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PEPTIDE BIOMARKERS
Fishing for novel proteins in breast cancer cells.
Overview
Applications
Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide accounting for
approximately 7 million deaths annually. Amongst women, breast
cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality. The holy grail of
cancer research is to discover what makes cancer cells different from
normal cells. One such difference lies in the proteins that are
produced in cancer cell. We developed a method to identify a select
pool of proteins from cancer cells and use this pool as 'bait' to fish for
small molecules that recognise proteins unique to the cancer cell.
The
novel
'Recogniser'
molecules
identified
by
this
approach represent a unique barcode of the cancer cell.
Recogniser molecules can be used;
How best to identify proteins unique to cancer cells
that can be developed as cancer biomarkers?
 As probes to distinguish between tumour and non-tumour
cells.
 To identify unique proteins that are over-expressed or
altered in tumour cells.
 To target anti-cancer therapeutics directly to cancer cells
A small molecule IST identified by this technology homes to
breast tumour tissue, similar to that of anti-HSP70 antibody
 The general pool of proteins in a cancer cell is vastly similar to the
pool present in normal cells.
 Need to find a sub-population within the general protein pool that
harbours tumour-specific proteins.
 Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that act at
the cross-roads of protein production in the cell.
 HSPs bind to peptides generated from cellular proteins.
 Certain HSP70-associated peptides can activate anti-tumour
immune response in patients.
 The HSP70-associated peptide pool acts as a barcode of a
cancer cells activity
 The Technology developed in the Bond Lab identifies Small
Synthetic Molecules that specifically recognise the peptides within
the HSP70 pool.
 HSP70-associated peptides are used as a bait to fish out unique
cancer cell recogniser molecules using Phage Display
Technology
Going Fishing
Technology and Patent Status
The technology involves using a unique approach to select a pool of
peptides from cancer cells. The peptide pool is used as bait to fish for
recogniser molecules within a phage display library. Phages are small
viruses that have been developed to display random 7-mer peptides
on the cell surface. Peptides that bind to the 7-mers are selected and
subjected to up to ten such rounds of selection. This ensures only the
strongest binders are isolated. Significant progress has been made to
identify cellular targets of the peptide as well as their mimics suitable
for adoptive immunotherapy.
A priority patent application entitled 'Novel Biomarkers for Breast
Tumours from Hsp70-associated peptides' has been filed with the UK
patent office [GB15736.911, TCD Ref: UB01-317-01]
The opportunity
This technology is currently available for license to a company
interested in Cancer Biomarker Development or is suitable for a start
up company. Please contact us if you are interested in being involved
in a start-up company aimed at commercialising this exciting, high
growth potential technology. If you are interested in continued
research in this area, there are various support mechanisms and
grants suitable for furthering the development of this technology.
Phage Display Libraries contain 1020 unique
molecules
Researchers: Dr. Ursula Bond, Tharappel. C James and Christina Siebke
Contact: TTO Case Manager
[email protected]
+ 353 1 896 2578
[email protected]
+ 353 1 896 4152