Unmet Need:
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the US. In 2017, for every 100,000 women, 125 new Female Breast Cancer cases were reported and 20 women died of breast cancer (see CDC, 2020). Currently, mammography is the primary screening approach for breast cancer with limitations such as occult disease as well as breast tissue density. Occult breast cancer is a major challenge as an individual is positive for breast cancer but mammography is unable to detect the abnormality (see Ofri et al.). These challenges highlight the need for molecular based technologies that guide the detection of breast cancer. One molecular candidate that may pose an ideal target is aberrant thymosin-beta 10 (Tβ10) expression that has been correlated with high grade, aggressive breast cancer and shown to promote progression to metastasis (see Verghese-Nikolakak, et al.). Harnessing molecular and imaging agent chemistry may address the strong need for both new imaging modalities that improve breast cancer detection as well as therapeutic delivery systems to treat cancer.
Technology Overview:
Johns Hopkins researchers have developed two clinically translatable biomarker-based imaging agents that provide detection of malignancies such as breast cancer, with the potential to evolve into novel therapeutics used for more effective treatment of cancers. More specifically, the technology involves a biomarker compound with a radioisotope that could serve as an imaging agent in positron emission tomography (PET), enabling early detection and diagnosis. The invention also includes a non-labelled version of the biomarker compound that can be used for targeted therapy. This technology may also be useful beyond breast cancer and applicable to other diseases settings.
Stage of Development:
Experimental data for identified compounds evaluated in vitro and in vivo is available.
Publication:
