University of Chicago

Arch Development Corporation

Dana-farber-cancer Institute Inc.

Other

The Uab Research Foundation

Ralph R Weichselbaum

Donald W Kufe

Dennis E Hallahan

Vikas P Sukhatme

Bernard Roizman

Nikolai Khodarev

Rima Kaddurah-Daouk

Richard J Whitley

Philip Connell

Ravi Sood

Douglas K Bishop

Mitchell Posner

Steven J Chmura

Tomio Takeuchi

Takeo Yoshioka

Masaaki Ishizuka

Chin-Tu Chen

Yang-xin Fu

Tsuneya Ohno

Charles A Pelizzari

Hiroyuki Kumagai

Naoki Agata

James O Park

Shan Lu

Jose Quintans

Helena Mauceri

Andy Minn

Edwardine Labay

Liufu Deng

Eric Kimchi

Samuel Hellman

Lewis B Schwartz

Corinne L Reimer

Mary E Dolan

Steven Chmura

Sean P Pitroda

Philip P Connell

Bakhtiar Yamini

Gregory S Sibley

Vinay Gupta

Helen Mauceri

James Park

A method of radiating a plurality of masses in a patient is provided, including receiving a three-dimensional model of the patient, the model including respective locations of a plurality of OARs, receiving a set of locations in the model corresponding to the masses, respective prescribed radiation dosages for the masses, and respective radiation limits for the OARs. The method includes computing a candidate set of beams having respective beam paths that travel through at least one of the masses. The method includes scoring the candidate set of beams based on respective dosages provided to the masses, respective dosages provided to the OARs, and beams in a set of selected beams for treatment, adding a best-scoring beam among the candidate set of beams to the set of selected beams, and radiating the masses using the set of selected beams.

System and method for multi-site radiotherapy

Compositions, kits and methods for treating cancer in a subject in need thereof are disclosed involving one or more inhibitors of the JAK/STAT pathway which renders the cancer chemosensitive and/or radiosensitive.

Anti-tumor therapy

Compositions, kits and methods for treating cancer in a subject in need thereof are disclosed involving one or more genes the suppression of which renders the cancer chemosensitive and/or radiosensitive.

Panels, compositions, and methods for treating cancer in a subject in need thereof are disclosed involving one or more genes the suppression of which renders the cancer chemosensitive and/or radiosensitive.

The present invention concerns methods and compositions involving inhibitors and enhancers of RAD51, a protein involved in homologous recombination. In some embodiments, the present invention concerns methods for stimulating homologous recombination, which has a number of significant research and clinical applications. In certain other embodiments, there are methods for protecting cells using a compound that enhances RAD51 activity. Such enhancers may also be employed to prevent or reduce damage to cells that may be caused by DNA damaging agents. In other embodiments, there are methods for sensitizing cells to the effects of DNA damaging agents, which can have particular applications for cancer patients. In some embodiments of the invention, the RAD51 enhancer or inhibitor is a small molecule that directly affects RAD51 activity, such as its ability to promote filament formation.

Methods and compositions for modulating RAD51 and homologous recombination

Disclosed are methods for treating cancer by administering an effective amount of a modified Herpes simplex virus.

Treatment of tumors with genetically engineered herpes virus

The present invention relates to methods of inducing expression of a polynucleotide encoding a therapeutic polypeptide, e.g., TNF-&#x3b1;, in a cell comprising contacting the cell with a construct comprising an Egr-1 promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, and at least one chemotherapeutic agent, wherein the chemotherapeutic agent induces expression of the polypeptide. The invention also relates to methods of inhibiting a neoplastic cell, comprising contacting the cell with a construct comprising an Egr-1 promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding TNF-&#x3b1; and a chemotherapeutic agent. The present invention further relates to methods of inhibiting or reducing the growth of a tumor in a subject, comprising co-administering to the subject a construct comprising an Egr-1 promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding TNF-&#x3b1; and a chemotherapeutic agent, wherein the co-administration inhibits or reduces the ability of the tumor to grow.

Activation of Egr-1 promoter by DNA damaging chemotherapeutics

The present disclosure demonstrates the successful use of constitutive promoters operatively linked to genes encoding radiosensitizing or radioprotecting factors, administered to cells, tissues, or patients in conjunction with radiation exposure. Also disclosed are pharmacological preparations to be used to increase the levels of radiosensitizing compounds such as TNF-&#x3b1;, or radioprotective compounds such as MnSOD, in specified tissues or tumors of a subject.

Constitutive gene expression in conjunction with ionizing radiation

Disclosed is a set of genes differentially expressed in chemotherapy and radiation resistant tumors useful in predicting response to therapy and assessing risk of local-regional failure, survival and metastasis in cancer patients. Also disclosed are methods for characterizing tumors according to gene expression and kits for use in the methods of the invention.

Prognosis and therapy predictive markers and methods of use

Methods and compositions for enhancing cancer cell death using therapeutically effective amounts of DNA damaging agent(s) that act in combination to enhance cancer cell death, e.g., nucleic acid precursors, and protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors, e.g., that inhibit EGFR activity. The agents and inhibitors are administered in an amount effective to kill cancer cells, that is, the combined effect is sufficient so that cancer cell death is enhanced. If not administered at the same time, the DNA damaging agent(s) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors are administered close enough in time so they are still able to enhance cancer cell death. The methods and compositions are useful to treat neoplastic disease, e.g., pancreatic cancer.

DNA damaging agents in combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitors

The invention provides methods of screening to identify compounds that modulate the ability of a protein to translocate to the mitochondria when a cell is subjected to cellular stress. Such compounds can be useful to modulate the level of apoptosis in a cell. For example, compounds identified according to the methods described herein can be used to treat disorders characterized by excessive apoptosis, e.g., a neurological disorder, or insufficient apoptosis, e.g., cancer.

Induction of apoptosis by cellular stress

Disclosed are methods and kits for assessing risk of progression of Barrett's esophagus to adenocarcinoma.

Methods and kits for monitoring Barrett's metaplasia

In some embodiments, an image-guided radiotherapy apparatus and method is provided in which a radiotherapy radiation source and a gamma ray photon imaging device are positioned with respect to a patient area so that a patient can be treated by a beam emitted from the radiotherapy apparatus and can have images taken by the gamma ray photon imaging device. Radiotherapy treatment and imaging can be performed substantially simultaneously and/or can be performed without moving the patient in some embodiments. The gamma ray photon imaging device can be coupled and movable with respect to any part of a building structure, can be located on a portable frame movable to and from the radiotherapy radiation source and patient, or can take other forms. In some embodiments, the gamma ray photon imaging device can be used for imaging in connection with other types of medical interventions.

Image-guided medical intervention apparatus and method

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Ralph R Weichselbaum