BioWorld Today here continues its occasional listings of governmentagencies _ in this case, the National Cancer Institute _ seekingindustrial licensees to commercialize its biotech-related research anddevelopment inventions. Commercialization rights are offered by theNational Institutes of Health, Office of Technology Transfer (OTT).Announcements of the following 14 opportunities have beensubmitted recently to the Federal Register.

To obtain licensing information, and copies of the U.S. patentissuances or applications listed below, contact the OTT licensingspecialists indicated.

Near-Total Polyamine Depletion In Tumors

Attempts to retard tumor growth by depleting intracellularpolyamines aimed, with partial efficacy, at blocking enzymes inpolyamine biosynthesis. Invention discloses analogues that bindDNA, but do not function as natural polyamines, and cause almosttotal depletion of intracellular stores of these molecules. Thesynthetic polyamines also sensitize tumors to conventionalchemotherapeutics.

U. S. Patent No. 5,541,230

Issued: 7/30/96

Inventor: Basu, H. S., et al.

Contact: Alan Kiang, (301) 496-7735, ext. 270

Gene Discovery By Expression, Not Hybridization

Invention covers "expression cloning," isolating genes of interest byexpressing corresponding polypeptide to screen clones containinggene. Method has discovered a new, dual-specificity protein tyrosinephosphatase, which causes diseases for which treatment is described.

U. S. Patent No. 5,512,434

Issued: 4/30/96

Inventor: Aaronson, S. A., et al.

Contact: Susan Rucker, (301) 496-7735, ext. 245

Early Detection Of Lung Cancer

Invention describes P31 lung-carcinoma associated antigen, shedfrom bronchial epithelium, detectable in sputum by immunologicalmethods. P31 antibodies "are highly correlated with patients havingincreased age and prolonged smoking history."

Application: 08/538,711

Filed: 10/2/95

Inventor: Mulshine, J. L.

Contact: Ken Hemby, (301) 496-7735, ext. 265

Gene Therapy For Colorectal Cancer

Transfer of wild-type tumor suppressor genes to colon cancer cellssuppresses tumorigenicity. cDNAs encoding a messenger RNAdown-regulated in adenocarcinomas of the colon encode apolypeptide indicated as therapy for colon cancer.

Application: 08/424,567

Filed: 4/17/95

Inventor: Schweinfest, C. W., et al.

Contact: Ken Hemby, (301) 496-7735, ext. 265

Synthetic Peptides Inhibit Tumor Growth, Invasion

Peptides synthesized from collagenase in human melanoma cellsyield antibodies against those cells. They also inhibitmetalloproteinases, so may curb tumor angiogenesis and metastasis;also inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. Routes of administrationinclude injection, infusion, inhalation.

U.S. Patent No. 5,372,809

Issued: 12/13/94

Inventors: Liotta, L. A., et al.

Contact: Ken Hemby, (301) 496-7735, ext. 265

Antibodies To Tumor Metastasis Factor

Many tumors produce autocrine motility factors _ proteins thatpromote metastasis. cDNA for a synthetic factor, autotaxin, encodes aprotein that stimulates migration of melanoma cells. Invention coversautotaxin and its antibodies, "for development of cancer diagnosticsand therapeutics."

Application: 08/346,455

Filed: 11/28/94

Inventors: Liotta, L. A., et al.

Contact: Ken Hemby, (301) 496-7735, ext. 265

Polypeptide Models Obesity, Insulin Resistance

Insulin Receptor Substrate (IRS) polypeptide binds receptors toinsulin, various interleukins. Invention provides for diagnosingdiabetes, monitoring treatment, discloses transgenic animalexpressing mutant IRS for modeling insulin-related disorders.

Application: 08/317,310

Filed: 10/3/94

Inventors: White, M. F., et al.

Contact: Ken Hemby, (301) 496-7735, ext. 265

Sex Hormone As Cancer Therapy

Current therapies for Kaposi's sarcoma can cause nerve and bone-marrow toxicities, immunosuppression. Invention describes treatmentwith natural human chorionic gonadotropin, which "may also beuseful against breast, prostate, ovary and stomach carcinomas,neuroblastomas."

Application: 08/286,299

Filed: 8/5/94

Inventors: Gallo, R. C., et al.

Contact: Alan Kiang, (301) 496-7735, ext. 270

Eliciting Killer T Cells Against Tumors, Infections

Irradiated, peptide-pulsed antigen-presenting cells, coated withsynthetic or recombinant peptides, induce tumor-specific CTLresponse. E. g., peptide corresponding to mutation site in P53 killstumor cells expressing the mutant p53 gene.

Application: 08/528,129

Filed: 9/14/95

Inventors: Goletz, T. J., et al.

Contact: Alan Kiang, (301) 496-7735, ext. 270

Screening For Apoptosis-Causing Compounds

Certain cancers arise from loss of ability to invoke programmed celldeath. One pathway for detecting malignant transformation andinducing apoptosis involves p53 gene product. Invention describesdiagnostic assays based on this tumor suppressor's interactions withXeroderma pigmentum proteins, and triggering of p53-mediatedapoptosis.

Application: 08/359,316

Filed: 12/19/94

Inventors: Harris, C. C., et al.

Contact: Ken Hemby, (301) 496-7735, ext. 265

Assaying Tumor Sensitivity To Platinum

Some cancers respond to platinum-based chemotherapy; some don't.Method detects high levels of messenger RNA for ERCC1 in freshtumor tissues.

Application: 08/399,617

Filed: 3/7/95

Inventors: Reed, E., et al.

Contact: Alan Kiang, (301) 496-7735, ext. 270

Adrenomedulin: Multi-Threat Molecule

Endothelial cells secrete adrenomedulin, a 52-amino acid peptide,which relaxes blood vessels, dilates bronchi. Its monoclonal antibodyinhibits tumors, permits diagnosis of such diseases as Type IIdiabetes, severe uremia, bone and skin cancers, Alzheimer's disease.

DHHS Ref. No. E-206-95/1

Filed: 8/30/95

Inventors: Cuttitti, F. F.

Contact: Cindy Fuchs, (301) 496-7735, ext. 232

Azatoxin Attacks Tumor DNA's Physical Structure

Many cancer drugs inhibit topoisomerase, an enzyme in tumors thatsubverts DNA's topology. Invention, azatoxin, is a compound thatcurbs topoisomerase catalytic activity and tubulin polymerization atspecific DNA sites. Its derivatives "are expected to be especiallypotent therapeutic compounds.

Application: 07/965/922

Filed: 10/23/92

Inventor: Pommier, Y., et al.

Contact: Alan Kiang, (301) 496-7735, ext. 270

IL-2 Receptor Detects Malignancies, Autoimmunity

Autoimmune activation and some cancers trigger interleukin-2receptor production in affected cells. Invention discloses a sandwichimmunoassay for measuring IL-2 receptor in a patient sample, ordetecting abnormal conditions which release it in bodily fluids.

U. S. Patent No. 4,707,443

Issued: 11/17/87

Inventor: Nelson, D., et al.

Contact: Jaconda Wagner, (301) 496-7735, ext. 325

-- David N. Leff Science Editor

(c) 1997 American Health Consultants. All rights reserved.