Method for detecting cancer cells and monitoring cancer therapy
AssigneeNew York University
InventorsDaniel Meruelo, Jen-Chieh Tseng
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods for identifying cancer cells and monitoring anti-cancer therapy in the body of a mammal by systemically delivering Sindbis viral vectors. The vector can specifically target and identify tumor cells in mice growing subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, intrapancreatically, or in the lungs. These findings demonstrate the remarkable specificity of the Sindbis vector system that is relatively safe and can specifically target tumor cells throughout the body via the bloodstream.
Claims22
A method for monitoring anti-cancer therapy in a mammal comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a diagnostically effective amount of a Sindbis virus comprising a gene encoding a detectable label, and determining the amount of cancer cells in the body of said mammal, wherein the amount of cancer cells is proportional to the amount of label produced by said cancer cells.
A method for identifying cancer cells in the body of a mammal comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a diagnostically effective amount of a Sindbis virus comprising a gene encoding a detectable label, and assaying for said label, wherein said cell is a cancer cell if it expresses said label.
A method for determining the amount of cancer cells in the body of a mammal comprising the steps of (a) administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a diagnostically effective amount of a Sindbis virus comprising a gene encoding a detectable label, and (b) determining the amount of said detectable label, wherein the amount of cancer cells in the body of said mammal is proportional to the amount of said label.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.