| WARF: M07011US |  |
| A Biomarker for Prostate Cancer Prediction |
| INVENTORS | • | Douglas Reding, James Burmester, Robert Greenlee, Kai Zhang, Bruce Alexander, Anne Greenlee, Timothy Church |
OVERVIEW
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting 1 in 6
men, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The foundation estimates that
in 2007 alone, 27,000 men will die from this devastating disease. Despite
advances made in cancer research, there are still no satisfactory genetic risk
assessment tests for prostate cancer. Though there are predictive tests
available, they are primarily based on familial inheritance of genes and have
little or no population-based predictive value. Therefore, there is a
substantial need for a widely-applicable genetic test to predict the likelihood
of prostate cancer. This technology provides a stronger, more specific genetic
risk assessment for prostate cancer. A Marshfield Clinic team has identified a
gene, hereafter referred to as gene MC1*, involved in transcription regulations
of gene expression. By
determining the genetic makeup for this (MC1) gene, the test indicates a genetic
predisposition to prostate cancer. This is the first technology of its
kind to demonstrate that testing the (MC1) gene can be used as a biomarker to
identify individuals that may develop prostate cancer. Prostate cancer
is a pervasive and deadly disease, with no tests currently available to
confidently predict its likelihood. Tests based on familial inheritance of bad
genes do not have strong predictive value for the population at large. This
technology comprehensively offers a test to genetically predict susceptibility
to prostate cancer, based on a population screening that showed strong evidence
that prostate cancer is expressed in individuals homozygous for the rare (MC1)
allele.
KEY BENEFITS
- Stronger, more specific genetic risk assessment for prostate cancer
- Allows for a method of testing the MC1 gene involved in transcription regulations of gene expression
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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.)
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