Category:

New Use Therapeutic

Description:

Disclosed is a novel therapeutic strategy to sensitize Estrogen Receptor positive (ER+) breast and ovarian tumors to chemotherapy.

It is known that anti-estrogens are active in preventing the development or progression of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer.  It is also known that breast cancer patients can develop chemosensitivity to subsequent chemotherapy with  paclitaxel. Thus far, it is not clearly understood what underlies the paclitaxel chemosensitivity.

Dr. Weimin Fan at the Medical University of South Carolina has discovered that Estrogen Receptor (ER) expression significantly reduces sensitivity to paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells. In addition, Dr. Fan showed that inhibition of ER expression with an anti-estrogen significantly enhanced the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to paclitaxel-induced apoptosis.

This finding might lead to promising new treatment options for patients with ER+ breast and ovarian cancer.

Potential Applications:

Treatment of Estrogen Receptor positive (ER+) breast and ovarian cancer

Inventor(s):

Drs. W. Fan; M. Sui

Relevent Publications:

Sui M, Huang Y, Park BH, Davidson NE, and Fan W. “Estrogen Receptor A Mediates Breast Cancer Cell Resistance to Paclitaxel through Inhibition of Apoptotic Cell Death”, Cancer Res 2007; 67: (11).

Patent Status:

Provisional Patent Application was filed May 14, 2007

Availability:

Available for:
exclusive
non-exclusive
licensing.

Technology Status:

Licensing Contact:

Ryan N. Fiorini, MBA, Ph.D.
MUSC Foundation for Research Development
PO Box 250828
Charleston, SC 29425
843.876.1906
fiorinir@musc.edu