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Circadian restoration prevents tumor growth and poor prognosis
Invention Summary:
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype, worsened by the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). These CSCs increase tumor recurrence and are responsible for tumor initiation and propagation. While conventional chemotherapy eliminates most cancer cells within a tumor, it can also inadvertently promote the survival and proliferative capacity of CSCs, which are inherently more resistant to current treatments.
Rutgers researchers have found a link between the loss of circadian rhythm due to chemotherapy and the creation of CSCs. Using this information, researchers were able to formulate a genetic approach to restore the circadian clock. Restoration of circadian rhythms prevented CSC formation, which in turn impairs the generation of 3-dimensional tumorspheres. Mechanistically, this circadian restoration cripples the stem cell gene network which impairs the formation and maintenance of CSCs. Genome wide profiling also indicates that restoration of circadian rhythm causes a transcriptomic switch which hinders the expression of genetic programs associated with dedifferentiation and invasion, a prominent characteristic in the formation of metastatic lesions.
Market Applications:
- Metastasis prevention
- Cancer drug resistance prevention
- Relapse prevention
- Breast cancer therapies
Advantages:
- Slow down the formation and maintenance of breast CSCs during chemotherapeutic treatment
- Reduce the rate of cancer recurrence by blocking stem cell gene networks
- Target the development of CSCs, slowing tumor growth and metastasis
Publications: • Low-cost
Intellectual Property & Development Status: Provisional application filed. Patent pending. Available for licensing and/or research collaboration. For any business development and other collaborative partnerships, contact: marketingbd@research.rutgers.edu
