Other

Leland Stanford Junior University

Albert J Wong

Emily Piccione Griffin

Peptides and vaccine compositions comprising peptides based upon EGFRvIII and lacking a glycine at the splice junction are disclosed. The vaccines can induce immune responses against EGFRvIII. Methods of inhibiting formation or growth of EGFvIII tumors, methods of inducing regression of EGFvIII tumors, methods of immunizing against EGFvIII tumors and methods of treating a subjects who have EGFvIII tumors are disclosed.

Peptide vaccines based on the EGFRvIII sequence for the treatment of tumors

A generally spherical growth factor sensitive vesicle bearing growth factor receptors () having chemical compounds () covalently cross-linked to their non-growth factor binding domains. The chemical compounds are capable of associating to form larger chemical compounds () capable of destabilizing the vesicle. Methods for treating growth factor-overexpressing neoplasms are disclosed.

Growth factor sensitive vesicle

The present invention relates to a novel form of human EGFR found in certain tumors and conditions. The protein is termed here mLEEK, and the cDNA that encodes it has also been isolated. The mLEEK protein is capable of efficiently inducing the transcription of multiple genes resulting in various physiologic processes. Antibodies directed against the protein can be used for improving the diagnosis of diseases or for the treatment of diseases. The protein itself can be directly used or blocked for therapeutic purposes. Nucleic acid based probes or PCR primers specific for the mLEEK sequence can be used for diagnostic purposes. Inhibitory nucleic acid based molecules, such as antisense, siRNA, or shRNA, may be used for therapeutic purposes. The mLEEK sequence is essentially formed by the skipping of exons 2 through 22 in the EGF receptor gene leading to a fusion of exon 1 to exon 23. Other mutants are disclosed, which include the fusion of exon 1 to exon 24 and the fusion of exons 1 to exon 28.

Splice variants of the EGF receptor

A method of surgically treating occlusive disease in an intraluminal tissue using both a retractor () and a retractable one-piece stent. The stent is constructed and arranged such that it can exist in at least a stable initial collapsed state () and a stable deployed expanded state (). In conjunction with the retractor, the stent is positioned at an appropriate location within an occluded intraluminal tissue and converted from a stable initial collapsed state to a stable deployed expanded state, and is then converted to a collapsed state and removed before significant restenosis occurs.

Method for surgical treatment of occlusive disease

A set of markers for cancer stem cells are provided. The cells can be prospectively isolated or identified from primary tumor samples, and possess the unique properties of cancer stem cells in functional assays for tumor initiation, cancer stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. In addition, cancer stem cells can be used as a predictor for disease progression. The CSC have the phenotype of being positive for expression of CD133, and for EGFRvIII. In another embodiment of the invention, compositions are provided of a bispecific reagent that recognizes CD133 and EGFRvIII, including bispecific antibodies, which are optionally conjugated to a detectable marker, chemotherapeutic agent are radionuclide for imaging or therapy.

Using EGFRvIII to identify and target cancer stem cells

Alternatively spliced RNA, along with their normally-spliced counterparts, can be rapidly identified by hybridizing cDNA from normal tissue to cDNA from an abnormal or test tissue. The two cDNA populations are separately tagged prior to hybridization, which allows isolation of double-stranded cDNA containing both normal and alternatively spliced molecules. Within this population, pairing of cDNA molecules representing an alternatively spliced mRNA with cDNA molecules representing the counterpart normally spliced mRNA will form double-stranded cDNA with single-stranded mismatched regions. The mismatched double-stranded cDNA are isolated with reagents that bind single-stranded nucleic acids. The strands of each mismatched double-stranded cDNA are then coupled and analyzed, simultaneously identifying both normal and alternatively spliced molecules.

Method for rapid identification of alternative splicing

A capture and restraining device having two poles, at least one flexible strand extending between the poles, and retainers secured to the poles for slidably connecting the flexible strand to the poles. In one of the disclosed embodiments, the device has two strands forming continuous, closed loops. The first strand has two overlapping segments which run between the poles and two non-overlapping segments which run between the poles. The second strand has two non-overlapping segments which run between the poles and intertwine with the non-overlapping segments of the first strand. Each retainer includes a clasp fixedly secured to the pole and a ring through which the clasp and one or more of the flexible strands pass. The clasps may be releasable for releasably securing the rings to the poles. The device may further include straps with hand loops attached to the poles. Each pole may be comprised of a main pole section and longitudinal extension section detachably connected to the main pole section. In alternative disclosed embodiments of the invention, the flexible strands are interconnected and slidably connected to the poles in a variety of arrangements, and the device includes fewer and more flexible strands and additional components.

Capture and restraining device

An apparatus used to control human beings through the application of localized pressure to their body and appendages. The claimed apparatus has a substantially straight, elongated first arm, and spaced therefrom and generally parallel thereto, a curved, elongated second arm. A member connects together one end of the first arm to the adjacent end of the second arm. The first arm extends beyond the second arm and a blunting element is fixedly secured to the free-end. The second arm has a curved midportion which curves downward and extends toward the first arm to a distance from the first arm sufficient to receive an appendage. An upwardly curved end portion of the second arm connects the curved midportion to the connecting member, and attached to the end of the curved midportion remote from the connecting member is an upwardly curved free-end portion. The free-end portion has a free-end section which extends in a direction generally away from the connecting member and downward toward the first arm to a distance from the first arm greater than the distance between the curved midportion and the first arm. The apparatus is formed as a unitary structure from a continuous band of flat material.

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Menlo Park, CA, United States of America

Albert J Wong