Use of Tissue Reconstructs to Identify New Tumor Antigens

Inventors: Dorothee Herly and Meenhard Herlyn

Tech ID: HD-01002

Description:Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which specifically recognize tumor antigens, have a great capacity to infiltrate and kill tumor cells in vitro, yet their use for tumor immunotherapy has not yet met with success. One possible reason is that the traditional two-dimensional tumor cell culture systems that have been used to generate CTL's may change the antigen specificity of the CTL.

Wistar researchers have developed a tissue reconstruct for use in generating CTL's to tumor cells. Since collagen and fibroblasts in the tissue reconstruct may stimulate T cell function, the tissue reconstruct may be a particularly useful system to identify and then select specific CTL clones that react with tumor antigens of interest. These CTL and tumor antigens may then be utilized in cancer immunotherapy.

Key Words: Tumor antigens, diagnostic, therapeutic, cancer, immune therapy, cancer vaccines

Applications and Advantages: The tissue reconstructs may be particularly useful tools to identify tumor antigens that would be useful in cancer immunotherapy. This technology has been utilized to obtain cytotoxic T cells from melanoma and colorectal carcinoma and may be extended to other types of cancer.

Intellectual Property Status: Provisional, PCT, and International patent applications have been filed.

Licensing Opportunity:This technology is available for licensing. Sponsor research to further develop the technology will also be considered.

Contact:

Meryle J. Melnicoff
Director, Business Development
The Wistar Institute
3601 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: (215) 898-0049
Fax: (215) 573-2456
melnicoff@wistar.org

Last Updated: Aug-02