Method and Composition for Efficient Screening Cancer Metastasis Therapeutics

Background

Metastasis, or metastatic disease or cancer, is the spread of a primary cancer to another part of the body. Although some types of metastatic cancer can be cured with current treatments, most cannot. In general, the primary goal of these treatments is to control the growth of the cancer or to relieve symptoms caused by it. In some cases, metastatic cancer treatments may help prolong life, however, most cancer patients die of metastatic cancer, not their primary cancer.

Unfortunately, there has been limited progress in therapeutics for treating metastatic cancer and there is a medical need to identify and develop drugs capable of suppressing or preventing metastases. In many cases, proteins that support dissemination and growth of malignant cells are shared among cancers. Accordingly, it is possible that newly identified drugs may inhibit or control metastasis of multiple cancer types.

Technology Description

UC San Diego investigators have developed a method, nucleic acid construct and modified cells for efficient screening of actives that may be suitable metastasis therapeutics. Agents of interest, for example, potential cancer cell survival inhibitors or metastatic inhibitors, may be screened for a reduction in reporter or marker (e.g., luciferase, GFP) expression when the candidate agents are administered to cells comprising the nucleic acid construct. This may allow for rapid and efficient screening for new actives to inhibit metastasis.

Applications

Possible commercial applications may include screening for actives that may reduce metastasis.

Intellectual Property Info

Patent application has been filed.

Patent Status