Biomarkers for predicting lung cancer response to chemotherapy

Licensing opportunity | Development opportunity

Researchers at Aberdeen University have discovered a number of biomarkers that predict the response of non-small cell lung cancer to chemotherapy with platinum-based drugs.

Resistance to these drugs is a major problem, with only 30 to 40 per cent of patients responding to treatment. A diagnostic test for these markers would enable individual patient treatment plans to be drawn up to best treat the disease.

One of the biomarkers is Serpin B3, a lysosomal protease inhibitor which is a negative regulator of programmed cell death. Data from the Aberdeen team suggests that expression of Serpin B3 prevents cancer cell death through the lysosomal mediated alternative cell death pathway, making it an attractive therapeutic target. The university is keen to develop this technology and is actively seeking parties interested in licensing and co-development.

A patent has been filed for use as a biomarker of response and as a novel target in anti-cancer drug development. For more information, visit the project’s page at: http://www.university-technology.com/details/a-predictive-biomaker-and-novel-drug-target-for-lung-cancer