[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 2 (Thursday, January 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 335-336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The inventions listed below are owned by agencies of the U.S. 
Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance 
with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results 
of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent 
applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage 
for companies and may also be available for licensing.

ADDRESSES: Licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent 
applications listed below may be obtained by writing to the indicated 
licensing contact at the Office of Technology Transfer, National 
Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, 
Maryland 20852-3804; telephone: 301/496-7057; fax: 301/402-0220. A 
signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive 
copies of the patent applications.

XAGE-1, A Gene Expressed in Multiple Cancers and Uses Thereof

Drs. Ira H. Pastan (NCI), Xiu F. Liu (NCI), Byungkook Lee (NCI) and Lee 
J. Helman (NCI)
DHHS Ref. No. E-161-00/0 (Provisional Application) filed September 1, 
2000 and E-161-00/1 (PCT Application) filed August 31, 2001

    Licensing Contact: Richard Rodriguez; 301/496-7056 ext. 287; e-
mail: [email protected].
    The XAGE-1 gene is a human X-linked gene that is strongly expressed 
in breast cancer, lung cancer and several other cancers as well as 
normal testes. The largest open reading frame of the XAGE-1 transcript 
encodes a putative protein of 16.3 kD (p16) with a potential 
transmembrane domain at the amino terminus. In addition, the XAGE-1 
transcript contains a second ATG in the reading frame corresponding to 
residue 66, which would encode a 9 kD protein (p9). In vitro 
transfection experiments using 293 T cells have revealed a 9 kD 
protein. However, the size of the endogenously expressed protein is not 
yet known. XAGE-1 shares homology with GAGE/PAGE proteins in the C-
terminal end.

[[Page 336]]

    The invention relates to the fact that the XAGE-1 gene is expressed 
in a number of human cancers, specifically: breast, lung, prostate, 
pancreatic, and ovarian cancers. The proteins p9 and p16, immunogenic 
fragments thereof, analogs of these proteins, and nucleic acids 
encoding these proteins, fragments, or analogs, can be administered to 
persons with XAGE-1 expressing cancers to raise or augment an immune 
response to the cancer. The invention further provides nucleic acid 
sequences encoding the protein, as well as expression vectors, host 
cells, and antibodies to the proteins. Further, the invention provides 
immunoconjugates that comprise an antibody to p16 or to p9, and an 
effector molecule, such as a label, a radioisotope, or a toxin. The 
invention also provides methods of inhibiting the growth of XAGE-1 
expressing cells by contacting them with immunoconjugates of an anti-p9 
or p16 antibody and a toxic moiety. The invention also provides kits 
for the detection of p9 or p16 proteins in a sample. The XAGE-1 gene 
and encoded protein could be of value in the development of a cancer 
diagnostic and/or a cancer immunotherapy.
    The above mentioned invention is available for licensing on an 
exclusive or non-exclusive basis.

Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Diagnosis and Treatment of 
Thyroid Neoplasms

Tito A. Fojo and Susan Bates (NCI)
DHHS Reference No. E-286-00/0 filed 10 Jan 2001

    Licensing Contact: Matthew Kiser; 301/496-7056 ext. 224; e-mail: 
[email protected].
    The invention disclosed are novel approaches to thyroid cancer 
therapy. These approaches include methods to enhance thyroid specific 
gene expression, for example methods to enhance expression of 
thyroglobulin and/or the Na/I symporter in thyroid cancer cells. 
Enhanced expression of thyroid-specific genes promotes cellular 
differentiation and reduces biologically aggressive behavior such as 
invasion and metastasis. In addition, enhanced expression of 
thyroglobulin and/or the Na/I symporter increases the ability of 
thyroid cancer cells to concentrate iodine, thereby making the cells 
more susceptible to radioactive iodine therapy. Also disclosed are 
methods for detecting thyroid neoplasms in a subject, by administering 
a therapeutically effective amount of a histone deacetylase inhibitor, 
administering a detectable agent whose uptake or concentration in 
thyroid cells is increased by administration of the histone deacetylase 
inhibitor, and detecting the detectable agent.

    Dated: December 20, 2001.
Jack Spiegel,
Director, Division of Technology, Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 02-11 Filed 1-2-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P