Solid Tumor Cancer Therapy and Diagnostics

Description

Two highly cancer selective genes have been identified: Colon Carcinoma Related Gene (CCRG) that may provide a less invasive biomarker for colon cancer, and SIM2-s (C15) gene as a marker for colon, pancreas and prostate cancer.   CCRG is a secreted molecule and highly selective to colon cancers. Hence, detection of CCRG in serum can provide a basis for less invasive method of detection of colon cancers. In addition, the CCRG product can also be measured in the stool and hence can also capture the noninvasive market. Currently, the only secreted marker for cancer is PSA for prostate cancers. An antisense "drug" to the SIM2-s (C15) gene, has shown efficacy in killing cancer cells in pre-clinical and animal models, and has a novel mechanism with very low toxicity. The SIM2-s (C15) can also be useful as a surrogate marker for colon cancers.

Highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tests can be developed to detect DNA amplifications and/or the over-expression of new cancer specific genes at the RNA and protein level for first line diagnosis of disease.

Advantages

• Antisense Smart Drug for SIM2-s
  • Lead drug that kills pancreas and colon tumors in place
  • Novel mechanism with low toxicity
  • Can be rapidly taken to the pancreatic cancer clinical trials
• CCRG
  • Highly selective to colon cancers
  • Less invasive method of detecting colon cancers
  • CCRG can be measured noninvasively in stool
  • Can help predict drug response

Potential Applications

• A Smart drug for pancreatic cancers and test kits based on CCRG and SIM2-s (C15) can be developed for treatment and early diagnosis of colon, pancreas and prostate cancers.
• Diagnostic kits for colon, pancreas and prostate cancers

The figure on the left shows that the SIM2-s gene marker is detectable at Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) prior to cancer development. The SIM2-s can potentially supplement PSA testing.

(c) Florida Atlantic University All rights reserved.
Updated August 2008

Inventor
Ramaswamy Narayanan, Ph.D.
Professor of Biological Sciences

U.S. 6,677,119
Issued 1/13/2004

Kurt R. Moore
Assistant V.P. & Director
Ph: 561-297-1165
Fax: 561-297-2141
kmoore34@fau.edu

Michelle Webb
Assistant Director
Ph: 561-297-0673
Fax: 561-297-2141
mwebb18@fau.edu

Case Number
2000-01, 2000-02