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
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