A Predictive Test for Determining Chemotherapy Regimens in Patients with Cancer

Abstract (Set) The ability to predict sensitivity to individual cytotoxic chemotherapies could improve treatment response and survival of cancer patients. There is currently no method in routine use to determine sensitivity to agents directed at the microtubule, and particularly the taxanes. JHU scientists examined DNA methylation of a specific gene in esophageal cancer patients, and found that methylation of this gene is associated with achieving a pathologic complete response only in patients treated with taxane-based chemotherapy. All patients who achieved a complete response following taxane-based therapy remained disease free five years after surgery. DNA methylation of this gene is a predictive biomarker for sensitivity to taxane-based chemoradiotherapy and is a determinant of survival in treatment of esophageal cancer patients with taxanes but not other cytotoxic agents. Description (Set) Proposed Use (Set) A diagnostic kit utilizing current PCR based, RT-PCR approaches, or protein expression methods to identify changes in DNA methylation of the promoter region of a gene to predict sensitivity to taxanes or other agents involved in microtubules. In addition to esophageal cancer, other tumors (e.g. lung, colon, gastric, and head and neck) with the specified methylation may also predict sensitivity to taxanes.

Inventor(s): Herman, James G. ,Brandes, Johann,Brock, Malcolm

Type of Offer: Licensing



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