Calcium Channel Compositions and Methods of Use Thereof
Description of Invention:
This invention described in this patent application relates to the identification, isolation and cloning of a three cDNAs identified during a search of the short arm of chromosome 3 for a tumor suppressor gene (TSG) associated with lung cancer. The cDNA's are alternative isoforms which encode a protein which functions as a subunit of L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel. Type L voltage-dependent calcium channels represent one of five families of calcium channels, L, R, P, N, Q, which have been identified. Type L voltage-dependent calcium channels are found in a wide variety of tissues including the brain, muscle and the endocrine system.
The gene has been mapped to the short arm of chromosome 3 at 3p21.3. The gene, which corresponds to this cDNA is an alpha2delta-2 subunit, and has been shown to be deleted in lung and breast cancer. The scientists have demonstrated that the expression of this calcium channel has been shut off in lung cancer cells and hypothesize that this may lead to a malignant phenotype. Other cancers which may be associated with this 2-2 subunit include cervical cancer and head and neck carcinoma. Other non-malignant diseases which may also be associated with this 2-2 subunit include CNS diseases and cardiovascular diseases.
Possible applications of this technology include its use in drug screening assays; its use as an early diagnostic marker and/or as a prognostic or treatment indicator; its use in gene therapy where defective cells would be reconstituted with the gene and as a therapeutic agent for clearing autoantibodies which develop toward the alpha2delta-2 subunit in the disease Lambert-Eton myasthenia syndrome.
Inventors:
MI Lerman (NCI) et al.
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-194-1998/0 --
U.S. Patent No. 6,441,156 issued 27 Aug 2002
U.S. Patent No. 6,979,724 issued 27 Dec 2005
Portfolios: Gene Based Therapies Cancer
Cancer -Diagnostics Cancer -Therapeutics Gene Based Therapies -Therapeutics
For Additional Information Please Contact: Jennifer Wong
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301)435-4633
Email: wongje@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301)402-0220
