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#8 - A brain cancer specific target which can be used in diagnostics and potentially therapeutic applications
Long Title: Use of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor (anti-TNF) Induced Apoptosis (ATIA) protein as a novel marker for diagnosing glioblastoma
NIH Reference No.: E-178-2009
Executive Summary
General Description
Brain tumors are the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children (males and females) under age 20 and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in males ages 20-39. Gliomas are a type of brain tumor derived from the glial cells, non-neuronal cells that support and maintain neuronal brain cells, which represent 30% of all brain tumors and 80% of all malignant tumors. Glioblastoma and astrocytomas are two types of gliomas and account for 76% of all gliomas.1 The median survival rate of patience with the current standard of care is 15 months. Without treatment, the mean survival rate is 4.5 months.
MRI and CT scans are the first line of treatment used to diagnose gliomas, however, these scans cannot detect the difference between glioma tumor type, i.e. glioblastoma vs. medulloblastoma vs. oligodendroglioma. Tumor type is determined by using invasive biopsy diagnostic. In addition, current methods of treatment involve removing the finger-like tentacles of the tumors as well as radiation and chemotherapy to slow the rate of growth of non-removable tumors. Depending on the type and grade of the glioma, appropriate therapeutic treatments are employed. Given the current invasive and unspecific methods of diagnosis and treatment, there is an unmet medical need for accurate, non-invasive diagnostic methods as well as less-invasive treatments for various subtypes gliomas.
Scientific Progress
Future Direction
Potential Commercial Applications
Strengths
Weaknesses
Patent Status
US Application No. 13/322,863; filed Nov. 28, 2011
PCT Application No. PCT/US2010/36394; filed May 24, 2010
US Application No. 61/182,072 file May 27, 2010
Relevant Publications
Choksi S., et al. Mol. Cell. 2011, 42(5):597-609 (PMID: 21658601)
Inventor Bios
Zheng-Gang Liu, PhD
Dr. Liu received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in biochemistry from Peking University, People's Republic of China. He completed his Ph.D. training in Dr. Larry Schwartz's laboratory at the University of Massachusetts and carried out his postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Karin at the University of California, San Diego. He joined the former Department of Cancer and Cell Biology, Medicine Branch, DCS, in 1998 and became a senior investigator in 2005. His research interests have focused on the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and necrosis and the role of cell death and inflammation in tumorigenesis.
NIH Reference No.: E-178-2009
Executive Summary
- Invention Type: Class III Diagnostics and potentially Therapeutics
- Patent Status: US Application No. 13/322,863; PCT Application No. PCT/US2010/36394; US Application No. 61/182,072
- LINK: http://www.ott.nih.gov/technology/e-178-20090
- NIH Reference Number: E-178-2009
- NIH Institute or Center: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Disease Focus: Glioblastoma
- Basis of Invention: Use of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor (anti-TNF) Induced Apoptosis (ATIA) protein as a novel marker for diagnosing glioblastoma
- How it works: ATIA is overexpressed in glioblastoma cells, making it useful as a diagnostic biomarker. Detection of ATIA in serum could potentially be useful as a non-invasive blood-based diagnostic.
- Patent Status: US Application No. 13/322,863; PCT Application No. PCT/US2010/36394; US Application No. 61/182,072
- Lead Inventor: Zheng-Gang Liu, PhD
- Development Stage: In vitro and in vivo data available show that ATIA is overexpressed in glioblastoma and protects cells against TNFα and hypoxia-induced apoptosis
- Novelty: ATIA represents a novel diagnostic biomarker for glioblastomas
- Clinical Applications: Tissue or blood-based diagnostic biomarker for glioblastoma
General Description
Brain tumors are the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children (males and females) under age 20 and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in males ages 20-39. Gliomas are a type of brain tumor derived from the glial cells, non-neuronal cells that support and maintain neuronal brain cells, which represent 30% of all brain tumors and 80% of all malignant tumors. Glioblastoma and astrocytomas are two types of gliomas and account for 76% of all gliomas.1 The median survival rate of patience with the current standard of care is 15 months. Without treatment, the mean survival rate is 4.5 months.
MRI and CT scans are the first line of treatment used to diagnose gliomas, however, these scans cannot detect the difference between glioma tumor type, i.e. glioblastoma vs. medulloblastoma vs. oligodendroglioma. Tumor type is determined by using invasive biopsy diagnostic. In addition, current methods of treatment involve removing the finger-like tentacles of the tumors as well as radiation and chemotherapy to slow the rate of growth of non-removable tumors. Depending on the type and grade of the glioma, appropriate therapeutic treatments are employed. Given the current invasive and unspecific methods of diagnosis and treatment, there is an unmet medical need for accurate, non-invasive diagnostic methods as well as less-invasive treatments for various subtypes gliomas.
Scientific Progress
- Investigators at the NIH have discovered a novel marker that is highly expressed in glioblastomas and astrocytomas, Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor (anti-TNF) Induced Apoptosis (ATIA) protein, which may be used to diagnose glioblastomas and astrocytomas
- The technology could be used to develop a valuable non-invasive, blood based diagnostic test such as an ELISA for clinicians to effectively diagnose patients for appropriate treatment
Future Direction
- Inventor and collaborators are investigating if ATIA levels are elevated in body fluids of patients with glioblastoma and astrocytomas
Potential Commercial Applications
- Blood based diagnostic assays
- Assay for clinicians to choose effective treatments
- Therapy to treat human glioblastoma and astrocytomas
Strengths
- Novel biomarker for glioblastoma and astrocytomas
- Potential non-invasive diagnostic
Weaknesses
- Current data is limited to detection of ATIA in tissue biopsy samples
Patent Status
US Application No. 13/322,863; filed Nov. 28, 2011
PCT Application No. PCT/US2010/36394; filed May 24, 2010
US Application No. 61/182,072 file May 27, 2010
Relevant Publications
Choksi S., et al. Mol. Cell. 2011, 42(5):597-609 (PMID: 21658601)
Inventor Bios
Zheng-Gang Liu, PhD
Dr. Liu received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in biochemistry from Peking University, People's Republic of China. He completed his Ph.D. training in Dr. Larry Schwartz's laboratory at the University of Massachusetts and carried out his postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Karin at the University of California, San Diego. He joined the former Department of Cancer and Cell Biology, Medicine Branch, DCS, in 1998 and became a senior investigator in 2005. His research interests have focused on the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and necrosis and the role of cell death and inflammation in tumorigenesis.
