1309 results about "Cancer stem cell" patented technology

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating, characterizing, and diagnosing cancer. In particular, the present invention provides gene expression profiles and signatures associated with solid tumor stem cells, as well as novel stem cell cancer markers useful for the diagnosis, characterization, prognosis and treatment of solid tumor stem cells. More particularly, the present invention identifies two profiles of cancer stem cells useful for the diagnosis, characterization, and treatment of cancer and cancer metastases. The invention also provides a variety of reagents such as stem cell gene signatures for use in the diagnosis and management of cancer.

A highly sensitive assay is disclosed which combines immunomagnetic enrichment with multiparameter flow cytometric and immunocytochemical analysis to detect, enumerate and characterize carcinoma cells in the blood. The assay can detect one epithelial cell or less in 1 ml of blood and has a greater sensitivity than conventional PCR or immunohistochemistry by 1-2 orders of magnitude. In addition, the assay facilitates the biological characterization and staging of carcinoma cells.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for characterizing, treating and diagnosing cancer. In particular, the present invention provides a cancer stem cell profile, as well as novel stem cell cancer markers useful for the diagnosis, characterization, prognosis and treatment of cancer and in particular the targeting of solid tumor stem cells.

The present invention relates to antibodies that are immunoreactive to the mammalian, and more particularly, the human B7-H3 receptor and to uses thereof, particularly in the treatment of cancer and inflammation. The invention thus particularly concerns humanized B7-H3-reactive antibodies that are capable of mediating, and more preferably enhancing the activation of the immune system against cancer cells that are associated with a variety of human cancers.

The present invention relates to the identification and characterization of classes and subclasses of circulating cancer cells, including microtumors from body fluid samples using molecular, cytological, and morphological analyses, and methods for staging patients and measuring the efficacy of medical treatments.

A small percentage of cells within an established solid tumor have the properties of stem cells. These solid tumor stem cells give rise both to more tumor stem cells and to the majority of cells in the tumor that have lost the capacity for extensive proliferation and the ability to give rise to new tumors. The solid tumor heterogeneity reflects the presence of tumor cell progeny arising from a solid tumor stem cell. This discovery is the basis for solid tumor stem cell compositions, methods for distinguishing functionally different populations of tumor cells, methods for using these tumor cell populations for studying the effects of therapeutic agents on tumor growth, and methods for identifying and testing novel anti-cancer therapies directed to solid tumor stem cells.

Described herein are therapeutic targets expressed in cancer stem cells and methods for treating and diagnosing cancer by targeting such cells with antibodies, compounds, nucleic acid, or other therapeutic agent. In one embodiment described herein, therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer are provided based on the identification of cancer stem cell targets. The present invention also includes therapeutic targets for cancer therapy and cancer stem cell-targeted therapy. The invention includes the treatment of cancer by the administration of compounds or agents that target cancer stem cells.

A small percentage of cells within an established solid tumor have the properties of stem cells. These solid tumor stem cells give rise both to more tumor stem cells and to the majority of cells in the tumor that have lost the capacity for extensive proliferation and the ability to give rise to new tumors. Thus, solid tumor heterogeneity reflects the presence of tumor cell progeny arising from a solid tumor stem cell. We have developed a xenograft model in which we have been able to establish tumors from primary tumors via injection of tumor cells in the mammary gland of severely immunodeficient mice. These xenograft assay have allowed us to do biological and molecular assays to characterize clonogenic solid tumor stem cells. We have also developed evidence that strongly implicates the Notch pathway, especially Notch 4, as playing a central pathway in carcinogenesis.

Provided herein are antibodies specific for TIM3 that can be used to detect cancer cells, in particular, cancer stem cells. The antibodies can also be used in therapeutic compositions for treating cancer and reducing inflammation.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of cancer, especially cancer stem cells. The invention discloses peptides, polypeptides, and polynucleotides that can be used to stimulate a CTL response against cancer cells, especially cancer stem cells.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for characterizing, diagnosing, and treating cancer. In particular the invention provides the means and methods for the diagnosis, characterization, prognosis and treatment of cancer and specifically targeting cancer stem cells. The present invention provides an antibody that specifically binds to a non-ligand binding region of the extracellular domain of a human NOTCH receptor and inhibits growth of tumor cells. The present invention further provides a method of treating cancer, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody that specifically binds to a non-ligand binding region of the extracellular domain of a human NOTCH receptor protein and inhibits growth of tumor cells.

