Available Technology
Novel tumor suppressor protein and gene could be used to develop treatments of carcinoma
Technology:
Novel tumor suppressor gene
Markets Addressed
Carcinoma of the oral cavity accounts for about 4 percent of all cancers. Oral squamous cell carcinoma in particular is newly diagnosed in 50,000 Americans each year. Approximately half of the patients afflicted will die within five years, while surviving patients may be left with severe esthetic and/or functional compromise. Better therapeutic methods for treating oral carcinoma in humans are greatly needed.
Innovations and Advantages
A novel tumor suppressor gene, doc-1, has been discovered which is structurally altered during oral carcinogenesis and which is expressed by normal and not transformed human tissues, and not by oral carcinoma. The expression of this gene as a tumor suppressor protein is inducible in cells with tumor necrosis factor (TNF).
This discovery could be used to develop treatments of carcinoma, by administering a therapeutic amount of TNF-alpha to the site of the carcinoma, eventually in combination with a nucleic acid encoding the doc-1 tumor suppressor gene.
Additional Information
Intellectual Property Status: Harvard's intellectual property portfolio includes the following patent:
US 6,071,741 issued June 06, 2000.
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Inventor(s):
Todd, Charles Randolph
Wong, David T. W.
Categories:
For further information, please contact:
Grant Zimmermann, Director of Business Development
(617) 495-3067
Reference Harvard Case #1188