OPPORTUNITY

According to statistics from the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men, next to skin cancer.  In 2018, it is estimated that 164,690 people will be diagnosed and about 29,430 people will die of prostate cancer. About 1 man in 9 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.  Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels are often a good indicator of prostate cancer however, the level of PSA that might require further action such as prostate biopsy or other treatment remains controversial.  Ideally, additional biomarkers would be available that would inform physicians on which patients would respond best to which therapeutic interventions.

BREAKTHROUGH IN TREATMENT OF CANCER

Inventors at the University of South Alabama have identified a polymorphic pattern of the gene XRCC1, which occurs preferentially in persons who are destined to respond well to X-ray therapy (XRT). This is based on data generated in a cohort of prostate cancer patients, treated with XRT for their cancer. Based on data reported by other groups, these changes in XRCC1 are associated with alterations in DNA repair, which would make a cell more susceptible to XRT. In addition, inventors have identified a polymorphic pattern of the gene XRCC1, which occurs preferentially in persons who are destined to not do well with XRT. This was identified in the same study of prostate cancer patients treated with XRT. Based on data reported by other groups, these changes in XRCC1 are associated with alterations in DNA repair, which would make a cell less susceptible to XRT.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

•  Predict radiation therapy responders

•  Personalized cancer treatment

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY STATUS

Patent Filed

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