DAXX/A TRX genes provide prognostic information in cancers

C11331: Methods and Biomarkers for the detection of Pancreatic Neuroendrocrine Tumors

Value Proposition:

Technical Details:

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) are the second most common malignancy of the pancreas, with an annual incidence of 1 per 100,000 and a ten-year survival rate of only 40%. PanNETs grow silently and patients may present with either an asymptomatic abdominal mass or symptoms of abdominal pain. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice, but many patients present with unresectable tumors or extensive metastatic disease. There is currently a need to predict prognosis of patients diagnosed with PanNETs and to develop companion diagnostics enabling personalized treatments to improve disease management. TECHNOLOGY Johns Hopkins University researchers have developed new methods of predicting the prognosis of a patient having a Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor. The methods are based on genes that were identified during a screen of PanNET tumor samples. Somatic mutations were identified that result in the inactivation of several genes. Two of the identified genes were further identified as tumor suppressor genes. Clinically, some of the identified mutations are associated with better prognosis, while others can be used to stratify patients for treatment with specific pathway inhibitors.

Looking for Partners:

Commercial applications for this invention include methods and kits for the diagnosis, prognosis, and stratification of patients for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Category(s):