Lamin A/C: A Prognostic Marker for Early Colorectal Cancer
Discovery
There is an urgent need to develop prognostic markers that can identify the 30-60% of Dukes B & C colorectal cancer patients that suffer tumour recurrence. Expression of the nuclear lamins A/C has been identified as an independent marker of increased risk of tumour relapse. Cox hazard ratio scoring of immunohistochemical data from >650 independent CRC tumour samples scoring indicates that patients expressing lamin A/C are twice as likely to suffer CRC-related death compared to patients lacking the biomarker. A patent, on proprietary antibodies and data is available for licensing or collaborative development.
Contact: Dr Laura Fletcher, lfletcher@CancerTechnology.com
 Further details can be accessed here
OBCAM: Tumour suppressor gene methylated in cancers
Discovery
There is an urgent need for the development of early diagnostic tests for cancer. Members of the IgLON family including OBCAM (OPCML) and NTM have been identified as tumour suppressor genes that are frequently inactivated in ovarian and gastric cancers and a wide range of tumour cell lines. Decreased expression of OBCAM is an early event in >80% of ovarian carcinomas, and is a result of promoter CpG island methylation in the majority of cases. Detection of OBCAM expression levels or methylation status has significant diagnostic potential whereas inhibition of OBCAM promoter methylation or re-expression of OBCAM may have therapeutic application. A patent portfolio and development data are available for exclusive licensing.
Contact: Dr Laura Fletcher, lfletcher@CancerTechnology.com
Further details can be accessed here
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms that Predict Colorectal Cancer Risk (New)
Discovery
Cancer Research UK has funded a number of genome wide association scans (GWAS) to identify low penetrance genetic changes that may be indicative of an increased risk of colorectal cancer. This has led to recent publications describing the identification of the first common genetic variants for CRC predisposition including at the HMPS/CRAC locus on 15q13 and the SMAD7 gene on 18q21. These and a further panel of unpublished SNPs are available for non-exclusive licensing. Development of risk-profiling tests based on these SNPs, and their application in improved population screening programmes may result in better screening for cancer in those most at risk.
Contact: Dr Laura Fletcher, lfletcher@CancerTechnology.com
Further details can be accessed here
Tumour Markers for Prediction of Susceptibility to Adenoviral Therapy
Discovery
Adenoviral therapies hold great potential for gene or oncolytic therapy of tumours and other genetic diseases. However, since objective responses vary greatly in patients, there is a need to identify biomarkers that predict cellular susceptibility to infection. Two plasma membrane proteins known to be over-expressed in tumours have been identified as inhibitors of adenoviral infection and oncolysis in tumour cell lines. These proteins have potential as predictive biomarkers and may also present new targets to potentiate adenoviral therapies and inform the development of the next generation of adenoviral vectors. A patent portfolio and data are available for collaborative development or licensing.
Contact: Dr Laura Fletcher lfletcher@CancerTechnology.com
Further details can be accessed here
RKIP: A Marker of Colorectal Cancer Metastatic Potential
Validation
There is an urgent need to develop prognostic markers that can identify the 30-60% of Dukes B and C colorectal cancer patients that suffer tumour recurrence. Raf-1 kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) has been identified as an independent marker of increased risk of tumour relapse. Survival data demonstrate that level of RKIP expression in primary CRC’s is significantly and inversely associated with metastatic disease. Patent application, data and proprietary antibodies are available for collaborative development or licensing.
Contact: Dr Phil Masterson, pmasterson@CancerTechnology.com
Further details can be accessed here
MCM Proteins – Early Stage Diagnostic Cancer Biomarkers
Validation
MCM or minichromosome maintenance family proteins are essential for the initiation of DNA replication. Data is now available to demonstrate that antibodies against MCMs enable the ready identification of malignant and pre-malignant cells in a variety of samples, including cervical smears, anal smears, oral smears, sputum (for lung cancer), urine and stool samples. Diagnostic products based on antibodies targeting MCM proteins are currently being developed for cervical and bladder cancer with commercial partners. CRT are now looking for a commercial partner to develop MCM based diagnostic tests for other cancer indications. Granted patents (US, EP and JP) relating to the target antigen are available for licensing
Contact:
Dr Nick Gower, ngower@CancerTechnology.com
Further details can be accessed here for Anal Cancer
Further details can be accessed here for Colorectal Cancer
Further details can be accessed here for Lung Cancer
Further details can be accessed here for Oral Cancer
OSMR - Novel Prognostic Indicator of Cervical SCC (New)
Validation
The oncostatin M receptor as an indicator of adverse clinical outcome and a potential therapeutic target in squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix and other sites We have identified that copy number gain of OSMR is: common in cervical SCC; associated with gene overexpression; a strong predictive marker for adverse overall survival that is independent of tumour stage. Depletion of OSMR in cervical cancer cells is associated with a significant reduction in invasiveness. No biomarker currently provides an indication of clinical outcome in early stage cervical malignancy. Assaying for OSMR levels could enable appropriate treatment regimens to be applied to patients with early stage tumours, who could not otherwise be predicted to have a higher overall mortality rate.
Contact: Dr Adrian Ibrahim, aibrahim@CancerTechnology.com
Further details can be accessed here
Integrin avß6 Binding Peptide for Imaging and Tumour Targeting
Validation
FMDV2 is a proprietary peptide showing improved binding affinity and selectivity for the integrin ανβ6, which is over-expressed in a range of tumours including more than 90% of oral squamous cell carcinomas. ανβ6 is thought to play an active role in tumour progression, with high expression being linked to poor prognosis in some tumour types. Preclinical studies demonstrate the potential use of FMDV2 as an imaging and targeting agent for ανβ6-expressing tumours. A patent and data are available for licensing.
Contact: Enquiries enquiries@CancerTechnology.com
Further details can be accessed here
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