Available Technologies - Search Results
| Title: | Modulation Of Cell Growth And Growth Factor Signaling Through Removal Of Glypicans |
|---|---|
| UC Case No: | 1998-280-5-ott |
| Categories: |
Biotechnology:
Diagnostics,
Drug Targets and Screening Tools
|
| Background: | Membrane associated heparin sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) have been shown to play important roles in many aspects of cell behavior, including cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion and growth factor signaling. Glypicans, members of the HSPGs, are a family of polypeptides that appear to carry the majority of the heparin sulfate on mammalian cells. These glypicans are attached to the plasma membrane via glycosylphophatidylinositol (GPI) anchors. |
| Technology: | Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-(GPI-) anchored HSPG glypican-1 (glypican-1) is strongly expressed in human breast and pancreatic cancer - both by the cancer cells and in the case of pancreatic cancer the adjacent fibroblasts. Expression of glypican-1 is low in normal pancreas and breast tissue. Pancreatic cancer cell lines that express glypican-1 were treated with the enzyme phosphinositide-specific phospholipase-C (PI-PLC) which enzymatically removes glypicans from the cell surface by cleaving the GPI anchors. This treatment resulted in the abrogation of the cells' mitogenic response to two heparin-binding growth factors. Treatment of breast cancer cell lines also abrogated their response to two different heparin-binding growth factors. |
| Application: | Glypican-1 can be used for the diagnosis and screening for the occurrence of breast and pancreatic cancer. Glypican-1 can also be targeted with small molecules and biologics to retard the growth of glypican-responsive cancers. |
| Contact: |
Ronnie Hanecak, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor (Interim) Office of Technology Alliances University of California, Irvine 380 University Tower Irvine, CA 92697-7700 Phone: (949) 824-7186 FAX: (949) 824-2899 Email: rhanecak@uci.edu |
| Patent Status: | Pending |
| UCI School: | College of Medicine |
| Department: | Department of Medicine - Endocrinology |
