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Market Need
Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounting for most. The only treatment available is surgery. However, less than 20% of HCC can be removed completely by surgery. Moreover, most patients are not diagnosed until their cancer is advanced. As a result, the median survival following diagnosis is only 6 to 20 months.
Technology Summary
Researchers at VCU have shown that overexpression of Late SV40 Factor (LSF) contributes to the pathogenesis of heptacellular carcinoma (HCC). Not only was LSF overexpression observed in over 90% of patients, its expression level correlated with the stage and grade of HCC. LSF plays a critical role in HCC by modulating genes that regulate invasion, angiogenesis, chemoresistance and senescence.
Thus, LSF represents a novel target for HCC therapy. In addition, measurement of LSF expression might be used as a prognostic marker for HCC.
Technology Status
U.S. patent pending: 13/636,815
For more information please see journal article: Yoo et al. PNAS 2010;107 (18): 8357-62
This technology is available for licensing to industry for further development and commercialization.
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