Novel assays for assessing cancerous cell growth
AssigneeImmusol, Inc.
InventorsNing Ke, De-Hua Yu, Aaron Albers, Gisela Claassen, Henry (Qi-Xiang) Li, Flossie Wong-Staal
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Abstract
The present invention provides novel assays for assessing cancerous cell growth. The invention is useful for the identification and validation of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, as well as for the identification and validation of therapeutic compounds for the treatment of cancer.
Claims28
An assay for identifying and/or validating a gene involved in cancer, the assay comprising:
- (i) a substrate having a multiplicity of wells, each well having a semi-solid medium therein;
- (ii) cancer cells seeded in the semi-solid medium;
- (iii) an agent that interacts with the cancer cells;
- (iv) a detectable marker;
- and (v) means for automatically quantifying cell survival resulting from the interaction between the agent and the cancer cells.
An assay for identifying and/or validating a compound as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer, the assay comprising:
- (i) a substrate having a multiplicity of wells, each well having a semi-solid medium therein;
- (ii) cancer cells seeded in the semi-solid medium;
- (iii) a compound that interacts with the cancer cells;
- (iv) a detectable marker;
- and (v) means for automatically quantifying cell survival resulting from the interaction between the compound and the cancer cells.
A high throughput screening method for identifying and/or validating a gene involved in cancer growth, the method comprising:
- (a) seeding cancer cells in a semi-solid medium, within the wells of a substrate having a multiplicity of wells;
- (b) introducing into the wells a detectable marker and an agent that interacts with the cancer cells;
- (c) allowing the cells to grow for between about 5 to about 15 days;
- and (d) obtaining automatically a quantifiable measure of cell survival resulting from the interaction between the agent and the cancer cells.
A high throughput screening method for identifying and/or validating a compound as therapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer, the method comprising:
- (a) seeding cancer cells in a semi-solid medium, within the wells of a substrate having a multiplicity of wells;
- (b) introducing into the wells a detectable marker and a compound that interacts with the cancer cells;
- (c) allowing the cells to grow for between about 5 to about 15 days;
- and (d) obtaining automatically a quantifiable measure of cell survival or cell growth resulting from the interaction between the compound and the cancer cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.