Diagnosis and Treatment of Barrett's Esophagus and Associated Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
Description of Invention:
Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the normal esophageal tissue lining has been replaced by an abnormal lining of gastric and intestinal tissue resulting from chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease. Patients have an increased risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma, which is often detected at later stages and is associated with poor prognosis. Survival rates are very low ranging from 10% in Europe to 16% in the United States.
Available for licensing are microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers that show differential expression in the adenocarcinoma diagnosis and Barrett's esophagus status, and they can predict diagnosis and Barrett's esophagus with accuracies of 71.4% and 74.7%, respectively. Thus, these miRNA biomarkers that may predispose individuals to Barrett's esophagus and/or esophageal adenocarcinoma could provide a means for earlier detection and help in better identifying treatment options.
Applications:
Method to diagnose and treat Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.
miRNA pharmaceutical compositions to treat Barrett's esophagus.
Advantages:
Early diagnostic that can more accurately stratify patients for increased survival rates and appropriate treatments.
Development Status:
The technology is currently in the pre-clinical stage of development.
Market:
Esophageal cancer is the 8th most common cancer and 6th most common cause of cancer worldwide.
Survival rate of esophageal cancer is 10% to 16% in Europe and United States respectively.
miRNA technologies have an emerging market, and in 2007, it was worth an estimated 23 million dollars in the US and it has a projected annual growth rate of 100%.
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-008-2008/0 --
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/979,300 filed 11 Oct 2007
Licensing Status: Available for non-exclusive licensing.
Collaborative Research Opportunity:
The Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis at the National Cancer Institute is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize methods to diagnose and treat Barrett's esophagus and esophageal carcinoma. Please contact John D. Hewes, Ph.D. at 301-435-3121 or hewesj@mail.nih.gov for more information.
Portfolios: Gene Based Therapies Cancer
Cancer -Diagnostics-In Vitro Cancer -Diagnostics Cancer -Therapeutics Cancer -Other Gene Based Therapies -Diagnostics
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
