Description of Invention: Cutaneous malignant melanoma is the most common fatal skin cancer, and the incidence of this disease increases each year. The average survival time for patients diagnosed with malignant melanoma is less than ten months. Consequently, it is important to identify and understand genetic alterations leading to malignant melanoma so that new treatments strategies can be developed.
Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been associated with increased metastasis and several small molecule inhibitors have been developed as potential anticancer agents. Unfortunately, these inhibitors have been largely unsuccessful despite the research suggesting otherwise and it is clear that additional analyses are warranted. The NIH inventors have recently performed a mutational analysis of the MMP gene family in human cutaneous metastatic melanoma and have identified several novel somatic mutations, most notably mutations in MMP-8. This invention provides methods of identifying specific inhibitors to MMP-8 that could be used to treat patients with MMP-8 mutations. It also provides methods for predicting the prognosis of patients with MMP-8 mutations. Thus, this invention could not only help identify the roles of specific MMPs in melanoma, but also help further the development MMP inhibitors to treat melanoma patients.
Applications:
Diagnostic array for the detection of MMP-8 mutations.
Method of predicting the prognosis of melanoma patients.
Method of identifying MMP-8 activators as therapeutic agents to treat malignant melanoma patients.
Development Status: The technology is currently in the pre-clinical stage of development.
LH Palavalli et al: Analysis of the matrix metalloproteinase family reveals that MMP8 is often mutated in melanoma. Nat Genet 2009 May;41(5):518-520. [ PubMed abs ]
Licensing Status: Available for licensing.
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Human Genome Research Institute’s Cancer Genetics Branch is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, and/or commercialize this newly identified candidate melanoma diagnostic and prognostic marker as well as to identify and develop possible MMP-8 activators for testing as possible anti-melanoma agents. Please contact NHGRI’s Technology Development Coordinator (TDC) Claire T. Driscoll at cdriscol@mail.nih.gov for more information.
Portfolios: Cancer - Diagnostics Cancer - Therapeutics
For Additional Information Please Contact: Whitney Hastings NIH Office of Technology Transfer 6011 Executive Blvd. Suite 325, Rockville, MD 20852 United States Email: hastingw@mail.nih.gov Phone: 301-451-7337 Fax: 301-402-0220
Description of Invention:
Cutaneous malignant melanoma is the most common fatal skin cancer, and the incidence of this disease increases each year. The average survival time for patients diagnosed with malignant melanoma is less than ten months. Consequently, it is important to identify and understand genetic alterations leading to malignant melanoma so that new treatments strategies can be developed.
Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been associated with increased metastasis and several small molecule inhibitors have been developed as potential anticancer agents. Unfortunately, these inhibitors have been largely unsuccessful despite the research suggesting otherwise and it is clear that additional analyses are warranted. The NIH inventors have recently performed a mutational analysis of the MMP gene family in human cutaneous metastatic melanoma and have identified several novel somatic mutations, most notably mutations in MMP-8. This invention provides methods of identifying specific inhibitors to MMP-8 that could be used to treat patients with MMP-8 mutations. It also provides methods for predicting the prognosis of patients with MMP-8 mutations. Thus, this invention could not only help identify the roles of specific MMPs in melanoma, but also help further the development MMP inhibitors to treat melanoma patients.
Applications:
Development Status:
The technology is currently in the pre-clinical stage of development.
Inventors:
Yardena R Samuels (NHGRI)
Relevant Publication:
Licensing Status:
Available for licensing.
Collaborative Research Opportunity:
The National Human Genome Research Institute’s Cancer Genetics Branch is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, and/or commercialize this newly identified candidate melanoma diagnostic and prognostic marker as well as to identify and develop possible MMP-8 activators for testing as possible anti-melanoma agents. Please contact NHGRI’s Technology Development Coordinator (TDC) Claire T. Driscoll at cdriscol@mail.nih.gov for more information.
Portfolios:
Cancer - Diagnostics
Cancer - Therapeutics
For Additional Information Please Contact:
Whitney Hastings
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd. Suite 325,
Rockville, MD 20852
United States
Email: hastingw@mail.nih.gov
Phone: 301-451-7337
Fax: 301-402-0220
Ref No: 1969
Updated: 06/2009