Invention novelty: Novel methods for predicting melanoma resistance to BRAF/MEK inhibitors and for treating melanoma cancer patients.
Value Proposition:
An estimated 76,690 new cases of invasive melanoma will be diagnosed in the US in 2013 and an estimated 9,480 people will die of melanoma in 2013. Although BRAF and MEK inhibitors have proven clinical benefits in melanoma, most patients develop resistance. Based on improved overall survival, several BRAF and MEK inhibitors have received Food and Drug Administration approval for the treatment of metastatic BRAF-V600E (V600E) melanoma. Nevertheless, the long-term efficacy of these compounds is limited by the emergence of drug resistance. This technology provides novel methods for overcoming this resistance and provides a number of other advantages including:
• Potential targets for melanoma therapy
• Bio-markers for prediction of the effects of the drug on melanoma patients.
• Potential methods for the development of diagnostics
Technical Details:
Johns Hopkins researchers have developed novel methods for the clinical therapy of melanoma by identifying specific oncogenic pathways preferentially activated in BRAF-mutated melanoma cells and a pathway pattern that predicts resistance of BRAF-mutated melanoma to BRAF/MEK inhibitors. The activities of 24 cancer-related pathways in BRAFV600E melanoma cells were identified. Activation patterns of multiple oncogenic pathways that occurred preferentially were also identified in BRAF-mutated melanoma cells, especially in cells carrying both BRAF and PTEN abnormalities, which uniquely linked the molecular pathologies and clinical features of melanoma.
Looking for Partners: To develop and commercialize the technology as a novel clinical approach for developing melanoma therapeutics.
Stage of Development: Pre-Clinical
Data Availability: Under CDA/NDA
Publication(s)/Associated Cases: WO 2015/039107; PMID: 24200969
