Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Eileen White

Paul G Falkowski

Liti Haramaty

Richard Lutz

Anju Thomas

Eric H Andrianasolo

Anne Marie Strohecker

Lakshmi Goyal

Gary Kasof

Eric Andrianasolo

Huey-Jen L Lin

Robin Mathew

Shuin-Kwei Chiou

Cristina Karp

The invention provides a compound of formula (I): (I) wherein R-Rhave any of the values defined in the specification, as well as compositions comprising a compound of formula (I) and methods for treating diseases (e.g. cancer). 

Ceramide derivatives as anticancer agents

Methods for screening for modulators of autophagy are disclosed. Methods for identifying genes whose expression inhibits autophagy, as well as genes whose expression promotes autophagy, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for identifying compounds that stimulate autophagy, as well as compounds that inhibit autophagy. Cell lines that may be used in the methods of identification are also disclosed.

Cell lines useful for assessing modulation of autophagy

Compounds of formulas I-IV: (I), (II), (III) (IV), wherein: Rand R-Rare independently selected from H and 1-3 carbon lower alkyl; and Rand Rare independently selected from H, 1-3 carbon lower O II alkyl, and &#x2014;C&#x2014;R, wherein Ris 1-3 carbon lower alkyl. Pharmaceutical compositions, which include any of Compounds I-IV and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, methods of inducing tumor cell apoptosis by administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of any of Compounds I-IV, and methods for obtaining any of Compounds I-IV by extracting the compound from coral are also provided. 

Compositions and methods for treating cancer

This invention provides recombinant cell lines and screening methods useful for identifying agents that induce apoptosis in target cells and therefore may be used to advantage in the treatment of neoplastic disorders.

Recombinant cell line and screening method for identifying agents which regulate apoptosis and tumor suppression

The present invention is a method for determining if a compound potentially modulates the ability of a putative oncogene to suppress p53-mediated effects, comprising (A) adding an amount of said compound to genetically engineered cells that express (i) a gene product that induces p53 mediated apoptosis; (ii) a gene product for a p53 gene, wherein either the gene or the gene product are externally controllable; and (iii) a putative oncogene that inhibits the effect of the gene product that induces p53 mediated apoptosis, and (B) examining said cells to determine whether apoptosis has occurred. In particular, the invention provides a method wherein said gene product that induces p53 mediated apoptosis is adenovirus gene E1A, wherein said externally controllable p53 gene product is a temperature-sensitive mutant of p53, and wherein the putative oncogene is selected from the group bcl-2, ras, or the adenovirus E1B(19K) gene. In addition, the invention provides genetically engineered cell lines that can be used to carry out the methods described.

Cells having oncogene-suppressed p53-mediated apoptosis and methods of

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Princeton, NJ, United States of America

Eileen White