A neoplastic stem cell population enriched for expression of the OCT4 transcription factor as well as methods for their identification, isolation and enrichment are described. The OCT4-enriched neoplastic stem cell population is further utilized for the induction and analysis of cancer in an animal. In addition, methods of preventing, abrogating, or inhibiting cancer, tumor growth, and metastasis via OCT4 inhibition are further provided.

Improved methods for treatment of cancer which involve the targeting of slow-growing, relatively mutationally-spared cancer stem line are provided. These methods are an improvement over previous cancer therapeutic methods because they provide for very early cancer treatment and reduce the likelihood of clinical relapse after treatment.

The present invention relates to antibodies and their fragments that are immunoreactive to the mammalian, and more particularly, the human B7-H3 receptor and to uses thereof, particularly in the treatment of cancer and inflammation. The invention thus particularly concerns humanized B7-H3-reactive antibodies and their immunoreactive fragments that are capable of mediating, and more preferably enhancing the activation of the immune system against cancer cells that are associated with a variety of human cancers.

The present invention provides methods for inhibiting interleukin-3 receptor-expressing cells, and, in particular, inhibiting the growth of such cells by using a diphtheria toxin-human interleukin-3 conjugate (DT-IL3) that is toxic to cells expressing the interleukin-3 receptor. In preferred embodiments, the DT-IL3 conjugate is a fusion protein comprising amino acids 1-388 of diphtheria toxin fused via a peptide linker to full-length, human interleukin-3. In certain embodiments, the methods of the present invention relate to the administration of a DT-IL3 conjugate to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and / or cancer stem cells in humans, which cells express one or more subunits of the interleukin-3 receptor. Exemplary cells include myeloid leukemia cancer stem cells. In other embodiments, the methods of the present invention relate to ex vivo purging of bone marrow or peripheral blood to remove cells that express one or more subunits of the interleukin-3 receptor such that the purged bone marrow or peripheral blood is suitable, e.g., for autologous stem cell transplantation to restore hematopoietic function.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for isolating and detecting rare cells from a biological sample containing other types of cells. In particular, the present invention includes a debulking step that uses a microfabricated filters for filtering fluid samples and the enriched rare cells can be used in a downstream process such as identifies, characterizes or even grown in culture or used in other ways. The invention also include a method of determining the aggressiveness of the tumor or of the number or proportion of cancer cells in the enriched sample by detecting the presence or amount of telomerase activity or telomerase nucleic acid or telomerase expression after enrichment of rare cells. This invention further provides an efficient and rapid method to specifically remove red blood cells as well as white blood cells from a biological sample containing at least one of each of red blood cells and white blood cells, resulting in the enrichment of rare target cells including circulating tumor cells (CTC), stromal cells, mesenchymal cells, endothelial cells, fetal cells, stem cells, non-hematopoietic cells etc from a blood sample. The method is based upon combination of immuno-microparticles (antibody coated microparticles) and density-based separation. The final enriched target cells can be subjected to a variety of analysis and manipulations, such as flowcytometry, PCR, immunofluorescence, immunocytochemistry, image analysis, enzymatic assays, gene expression profiling analysis, efficacy tests of therapeutics, culturing of enriched rare cells, and therapeutic use of enriched rare cells. In addition, depleted plasma protein and white blood cells can be optionally recovered, and subjected to other analysis such as inflammation studies, gene expression profiling, etc.

The present invention provides methods for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer stem cells (CSC) using expression analysis of one or more groups of genes, and a combination of expression analysis from a biological sample from the subject. The methods of the invention provide a method for accuracy detecting cancer stem cells in a population of cancer cells. The invention also provides methods and kits for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer in a subject using cancer stem cell biomarker expression analysis.

The present invention provides antibodies that bind to the IL-3 receptor alpha subunit alpha (Il3Rα) chain, and compositions comprising such antibodies. The present invention provides methods for inhibiting or reducing an IL3Rα-expressing cell population, the methods comprising contacting a population of IL3Rα-expressing cells (e.g., cancer cells and / or cancer stem cells) with an antibody that binds to IL3Rα. The present invention also provides antibody conjugates comprising an antibody that binds to an IL3Rα chain linked to a cytotoxic agent or anticellular agent and compositions comprising such conjugates. The present invention also provides methods for preventing, treating and / or managing a disorder associated with IL3Rα-expressing cells (e.g., a hematological cancer), the methods comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an antibody that binds to IL3Rα.

