The University of Arizona

University of California

Arizona Board of Regents, a Body Corporate

Other

Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Eugene W Gerner

Evan M Hersh

David T Harris

Frank L Meyskens

Jason A Zell

Christine E McLaren

Hoda Anton-Culver

Patricia Thompson

Jenaro Garcia-Huidobro

Bonnie LaFleur

Tom C Tsang

Edwin Paz

Alfred S Cohen

Farha Vasanwala

Michelle Boytim

Particia A Thompson

Tracy Brooks

Tom Tsang

Thomas Chun-Chang Tsang

Jeffrey Jacob

Jason Zell

Kavitha P Raj

Provided are methods for preventing or delaying the need for surgical intervention in a patient having familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and an at least partially intact lower gastrointestinal tract. Also provided are methods for preventing or delaying the formation of neoplasia and/or cancer in a patient having FAP. The methods comprise administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical therapy that comprises eflornithine and sulindac to a patient having FAP and an intact lower gastrointestinal tract.

Methods for treating familial adenomatous polyposis

The present invention relates to therapeutic methods and medical uses comprising the identification and use of cancer marker surrogates for increased polyamine expression. These markers may be used to identify patients who may be treated for diseases and disorders that are susceptible to polyamine synthesis inhibitors, and they can also be used to monitor therapeutic responses when such agents are used.

Predictive markers for polyamine inhibitor cancer therapies

The present invention provides methods and kits a) for preventing and/or treating cancer (e.g., colorectal cancer, neuroblastoma) that is linked, in part, to high levels of ODC activity and increased cellular polyamine content, b) for predicting cancer patient survival, especially cancer patient's whose cancer is linked, in part, to high levels of ODC activity and increased cellular polyamine contents, and c) for selecting the corresponding treatment options for such patients based on the allelic nucleotide sequence or SNP at positions +263 and/or +316 of the ODC1 gene as well as cancer treatment methods, in each case, which include the determination of the ODC1 genotype at the +263 and/or +316 positions, as a means to guide treatment selection.

Carcinoma diagnosis and treatment based on ODC1 genotype

The present disclosure relates to therapeutic methods and medical uses comprising the identification and use of cancer marker surrogates for increased polyamine expression. These markers may be used to identify patients who may be treated for diseases and disorders that are susceptible to polyamine synthesis inhibitors, and they can also be used to monitor therapeutic responses when such agents are used. More specifically, reduced levels of let-7 miRNA and elevated levels of LIN28 and HMGA2 proteins were found to correlate with elevated levels of polyamines and may be used for predicting the efficacy of cancer therapy using an ornithine decarboxylase (ODC1) inhibitor such as eflornithine (DFMO), suitably in combination with an NSAID such as sulindac.

The present invention provides methods and kits a) for predicting colorectal cancer patient survival, as well as the survival of patients harboring other invasive cancers where cellular proliferation and carcinogenesis is linked, in part, to high levels of ODC activity and increased cellular polyamine contents, and b) for selecting the corresponding treatment options for such patients based on the allelic nucleotide sequence or SNP at position +316 of the ODC1 promoter gene as well as cancer treatment methods, in each case, which include the determination of the ODC1 promoter +316 position genotype, as a means to guide treatment selection.

Carcinoma diagnosis and treatment, based on ODC1 genotype

[object Object]

Methods and compositions are provided for transgene expression in target cells. Expression constructs using an inducible amplification system to drive expression of a therapeutic gene or other gene of interest in mammalian host cells are provided, as well as methods therefor. Inducible expression of the transgenes at high levels under physiologic conditions results from induction by hyperthermic conditions relative to the basal temperature of the host cells.

Hyperthermic inducible expression vectors for gene therapy and methods of use thereof

Expression constructs using an inducible amplification system to drive expression of a therapeutic gene or other genes of interest in mammalian cells are provided, as well as methods of using the same.

The present invention relates to inducible gene expression constructs and methods of inducing gene expression using a combination of inducing agents.

Inducible expression vectors and methods of use thereof

Activation of the Ki-ras proto-oncogene is common in colon carcinogenesis. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit carcinogen-induced colon carcinogenesis, decrease the frequency of Ki-ras mutations in the azoxymethane-treated rat model, and induce apoptosis in a variety of cell types. Sulindac, as well as other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, are provided in combination with DFMO the prevention and/or treatment of cancers characterized by the expression of an activated Ki-ras. Provided with the present invention are pharmaceutically acceptable compositions that include a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, sulindac, together with an effective amount of difluoromethylornithine.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Eugene W Gerner