Cancer imaging with therapy: theranostics
AssigneesThe Johns Hopkins University, Virginia Commonwealth University
InventorsMartin Gilbert POMPER, Hyo-eun BHANG, Paul FISHER
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Genetic constructs comprising reporter genes operably linked to cancer specific or cancer selective promoters (such as the progression elevated gene-3 (PEG-3) promoter and astrocyte elevated gene 1 (AEG-1) promoter) are provided, as are methods for their use in cancer imaging, cancer treatment, and combined imaging and treatment protocols, e.g. for imaging and/or treating spontaneous metastasis. Transgenic animals in which a reporter gene is linked to a cancer specific or cancer selective promoter, and which may be further genetically engineered, bred or selected to have a predisposition to develop cancer, are also provided.
Claims24
A method of imaging tumors or cancerous cells or tissue that arise from spontaneous metastasis in a subject, comprising the steps of
- administering to said subject a nucleic acid construct comprising
- an imaging reporter gene operably linked to a cancer specific or cancer selective promoter;
- administering to said subject an imaging agent that is complementary to said imaging reporter gene;
- and
- imaging tumors or cancerous tissues or cells that arise from spontaneous metastasis in said subject by detecting a detectable signal from said imaging agent.
The method of claim 14, wherein said viral vector is a conditionally replication-competent adenovirus.
A method of both imaging and treating tumors, or cancerous tissues or cells that arise from spontaneous metastasis in a subject, comprising the steps of
- administering to said subject one or more nucleic acid constructs comprising
- an imaging reporter gene operably linked to a cancer specific or cancer selective promoter and a gene encoding an anti-tumor agent;
- administering to said subject an imaging agent that is complementary to said imaging reporter gene;
- and
- imaging tumors or cancerous tissues or cells that arise from spontaneous metastasis in said subject by detecting a detectable signal from said imaging agent, wherein said gene encoding said anti-tumor agent is expressed by cells in said tumors or cancerous tissues or cells to act on said cells.
A method of treating or preventing spontaneous metastasis in a patient in need thereof, comprising
- administering to said subject one or more nucleic acid constructs comprising
- a gene encoding an anti-tumor agent operably linked to a cancer specific or cancer selective promoter, wherein said gene encoding said anti-tumor agent is specifically or selectively expressed by cancer cells in amounts sufficient to damage or kill said cancer cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.