Nucleic Acid Reporter Construct for Estrogen-Sensitive Cell Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods lack the accuracy and sensitivity to differentiate between estrogen-sensitive and estrogen-insensitive breast cancer cells, which affects the effectiveness of hormone therapy.

Innovation Solution

A nucleic acid construct comprising an enhancer sequence with ERE and XRE sequences, a promoter sequence, and a reporter gene is introduced into cells, allowing visualization and discrimination of estrogen-sensitive cells through reporter protein expression, enhanced by AhR binding to XRE.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If existing detection methods are used to detect ER binding to ERE sequence, then the detection can be performed, but the accuracy and sensitivity are insufficient to differentiate between estrogen-sensitive and estrogen-insensitive breast cancer cells

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracy and sensitivityVSAvoiddifferentiation accuracy between cell types

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple elements (ERE sequence, XRE sequence, promoter sequence, and reporter gene) into a single nucleic acid construct to enhance detection sensitivity. The construct merges the estrogen response element with the xenobiotic response element to create a synergistic effect that amplifies the detection signal for estrogen-sensitive cells.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The nucleic acid construct acts as an intermediary tool that translates the biological interaction between ER and ERE into a measurable signal through reporter protein expression. This intermediary construct enables indirect detection of estrogen sensitivity by reporting through a detectable phenotype.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If hormone therapy is administered to all luminal type breast cancer patients, then treatment can be provided, but accurate determination of which patients will respond is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment customization capabilityVSAvoidprediction accuracy of therapeutic response

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detection method provides feedback information about a patient's tumor cell line characteristics before treatment initiation. By measuring the activity of the nucleic acid construct in patient samples, clinicians receive quantitative feedback on estrogen sensitivity that guides treatment decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The method enables preliminary assessment of estrogen sensitivity before initiating hormone therapy. The nucleic acid construct is introduced into patient-derived cell lines ahead of time to predict response, allowing treatment planning to be optimized in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method enables sensitive detection and discrimination of estrogen-sensitive cells, improving the prediction of hormone therapy efficacy by up to 1.4 times the sensitivity of existing methods.

Implementation Method 1

enhanced by AhR binding to XRE

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectProtein-DNA binding:

Implementation Method 2

transcription of surrounding genes is promoted

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTranscription:

Data Source

PatentUS12571057B2Nucleic acid construct, kit, detection method, and therapeutic effect prediction method

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 KK TOSHIBA

AI summary

According to one embodiment, a nucleic acid construct is used for detecting an estrogen-sensitive cell. The nucleic acid construct includes an enhancer sequence, a promoter sequence and a reporter gene. The enhancer sequence includes at least an ERE sequence and at least a XRE sequence. The promoter sequence is ligated to downstream of the enhancer sequence. The reporter gene is ligated to downstream of the promoter sequence.