High throughput screening methods for anti-metastatic compounds
OwnerRoss Caganinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
High throughput methods for screening of anti-cancer compounds using Drosophila are described. The methods involve modifying the expression of dCsk and observing the effect of putative anti-cancer candidate compounds on resulting expressed characteristics in the Drosophila. Related animal models and apparatus are also provided.
Claims29
A method for high throughput screening of compounds, the method comprising:
- inducing a screenably distinct characteristic in wild-type Drosophila larvae by modifying expression of one or more Drosophila genes, said screenably distinct characteristic associated with human tumor metastasis;
- exposing the Drosophila larvae to a compound that putatively modifies the screenably distinct characteristic;
- and
- screening the Drosophila to determine whether the compound modifies the screenably distinct characteristic.
An animal model of human tumor metastasis comprising:
- a Drosophila having spatially limited modified expression of dCsk.
A bioassay method for assaying the effects of a candidate anti-metastatic compound, said method comprising:
- modifying at least one of cell migration, apoptosis and abnormal tissue growth in a Drosophila by modifying expression of dCsk;
- and
- exposing the Drosophila to a compound that putatively modifies at least one of cell migration, apoptosis and abnormal tissue growth.
A bioassay method comprising:
- in a first Drosophila, reducing dCsk expression and spatially limiting reduced dCsk expression to the Drosophila developing eye;
- and
- in a second Drosophila, reducing dCsk expression in the Drosophila developing eye and further spatially limiting reduced dCsk to a plurality of discrete clonal patches having boundary cells adjacent to wild-type cells;
- exposing the first Drosophila and the second Drosophila to a compound that putatively modifies at least one of cell migration, apoptosis and abnormal tissue growth;
- and
- comparing the effect of the compound on at least one of cell migration, apoptosis and abnormal tissue growth in the first Drosophila and the second Drosophila.
Apparatus for use in a high throughput screening assay method comprising:
- a multi-well microtiter plate;
- an amount of a Drosophila growth medium placed into said multiple wells of said multi-well microtiter plate;
- an amount of a candidate compound added to said multiple wells;
- and
- at least one Drosophila in each of said multiple wells, said Drosophila having modified dCsk expression and expression of at least one screenably distinct characteristic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.