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IDENTIFYING A TUMORIGENIC GENE TO ESTABLISH POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES AGAINST CANCER

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*Abstract

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURIOffice of Technology Management and Industry RelationsNon-confidential Abstract of InventionUM Disclosure Number: 18UMC057Title: Novel Cancer Target and TherapeuticInnovationResearchers at the University of Missouri (MU) have identified a novel target and therapeutic for pancreatic cancer. siRNA and shRNA sequences targeting knockdown of the novel target were shown to inhibit tumor cell migration in vitro, and tumor growth in vitro and in mouse xenotransplantation experiments. Additional experiments using CRISPR to remove this novel gene target corroborate the siRNA and shRNA data, and was able to prevent observable tumor formation in mice. These therapies were able to significantly prolong the life spans of animals who received them, with no observed adverse effects. BackgroundPancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer-related death in Europe and the United states. It is the twelfth most common cancer in the world, with 338,000 new cases diagnosed in 2017. It is the 7th most common cause of death from cancer. The incidence of cancer varies across regions and populations with the highest incidence rate in Northern America (7.4 per 100,000 people). A lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer for men is approximately 1 in 64. 55,000 people are diagnosed annually and 44,000 people will die from pancreatic cancer. Surgical resection is the primary treatment for pancreatic cancer. For unresectable tumors and patients unwilling or not medically fit enough to undergo pancreatic surgery, alternatives include systemic chemotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, image-guided stereotactic radio surgical systems (such as cyberknife), surgical bypass, ablative therapies, and endoscopic biliary and gastrointestinal stenting. Adjuvant chemotherapy after total tumor resection is standard that has been used over time. Regardless of therapeutic strategy, prognosis is generally poor, leaving a great need for improved therapies. This novel MU therapy identifies a new target and molecules that can be used as alternative therapy to the limited and largely ineffective current therapeutic options. The newly identified gene target has never before been implicated in pancreatic cancer, and has been validated by in vitro and in vivo proofs of concept in cell and animal models Applications- Targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer - Can be used alone or in combination with existing therapies Advantages- Novel therapeutic gene target - Novel therapeutic molecule - In vitro and in vivo animal data Patent status In process InventorsGuangfu Li Kevin F. Staveley-O’Carroll

*Principal Investigator

Name: Guangfu Li, Assistant Professor

Department:

Name: Kevin Staveley-O'Carroll, Professor

Department:

Country/Region

USA