The University of Hong Kong

John Moon Ching Luk

Ronnie Tung Ping Poon

Lingxiao Liu

Nikki Pui Yue Lee

Kwong Fai Wong

Compositions and methods for diagnosing, treating and/or preventing cancers characterized by CDH17 overexpression based on the detection of CDH17 or the use of CDH17 as a target for therapeutic intervention or prophylactic intervention are provided. Methods for diagnosing and/or monitoring liver cancers using the expressing of CDH17 involve detecting and/or quantitating the CDH17 protein or encoding nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) in a biological sample such as urine from the subject. Methods for treating liver cancers using CDH17 as a target and of sensitizing cells with aberrant expression of CDH17 have also been developed. The methods include suppression or knockdown of the expression of CDH17 by administering an effective amount of a CDH17 inhibitor.

Cadherin-17 as diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for liver cancer

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in systemic circulation triggers deleterious super-inflammatory response, which is key pathogenesis of many disorders like gram-negative sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis. No effective therapeutic interventions are currently available for protection of patients against mortality. Disclosed are methods and therapeutic agents that ablate the biological toxicity of LPS in circulation (Integrin Peptide), and abrogate leukocyte infiltration into lung and liver and suppress adhesion molecule expression (Integrin Peptide and Anti-CD18 &#x3b2;A scFv). These therapeutic agents can be used alone, or in combination for treatment of endotoxin-mediated pro-inflammatory responses, particularly in cases of acute sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis.

Growing community of inventors

Hong Kong, China

John Moon Ching Luk