Georgetown University

Mars, Incorporated

Robert B Dickson

Chen-Yong Lin

Shaomeng Wang

Istvan J Enyedy

Michael D Johnson

Leo J Romanczyk

Stephen J McCormack

Bassem R Haddad

Danica Ramljak

Yuenian E Shi

Sheau-Ling Lee

The invention is directed to a method of detecting a malignancy or a pre-malignant lesion in breast or other tissue, or a pathologic condition, by detecting the presence of single-chain or two-chain forms of matriptase in the tissue. The invention is further directed to a method of treating malignancies, which have the phenotype of matriptase production by administering a tumor formation inhibiting effective amount of concentrate of Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBIC), or other matriptase inhibitor. The invention also is directed to nucleic acids encoding a matriptase protein or fragments thereof, and their use for structure elucidation and modeling to identify other inhibitors of matriptase, as well as to methods of identifying matriptase modulating agents, including activators and inhibitors.

Matriptase, a serine protease and its applications

This invention relates to methods of inducing dephosphorylation of a hyperphosphorylated cell cycle regulatory protein in a tumor cell in which hyperphosphorylation of said protein contributed to cell transformation, the method comprising contacting the tumor cell with a procyanidin oligomer of five monomeric units connected via a C-4&#x2192;C-8 linkage. Examples of such compounds are [EC-(4&#x3b2;&#x2192;8)]-EC, and [EC-(4&#x3b2;&#x2192;8)]-EC-(4&#x3b2;&#x2192;8)-C, wherein EC is epicatcchin and C is catechin.

Methods and compositions for treating cancer

The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting carcinoma progression wherein matriptase plays a role in a subject in need of such inhibition including administering to a subject an effective amount of a compound comprising two positively charged groups, which are the same or different. The groups are linked by a chemical group having a length of between 5 and 30 A, and preferably between 15 and 24 A. Diagnostic methods based on matriptase action and therapeutic methods involving inhibition of matriptase activity are provided.

Structure based discovery of inhibitors of matriptase for the treatment of cancer and other conditions

This invention provides a method for studying chromosomal gains and losses in cells from nipple aspirate fluid comprising the steps of: (1) aspirating fluid from breasts; (2) placing the samples of fluid obtained in step 1 onto dishes containing conditioned medium composed of a mixture of (a) supernatant from immortalized mammary epithelial cells and (b) mammary epithelial growth medium; (3) incubating the product of step 2 in a humidified incubator; (4) replenishing the medium in the dishes prepared in step 2 at regular intervals to maintain cell growth; (5) isolating the cells from the cultures; (6) preparing DNA from these cells; (7) amplifying the DNA; (8) labeling an aliquot of the amplified DNA; and (9) evaluating the labeled DNA for evidence of chromosomal gains or losses.

Evaluation of changes in breast cells using nipple aspirate fluid

Compositions of the instant invention comprise a monoclonal antibody designated as 21-9 which binds selectively with an 80 kDa matrix-degrading proteinase having an average molecular weight of about 80 kDa, which is active in the presence of Ca.sup.2, Mg.sup.2+ and Mn.sup.2+.

Monoclonal antibody to an 80 kda protease

An 80 kDa metaloproteinase is found in hormone-dependent human breast cancer cells. The enzyme is active in the presence of calcium, manganese, or magnesium ions. The 80 kDa proteinase is useful for evaluating therapeutic progress and in formulating plans for treatment.

Growing community of inventors

Silver Spring, MD, United States of America

Robert B Dickson