Ref. No. 346-AB
Background
Melanoma is an aggressive cancer that derives from the malignant transformation of melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells that reside in the basal layer of the epidermis in the skin, and in other organs, including the eye and the intestine. Melanomas are caused by genetic and epigenetic alterations in melanocytes affecting MAP kinase pathway (RAS-RAF), PTEN-AKT axis, p16INK4 (regulation of senescence), and MITF. Although targeted therapy,e.g. using RAF inhibitors, has improved the clinical management of melanoma for fifty percent of the patients for a limited period (6 months), there is an urgent medical need for an effective treatment of melanoma for a longer period of time.
Summary
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have discovered novel methods for inhibiting the growth of melanoma cells, as well as methods for inducing differentiation of melanoma cells into non-cancerous cells. These methods are based on the discovery that knockdown of the DNA base excision repair enzyme thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) arrests the growth and proliferation of melanoma cells. The knockdown of TDG produced similar results in melanoma cells that express high and intermediate levels of TDG.
The method for treating melanoma comprises administering an effective amount of either an agent that inhibits the expression of TDG or an agent that inhibits the biologic activity of TDG.
Opportunity:
Available for licensing and/or sponsored research collaboration.
Patent Status:
Patent pending. Additional information is available under confidentiality.