Out-licensing

Elucidation of a Predictive Marker for Taxane Responsiveness of Cancer Patients

Introduction/Background

Taxanes are chemotherapeutic drugs that are extensively used for a range of cancers, such as breast, ovarian, prostrate, and lung cancer, among others.

Aims/Hypothesis

There is a need for a method to enable physicians to identify cancer patients that are likely to benefit from taxane drug treatment.

Research

University of Alberta researchers have identified a predictive marker to screen patients that are being considered for taxane-based chemotherapy. Elevated levels of this protein marker correlate with increased breast cancer patient survival after adjuvant-taxane treatment. In vitro experiments using siRNA to knock-down protein expression demonstrate that the marker is a critical effector molecule in the mechanism of action of taxane induced cytotoxicity. Physicians will now be able to make more informed treatment decisions in regards to taxane usage based on an antibody-based assay to screen patient biopsy samples for the expression levels of the predictive marker. Further research is ongoing to validate this method utilizing samples from a large randomised controlled clinical trial.

Conclusion

We have elucidated a predictive marker for taxane responsiveness of cancer patients

Relevance/Opportunity

This technology would be of interest to companies that produce/market diagnostic kits for cancer. Please enquire regarding licensing or codevelopment partnerships quoting reference no. 2009-041.

Preclinical

Patent(s) Pending