Potential Biomarker for Use in Targeted Drug Delivery Applications as well as Other Therapeutic Strategies

Abstract (Set) According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malignant tumors accounted for around 12% of deaths worldwide, and more than 10 million new cases of cancer emerge each year. JHU scientists have identified that protein expressed by colon carcinoma cells possesses specific selectin binding activity. This interaction and the fact that this protein is not expressed by mature human blood cells but by metastatic carcinoma cells, provides the basis to engineer novel therapeutic agents that will selectively block tumor cell binding functions, and thus interfere with metastatic spread. Such a strategy may offer specific anti-metastatic efficacy without impairing other important selectin-mediated physiological processes. Description (Set) Proposed Use (Set) This technology may be applied to develop a drug-delivery therapy scheme such that nano-/micro-particles coated with anti-protein monoclonal antibodies selectively target malignant cells in the circulation and deliver chemotherapeutic agents to cause carcinoma cell death. Moreover, biosensors can be developed for diagnostic purposes to detect the presence of malignant cells in whole blood specimens.

Inventor(s): Konstantopoulos, Konstantinos ,Thomas, Susan

Type of Offer: Licensing



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