MCC Gene - Mutated in Colorectal Cancer

The MCC gene is in close linkage with the adematotous polyposis coli (APC) gene on chromosome 5q21, a region of frequent loss of heterozygosity in colon cancer. MCC is found to be mutated in some colorectal tumors. Functional studies implicate MCC as a candidate tumor suppressor gene which plays a role in cell cycle regulation. More recent studies show that MCC methylation and gene inactivation are frequent occurrences in colorectal carcinogenesis.
The present invention provides methods, probes, and primers for detection of germline and somatic alterations in MCC, changes in levels of MCC expression and the levels of MCC protein, isolated MCC cDNA and protein, and antibodies directed against the MCC protein.

Benefits
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. This invention provides methods and tools which allow detection of alterations in the MCC gene and in MCC expression levels for evaluation, diagnosis, and prognosis of colorectal cancer.

Stage of Development
US Patents 5,330,892; 5,571,905; 5,576,422; 5,693,536; and 5,830,676 have issued. This technology is available for licensing under non-exclusive terms.

Additional Info
*Kinzler, K. W., et al. Identification of a gene located at chromosome 5q21 that is mutated in colorectal cancers. Science 251: 1366-1370, 1991.
*Kohonen-Corish, M.R.J., et al. Promoter methylation of the mutated in colorectal cancer gene is a frequent early event in colorectal cancer. Oncogene 26:4435-4441, 2007.

Inventor(s): Yusuke Nakamura, Bert Vogelstein, Kenneth Kinzler, Raymond White

Type of Offer: Licensing



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