You are here

Inter-alpha Inhibitors in Detecting CNS Cancer

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: 1U43CA110698-01
Agency Tracking Number: CA110698
Amount: $139,911.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: PHS2005-2
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2005
Award Year: 2005
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
Prothera Biologics, Llc 87 Walmer Ave
East Providence, RI 02914
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 YOWPIN LIM
 (401) 301-2046
 yplim@protherabiologics.com
Business Contact
 YOW-PIN LIM
Phone: (401) 301-2056
Email: PROTHERA@VERIZON.NET
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant) The overall goal is to develop a marketable novel predictive marker based on inter-alpha inhibitor proteins (laIp) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that can be utilized in the management of CNS cancer. Cost effective care, successful palliation of symptoms and new therapeutic insights for patients with primary and metastatic CNS cancer as well as with the involvement of leptomeninges depend largely on reliable diagnostic tests and outcome measures. Modem neuroimaging is useful in early diagnosis and subsequent monitoring of patients with CNS cancer. However, these studies are expensive and are limited by false negative and false positive findings. CSF cytology is the "gold standard' diagnosis for leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. Unfortunately, false-negative results are very common. Currently, there are no biochemical markers that can detect the presence or activity of primary and metastatic CNS cancer. In our preliminary studies, when the CSF of CNS cancer patients were analyzed by Westernblot with a monoclonal antibody specific against human laIp, the levels of lalp were greatly elevated relative to those from non-cancer control patients or from systemic cancers without demonstrable CNS disease. The levels of IaIp suggest correlation with tumor burden and disease progression as well as response to therapy, raising the potential of lalp as a sensitive indicator. The detection of laIp in CSF seems to be a more accurate predictor of the presence of tumor cells in the CSF than conventional CSF cytology. In this proposal, we will focus on the development of a sensitive quantitative assay and a rapid semi quantitative immunoassay format that can be used without instrumentation. We will determine whether measurement of lalp levels in CSF allows for early detection and subsequent monitoring of primary and metastatic CNS malignancies and whether CSF IaIp levels facilitate an accurate prediction of treatment response and survival.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government