Vaccine to Prevent/Treat Esophageal Cancer in Individuals with Barrett's Esophageal Metaplasia
Esophageal cancer affects approximately 14,000 individuals per year in the United States, is increasing in incidence, and is associated with an exceptionally high mortality rate. The poor outcome in patients with esophageal cancer is reflective of both deficiencies in early detection - the disease is typically diagnosed at an advanced (unresectable) stage ? and the inadequacy of available standard therapies across stages. Compounding this high mortality rate is the rising incidence of esophageal cancer. Adenocarcinoma (EAC) now comprises the majority of cases in the United States. The major risk factor for EAC is the presence of Barrett?s esophagus (BE). This pre-malignant condition is thought to arise via metaplastic transformation of normal esophageal mucosa to columnar epithelium as a result of chronic exposure of the GEJ and distal esophagus to gastric contents. Given the increasing incidence and high mortality of EAC, new approaches are needed to reduce the mortality of this disease. Using genetically modified cancer-cell lines that were established from rat esophageal cancer, JHU researchers have developed a whole cell vaccine to protect against the development of cancer in a rat reflux model of esophageal carcinogenesis. Studies have shown that in the vaccinated group, the tumors all disappeared entirely by 11 days, while in the control PBS group, the tumor growth was progressive. Description (Set) Johns Hopkins University is seeking licensees for a novel tumor vaccine strategy for protecting patients with Barrett�s esophageal dysplasia from developing esophageal cancer. Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) affects ~14,000 people/year in the U.S. alone. EAC is a lethal condition with a very low 5-year survival rate. The major risk factor for EAC is the presence of a premalignant condition known as Barrett�s esophagus (BE). EAC and BE can be asymptomatic until a late stage of development. Given the increasing incidence and high mortality of EAC, new approaches are needed to reduce the mortality of this disease. JHU scientists have developed a whole cell vaccine to protect against the development of cancer in a rat reflux model of esophageal carcinogenesis. Advantages:• Unique cancer vaccine strategy can improve survival rates of high risk patients by preventing carcinogenesis instead of attempting to treat already advanced EAC tumors.
• Exogenous cytokine expression in the cell-based vaccine enhances immunogenicity to produce a stronger anti-tumor immunity reaction.
• Newly developed reflux rodent model advantageously produces both Barrett�s metaplasia and carcinoma to permit multiple study types.
• Novel cell lines established from rodent reflux model tumors express unique EAC tumor specific antigens to facilitate specific in vitro studies. Proposed Use (Set) This technology can be commercialized as vaccine for the prevention of cancer in patients with Barrett�s esophagus and are at high risk for EAC. It could also potentially be commercialized as a therapeutic for diagnosed esophageal cancers. The newly developed rat esophageal cancer cell lines and rodent reflux model can be commercialized as research tools for studying esophageal cancer. Patent (Set) PCT/US2007/12137 published as WO 2007/139769
Inventor(s): Harmon, John W.
Type of Offer: Licensing
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