Gene panel of biomarkers to diagnose metastatic liver cancer
- 技术优势
- This invention addresses an unmetmedical need – liver cancer patients resistant to standard chemotherapy. Thisnovel gene panel adds a more accurate option to the standard AFP baseddiagnosis; because the gene panel is already identified, diagnosis can be donerelatively quickly (within one day), relatively cheaply (cost can be controlledat around $500) and less invasive (blood sample can be used). Moreover, on-the-markettreatment options are identified for liver cancer patients diagnosed using suchgene panel.
- 详细技术说明
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most deadly cancer and not all patients respond to standard chemotherapy. USC researchers discovered a gene panel that can be used for personalized diagnosis, especially for chemo-resistant patients.
- *Abstract
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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most deadly cancer in the world and deaths due to metastatic HCC continue to mount due to a low success rate of clinical intervention. The current standard of care besides surgery involves using the chemotherapy agent Sorafenib. However, not all patients respond to Sorafenib and the stemness in some tumor cells is to blame. Tumor-initiating stem-like cells (TICs) are rare, highly malignant cells that are present in diverse tumor types and play a central role in tumorigenesis, malignant progression, and resistance to chemotherapy. One goal of targeted cancer therapy is to eliminate TICs.
Current diagnostic methods of HCC include contrast-enhanced imaging (CT-scan or MRI) for lesions greater than 1 cm, liver biopsy and detection of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. AFP levels are not sufficiently sensitive or specific for use as a diagnostic assay. Overall, current diagnostic methods are not accurate, do not give prognosis for chemotherapy treatment and take one week to diagnose.
USC researchers identified a panel of 15 genes that can predict the presence of TICs, thus informing treatment using a TIC targeted therapy. By screening a library of known FDA approved drugs, the researchers also discovered a combination of FDA approved drugs that can effectively reduce tumor growth in liver cancer exhibiting the aforementioned gene expression signatures.
- *Inquiry
- David Mellman, Licensing AssociateUSC Stevens Center for Innovation213-821-3525dmellman@stevens.usc.edu
- *Stage of Development
- Thegene panel is generated and validated in animal models;Validationusing patient clinical samples (N~20);Humanclinical trials are proposed.Available for exclusive and non-exclusive license.
- 国家/地区
- 美国
