Diagnosis and Therapeutic Monitoring of Cancer Using Beta-Catenin Splice Variants
Background:
The National Cancer Institute,
Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics is seeking statements
of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative
research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize a method of
diagnosing or monitoring therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of
carcinomas through the evaluation of beta-Catenin splice variant
status. Therapeutic application of this technology is currently
being evaluated in pre-clinical experiments; an additional abstract
on this application is available relating to this aspect of the
technology.
Technology:
The technology measures the level
of one or more pairs of transcripts or the protein products of
these transcripts and the cellular localization of the transcripts
or proteins. The primary transcripts or protein products useful in
this method are those of the B-Catenin gene (CTNNB1). In
particular, the levels of the 16A and 16B CTNNB1 splice variant
transcripts are of importance in carrying out the methods of this
patent application. Other gene transcripts or protein products that
may be evaluated in conjunction with CTNNB1 16A and 16B to provide
additional diagnostic information include WAF1 (p21) and
cMYC.
Further R&D
Needed:
Evaluating various isotypes in a variety of cell types in cancers
and pre-neoplastic cells, with access to a broad range of cell
samples representing normal, pre-neoplastic, and invasive
tissues.
Value
Proposition-Solution:
- Diagnostics: Methodology useful in evaluating the status of
pre-neoplastic lesions as well as tumor tissue. Consequently, the
methods can be used to track the progression or regression of
disease in many cell and tissue types from normal to dysplasia to
cancer.
- Biological Materials: Biological materials related to this
technology including a series of recently established aptamers
capable of specific binding to the CTNNB1 protein.
R&D Status:
Therapeutic: Early patient data is found in the article in Genes
Chromosomes & Cancer Therapeutic use of siRNA: Pre-clinical
.
Patent Status:
PCT application filed 10 Feb 2006 and published as WO
2006/086772
Related
Publication(s):
MJ Roth et al. beta-Catenin
splice variants and downstream targets as markers for neoplastic
progression of esophageal cancer. Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 2005
Dec;44(4):423-428. [PubMed abs]
Contact
Information:
John D. Hewes, Ph.D., NCI
Technology Transfer Center
Phone: 301-435-3121
E-mail: Hewesj@mail.nih.gov
Reference: #541 LH