Diagnostic for Environmental Carcinogen for Bladder Cancer
JHU REF: [C12638]
Invention novelty: a comprehensive panel of biomarkers for aristolochic acid, an environmental carcinogen for urothelial carcinoma, the most common form of bladder cancer
Value Proposition
Early detection is usually critical for the successful treatment of cancer, therefore there is a constant market need to develop novel biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of cancers. Aristolochic acid (AA) has been used for medicinal purposes for more than 2,000 years, but there are profound nephrotoxicity and carcinogenicity associated with AA, particularly to urothelial carcinoma, the most prevalent form of bladder cancer. Advantages of this technology include:
· previous methods focus only on single genes
· more comprehensive, specific and conclusive
· potential use of whole genome sequencing to link exposure of an environmental carcinogen to urothelial carcinoma
Technical Details
Johns Hopkins University and University of Stony Brook researchers identified a comprehensive panel of biomarkers for measuring the exposure to aristolochic acid (AA) associated with urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (UTUC). Exome sequencing of UTUCs from 19 individuals with documented exposure to AA revealed a remarkably large number of somatic mutations and an unusual mutational signature attributable to AA.
Looking for Partners: To develop & commercialize the technology as bladder cancer diagnostic
Stage of Development: Pre-Clinical
Data Availability: Under CDA / NDA
Patent Status: Pending
Publication(s)/Associated Cases:
Hoang, M. L., Chen, C. H., Sidorenko, V. S., He, J., Dickman, K. G., Yun, B. H., ... & Rosenquist, T. A. (2013). Mutational Signature of Aristolochic Acid Exposure as Revealed by Whole-Exome Sequencing. Science translational medicine, 5(197), 197ra102-197ra102.
