Virginia Commonwealth University

Johns Hopkins University

Other

Devanand Sarkar

Paul B Fisher

Swadesh K Das

Mitchell E Menezes

Martin Gilbert Pomper

Luni Emdad

Paul Dent

Praveen Bhoopathi

Rupesh Dash

Siddik Sarkar

Jolene Windle

Anjan K Pradhan

Xiang-yang Wang

Upneet Sokhi

Mitchell D Menezes

In various aspects, the present disclosure provides polynucleotides encoding a fusion protein, as well as vectors, cells, and compositions comprising the same. In embodiments, the fusion protein includes an insulin signal peptide and an MDA-7/IL-24 protein. Methods of using the polynucleotides, vectors, cells, and compositions, such as in the treatment or prevention of cancer, are also provided.

MDA-7/IL-24 secretory variants and methods of use

A tropism modified cancer terminator virus (Ad.5/3-CTV; Ad.5/3-CTV-M7) has been found to have infectivity that is Coxsackie Adenoviral Receptor (CAR) independent. The Ad.5/3-CTV (Ad.5/3-CTV-M7) may be used alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents such as agents that augment reactive oxygen (ROS) production, HDAC inhibitors, MCL-1 inhibitors and Bcl-2 inhibitors to treat a variety of cancers particularly including malignant glioma (GBM), renal cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer.

Tropism modified cancer terminator virus (Ad.5/3 CTV;Ad.5/3-CTV-M7)

Tropism modified cancer terminator virus (Ad.5/3 CTV;AD.5/3-CTV-M7)

The presently disclosed subject matter generally relates to genetic constructs and methods for their use in cancer imaging, cancer treatment, and combined imaging and treatment protocols. In particular, the presently disclosed subject matter relates to tripartite cancer theranostic nucleic acid constructs that permit simultaneous cancer specific viral replication, expression of a diagnostic gene product, and expression of a therapeutic gene.

Tripartite cancer theranostic nucleic acid constructs

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to compositions and methods directed to cancer theranostic nucleic acid constructs that permit simultaneous cancer-specific viral replication, expression of a diagnostic gene product, and expression of a therapeutic gene.

[object Object]

Recombinant therapeutic cytokines ('therakines') for the treatment of cancer are provided. The recombinant therakines include a truncated region of MDA-7/TL-24 ('M4') not normally found in nature that has anti-cancer activity and a secretory signal which causes secretion of the therakine from plasmid/virus transduced normal and cancer cells and interaction of the therakine to MDA-7/IL-24 receptors on adjacent, neighboring and distant cancer cells. Therakine interaction results in bystander killing of the target cancer cell as well as adjacent, neighboring and distant cancer cells.

Recombinant cancer therapeutic cytokine

Recombinant vectors in which expression of one or more elements (e.g. genes required for viral replication, detectable imaging agents, therapeutic agents, etc.) is driven by a truncated CCN 1 cancer selective promoter (tCCN1-Prom) are provided, as are cells and transgenic animals that contain such vectors. The vectors are used in cancer therapy and/or diagnostics, and the transgenic mice are used to monitor cancer progression, e.g. in screening assays.

Use of a truncated CCN1 promoter for cancer diagnostics, therapeutics and theranostics

Recombinant vectors in which expression of one or more elements (e.g. gene required for viral replication, detectable imaging agents, therapeutic agents, etc.) is driven by an mda-9/syntenin (mda-9) cancer selective promoter are provided, as are cells and transgenic animals that contain such vectors. The vectors are used in cancer therapy and/or diagnostics, especially to visualize (image) and treat metastasis (including in rapid in vitro assays), and the transgenic mice are used to monitor cancer progression and/or the efficacy of candidate therapeutic agents in screening assays.

mda-9/syntenin promoter to image and treat metastatic cancer cells

Inhibitors of Late SV-40 Factor (LSF) are used to treat cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In particular, small molecule chemical LSF inhibitors are employed. In addition, the activity and/or pattern of expression of LSF may is used to diagnose cancer, to characterize the cancer (e.g. stage, grade, prognosis, etc.) and also to develop suitable protocols for cancer treatment.

Growing community of inventors

Richmond, VA, United States of America

Devanand Sarkar