full length
Caliban/Sdccag1 to treat cancer(s) is particularly promising
because Caliban/Sdccag1 can be easily adopted into already standard
gene therapy applications. Use of Caliban/Sdccag1 as a diagnostic
could provide an assay that can be used to determine whether the
tumor suppressor gene product is functioning in cells. In addition
to lung and other types of cancer, Caliban/Sdccag1 has the
potential to be used in treatment and diagnosis of other
diseases.
IP Status:
Pending PCT Application PCT/US2006/022180, published as WO
2006/13316
Value
Proposition--Solution:
- Method to treat lung cancer and other forms of cancer
- Diagnostic tool to aid clinicians in determining appropriate
cancer treatment
Contact
Information:
John D. Hewes, Ph.D., NCI
Technology Transfer Center
Phone: 301-435-3121
E-mail: Hewesj@mail.nih.gov
Reference: #590 JC
Posted 12/06/2007
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