Wayne State University

AIM HIGHER

Technology Commercialization

Early Lung Cancer Marker

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Categories
Diagnostics
Summary
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in most developed countries and a form of cancer that has a particularly poor prognosis, based in part on the difficulty of detecting the disease in its early stages. Wayne State University researchers have identified a lung-specific marker for the early diagnosis of lung cancer. Preliminary experiments show that the marker is developmentally regulated; its promoter contains a novel and conserved oxygen sensing element and the marker is dramatically down regulated in all lung cancers tested. While testing has been performed in lung biopsy specimens, researchers are developing a novel assay that will be capable of testing sputum, saliva and bronchoalveolar lavage samples. There is potential for use of a non-invasive test like this for screening smokers as a high-risk population for developing lung cancer.
File number
04-709
Publications
A U.S. application is on file. The university is seeking a research and development partner.
Contact
Anne DiSante Director, Technology Transfer Office Phone: 313-577-5541 Fax : 313-577-2814 anne.disante@wayne.edu