Targeting outer nuclear membrane Bcl-2

C12294: Transgenic Bcl2 Cells and ProPSA Panel for Prostate Cancer Drug Discovery

Novelty:

Recombinant proPSA panel and transgenic Bcl2 prostate cancer cell lines, enabling the detailed mechanistic analysis of prostate tumorigenesis and development of novel anti-cancer treatment strategies.

Value Proposition:

Due to the lack of early clinical manifestations prostate cancer is often not detected until the disease has spread, resulting in poor patient prognosis. Elevated levels of anti-apoptotic cell death regulator Bcl2 (B-cell lymphoma-2) in the outer nuclear membrane (ONM) as well as free PSA (prostate-specific antigen)-precursor proPSA in the blood are indicators of advanced prostate cancer; yet, their precise role in tumor formation remains elusive. Here, a panel of proPSA recombinants as well as human prostate cancer cell lines carrying transgenic Bcl2 are provided, facilitating the discovery of novel prevention and treatment strategies for metastatic prostate cancer. Advantages include:

Technical Details:

Johns Hopkins researchers have created recombinant proPSA variants as well as transgenic Bcl2 prostate cancer cells lines, presenting excellent new tools to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of metastatic prostate cancer for an improved disease management. Currently, the oncogenic role of ONM-located Bcl2 subpopulations remains to be defined. Similarly, the appearance of serine protease PSA in the blood signifies prostate tumorigenesis, and molecular characterization of PSA will greatly enhance prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. Hence, the herein disclosed panel of recombinant variants of proPSA, the inactive PSA zymogen, allows studying PSA biochemistry and its role in prostate cancer pathobiology. Further, transgenic prostate cancer cell lines are provided stably overexpressing ONM-targeted detectable full-length Bcl2, or its BH4 domain, essential for mediating oncogenic signaling. Together, this technology presents powerful new experimental systems to examine the molecular roles of PSA and Bcl2 in tumor development, facilitating the discovery of novel efficient strategies for the prevention and intervention of prostate cancer and other Bcl2-related malignancies.

Looking for Partners:

To develop and commercialize this technology as tools to unravel mechanisms of PSA- and Bcl2-mediated prostate cancer formation.

Stage of Development:

Pre-Clinical

Data Availability:

Under NDA / CDA

Publications/Associated Cases:

Associated cases C12295 and C12296