The present invention relates compositions and methods for microRNA expression profiling of cancer stem cells. In particular, the invention relates to a method for identifying and / or diagnosing one or more cancer stem cells, the method comprising identifying from a plurality of nucleic acid molecules, each encoding a microRNA sequence, one or more nucleic acid molecules are differentially expressed in the cancer stem cells and in one or more control cells, wherein the one or more differentially expressed nucleic acid molecules together represent a nucleic acid expression signature that is indicative for the presence of cancer stem cells. The invention further relates to a corresponding diagnostic kit of molecular markers, namely the nucleic acid expression signature. Finally, the invention is directed to a method using such nucleic acid expression signatures for preventing the proliferation and / or self-renewal of such cancer stem cells as well as to a corresponding pharmaceutical composition.

The present invention is directed to methods of monitoring cancer stem cells in patients undergoing cancer therapy to determine whether the cancer therapy is an effective cancer therapy. The present invention relates to methods for monitoring the amount of cancer stem cells prior to, during, and / or following cancer treatment of a patient. In particular, the methods provide measuring the amount of cancer stem cells i) in a sample obtained from a patient and / or ii) in a patient via in vivo imaging, e.g. at different time points before, during or after a treatment regimen for cancer. The change in amount of cancer stem cells over time allows the physician to judge the effectiveness of the treatment regimen and then to decide to continue, alter, or halt the treatment regimen if need be. The present invention also provides kits for monitoring cancer stem cells prior to, during, and / or following cancer treatment of a patient. The present invention also provides for a method of treatment of cancer, wherein such method involves the use of a therapeutic agent that stabilizes or reduces the amount of cancer stem cells in or from a patient.

The present invention concerns methods and compositions for forming anti-cancer vaccine complexes. In preferred embodiments, the anti-cancer vaccine complex comprises an antibody moiety that binds to dendritic cells, such as an anti-CD74 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, attached to an AD (anchoring domain) moiety and a xenoantigen, such as CD20, attached to a DDD (dimerization and docking domain) moiety, wherein two copies of the DDD moiety form a dimer that binds to the AD moiety, resulting in the formation of the vaccine complex. The anti-cancer vaccine complex is capable of inducing an immune response against xenoantigen expressing cancer cells, such as CD138negCD20+ MM stem cells, and inducing apoptosis of and inhibiting the growth of or eliminating the cancer cells.

The present invention provides methods for treating or preventing cancer or neoplastic disease comprising administering to a patient a compound having the features of a pharmacophore for human anti-apotptotic Bcl protein inhibitors or identified by the in vitro methods for identifying anti-apotptotic-Bcl protein inhibitors. Also disclosed are methods for inhibiting the growth of a cancer cell or a neoplastic cell, comprising contacting the cancer cell or neoplastic cell with a compound having the features of a pharmacophore for human anti-apoptotic-Bcl protein inhibitors.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for electroporation-mediated gene transfer to cancer cells. The transfected cancer cells are genetically modified to express one or more therapeutic proteins. In certain embodiments, the cancer cells are modified to express one or more cytokines capable of enhancing the immunogenicity of the transfected cancer cell. Administering the transfected cancer cell to a subject will lead to enhanced immune-cell mediated killing of tumors. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods and compositions for improved treatment and prevention of cancer and other hyperproliferative diseases.

Methods and compositions are provided for the identification of stem cells and cancer stem cells. β-catenin is also identified as a target for the development of therapeutic moieties against hematopoietic tumors, i.e. leukemia and lymphoma cells, which may include screening assays directed at β-catenin, or members of the β-catenin signaling pathway. Cellular proliferation in hematopoietic cells can be altered by introducing stabilized β-catenin into a hematopoietic cell that is altered in its ability to undergo apoptosis but which is not fully transformed. The immortalized cells are useful in screening assays, and in the analysis of pathways by which hematopoietic cells undergo transformation.

The present invention relates to the composition and methods of use of Stat3 pathway inhibitors or cancer stem cell inhibitors in combination treatment of cancer.