Wnt, Fz, and BMP-6 Receptors for the Treatment and Detection of Colon Cancer

Background: Ectopic activation of the Wnt signaling pathway leads to increased cellular growth and division in experimental organisms and mutations in the Wnt pathway. Wnt pathway genes are tightly linked to the genesis of certain cancers in humans, such as colon cancer. Technology: University of California, Irvine, researchers have found that factors of the Wnt signaling pathway are associated with colon carcinogenesis and may therefore be useful for prognosis, diagnosis or treatment of colon cancer. These factors include isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides of full-length lymphoid enhancer factor-1 (LEF-1). Researchers have also found that full-length LEF-1 and other factors such as Wnt2, Wnt5, BMP6, and FZ receptors may be used in the detection and treatment of colon cancer. Application: This finding provides the starting point to find an antagonist or agonist to target the full length LEF-1 protein or promoter that produces full length LEF-1 or proteins in the Wnt signalling pathway. In addition, a test may be developed to detect levels of full length LEF-1 or Wnt signalling proteins which would indicate the presence of colon cancer.

Patents:
US 7,413,873

Type of Offer: Licensing



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