Ultrasound-based cancer screening and biopsy imaging technologies are a clinical need. Ultrasound based biopsy imaging can provide a real-time modality for lower cost that is comparable to, or complimentary to MRI imaging. This technology may enable more accurate, less costly and more accessible cancer screening.
Immunotherapy is a promising method of treating cancer that leverages the immune system to promote tumor rejection. However, certain somatic mutations in cancer cells confer resistance to T cell-mediated cytolysis. To improve the effectiveness of immunotherapies for cancer, there exists a need to prospectively identify patients who are most likely to respond to such therapies.
This technology consists of highly specific rabbit monoclonal antibodies reactive with phosphorylated tyrosine located at amino acid 1235 in the human MET sequence. Binding to this pYl235 residue is independent of the phosphorylation of other tyrosines in the vicinity (1230 and 1234), does not cross-react with these nearby phosphotyrosine residues, and does not occur when Y1235 is unphosphorylated.
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute’s Biopharmaceutical Development Program recently developed massively parallel sequencing methods for virus-derived therapeutics such as viral vaccines and oncolytic immunotherapies.
The AKT pathway plays a key role in the regulation of cellular survival, apoptosis, and protein translation and has been shown to have prognostic significance in a number of cancers. Recently, the inventors have identified several functions of the AKT pathway in certain cancers, such as extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC).
Molecular profiling with high throughput assays has gained utility in the management of select cancer patients and several gene expression-based assays are now marketed for improved prognostic accuracy for patients with cancer.
Alterations in microRNAs (miRNAs), a type of small non-coding RNAs, have been reported in cells/tumors subjected to radiation exposure, implying that miRNAs play an important role in cellular stress response to radiation. NCI researchers evaluated small non-coding RNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), and mRNA, as potential non-invasive biomarkers for radiation biodosimetry. While the use of miRNAs as radiation biomarkers has been reported, the integrated use of miRNAs, mRNAs and lncRNAs to accurately determine radiation doses is novel and has not been published.
Optical traps (optical tweezers) have a focused laser beam able to trap a small bead at its focus, and are used to measure the microrheology of gels and other materials. They have recently been used to characterize properties of living cells, however issues of image spatial resolution and limited depth of interrogation have prevented application of an optical trap to measure microrheological (flow of matter) properties in complex (non-uniform) materials, such as multi-cellular systems or living organisms.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) Immunoepidemiology Branch is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further co-develop a gene-based diagnostic for Hepatitis C virus (HepC, HCV).
The NIH Clinical Center seeks parties interested to license a method and apparatus that can significantly improve the diagnostic performance of portable chest (CXR) and abdominal x-rays. This device (see image below) quantifies angulation of a patient to provide for a better comparison of day-to-day improvement. Potential applications include portable chest and abdominal x-rays performed at patient's hospital bedside.
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