| WARF: P95225US |  |
| Determining Carcinoma Proliferative Status by Measuring NGAL Expression Levels |
| INVENTORS | • | Michael Gould, Steven Stoesz |
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a minimally invasive, rapid and inexpensive assay for breast cancer.
OVERVIEW
Human breast carcinomas contain elevated levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL).
THE INVENTION
UW-Madison researchers have developed a method for determining the proliferative status of a human carcinoma by measuring NGAL expression. In the method, a sample from a patient, such as breast tissue, breast fluid aspirate or blood, is quantitatively analyzed for the NGAL gene expression product. The amount of NGAL gene expression product is compared with a standard curve to determine the sample’s S-phase value. A high percentage of cells in S-phase (the phase of the cell cycle in which DNA duplication occurs) is indicative of tumor proliferation and poor prognosis. Elevated levels of NGAL can also confirm carcinoma presence and metastasis.
APPLICATIONS
- Determining cancer prognosis
- Monitoring breast cancer metastasis
KEY BENEFITS
- Provides a minimally invasive, rapid and inexpensive assay for breast cancer
- May help cancer patients make more informed treatment choices
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For More Information About the Inventors
Intellectual Property Status
Tech Fields
Diagnostic Assays - Cancer
CONTACT INFORMATION
For current licensing status, please contact our team at
licensing@warf.org
or phone 608.262.4924. (Clicking this link will open a contact form in a popup window. If you have problems viewing the form, try disabling your popup blocker software.)
Since its founding in 1925 as the patenting and licensing organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, WARF has been working with business and industry to transform university research into products that benefit society. WARF intellectual property managers and licensing staff members are leaders in the field of university-based technology transfer. They are familiar with the intricacies of patenting, have worked with researchers in relevant disciplines, understand industries and markets, and have negotiated innovative licensing strategies to meet the individual needs of business clients.
