Lead Inventor:
Riccardo Dalla-Favera M.D.
Diffuse Large Cell Lymphoma Molecular Diagnosis Needed:
Diffuse Large Cell Lymphoma (DLCL) is a fast-growing, aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a cancer of the body's lymphatic system. The standard treatment of DLCL is chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which have a lot of side effects. In addition, the treatment and prognosis depends on accurate diagnosis and staging information. Conventional diagnostic method is biopsy of patient tissues, which has its limitations in tissue sampling, patients' tolerability and diagnostic efficacy. Molecular diagnostic method and new therapeutic approach might shed light to DLCL patients. However, lack of new markers associated with this disease constitutes a barrier for further development. BCL-8 is a novel gene identified in pathogenesis of lymphoma. This invention provided an isolated nucleic acid encoding BCL-8 and its uses in DLCL.
Genomic Region Identified for Large Cell Lymphoma Diagnosis:
The genomic region of BCL-8 has been identified which is a recurrent site of rearrangement in a fraction of DLCL patients. This invention provides isolated nucleic acid encoding BCL-8 and oligonucleotides hybridizing with it. In addition, this invention provides an anti-body specific for BCL-8 and agents that block BCL-8 expression. This invention also provides methods for diagnosing DLCL. This invention further provides various methods of treating and preventing DLCL. The cloning and expression of this gene will provide new diagnostic and therapeutic approach for DLCL.
Applications:
• Molecular diagnostic methods for detecting DLCL
• Therapeutic compound to treat patients with DLCL instead of traditional chemotherapy
Advantages:
• Molecular diagnostic method improves diagnostic efficacy and is not limited by resolution of microscope and sufficiency of sample compared with conventional biopsy method
• Antibody recognizing BCl-8 could be potentially developed into drug that has fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy/radiation approach
• Agent that inhibits the expression of BCL-8 can selectively target BCL-8 unlike many cancer drugs that affect cancer cells and normal cells
• The invention allows using the small molecule to inhibit the expression of BCL-8, which is easy to deliver in vivo
Patent Status: Patent Issued (US 6,309,860) ~ see link below.
Licensing Status: Available for Licensing and Sponsored Research Support
Publications: Dyomin VG, Rao PH, Dalla-Favera R, Chaganti RS. BCL8, a novel gene involved in translocations affecting band 15q11-13 in diffuse large-cell lymphoma.
(1997) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 94(11): 5728-32