Therapeutics and Diagnostics for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Background:
The National Cancer Institute's Center for Cancer Research, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize unique genetic changes associated with early onset lung cancer.

Lung cancer is responsible for one-third of all cancer related deaths. Epidemiological studies have provided evidence for the involvement of genetic factors in the onset of lung cancer. Currently, there are no reliable markers for early lung cancer diagnostics and no effective treatment outside of tumor resection. As a result, it is difficult to diagnose lung cancer without invasive methods and before significant progression of the disease has occurred.

Technology:
NIH inventors have have recently discovered that a gene called CCDC36 (LELA1) is frequently inactivated in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In many instances of lung cancer, particularly early onset NSCLC, one copy of CCDC36 will be lost due to the chromosomal deletion while the other will be inactivated by promoter methylation resulting in reduction or loss of CCDC36 gene expression. In addition, several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found in the gene appeared to be associated with the early onset NSCLC. These results indicate that the technology has the potential to be used to diagnose NSCLC and other forms of lung cancer as well as predispoistion to these diseases. CCDC36 gene replacement could also be utilized as a potential therapeutic strategy.

Further R&D Needed:

• Independent validation of the association between the discovered SNPs and the early onset of lung cancer
• Examine the mechanism of action for CCDC36

R&D Status:
Pre-clinical, in vitro, proof-of-concept

IP Status:
PCT Application No. PCT/US2008/059800 filed 09 April 2008

Value Proposition:

• Ability to develop noninvasive methods to treat NSCLC and other forms of lung cancer
• Potential to diagnose early stage lung cancer and predisposition to lung cancer
• Ability to treat NSCLC using CCDC36-based therapeutics
• Certain SNPs may have unique responses to certain treatment

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

Reference:  #676 RW

Posted 07/16/2008