Melanoma Metastasis-associated Genes As Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers and Therapeutic Targets for Melanoma

The incidence of melanoma is increasing at the highest rate for any form of cancer in the United States and the current lifetime risk in the US is 1 in 68. Presently there are few effective systemic therapies to treat advanced stages of melanoma and the key to improved survival in all affected individuals remains early diagnosis and treatment. Recently, however, scientists at JHU identified novel candidate genes that are diagnostic for the development of a tumor-associated vasculature and metastatic melanoma. It is expected that these molecular signatures of tumor metastasis will function as novel melanoma markers to monitor disease onset/progression in patients with a known previous diagnosis of melanoma and in patients at high risk for the development of melanoma. Description (Set) Proposed Use (Set) The newly discovered metastasis-specific genes can be used as targets for small molecule therapeutics in patients with melanoma. It is expected that a simple blood test will be available to screen secreted proteins for disease onset/progression in patients with a known history of melanoma and those at risk for melanoma. In addition, simple therapies could be developed as humanized antibodies to cell surface markers and/or secreted proteins, in addition to therapies using more targeted rational drug design strategies.

Inventor(s): Alani, Rhoda

Type of Offer: Licensing



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