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Principal Investigator:
Krystyna Frenkel, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Environmental Medicine
New York University
Background:
Chronic inflammation is associated with number of diseases such as systemic lupus
erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and inflammatory bowel
disease. It is also considered to be a possible contributing factor in the development
of certain cancers. Inflammatory conditions lead to the excessive production of
active oxygen species that are capable of causing oxidative modifications in DNA
bases as well as strand breaks in DNA. When these reactions exceed the cell’s
antioxidant defenses and DNA repair capacity, oxidized bases accumulate in DNA.
They serve as antigenic determinants for elicitation of autoantibodies (aAbs).
Description of Project:
The blood sera of healthy men and women contain relatively low levels of anti-HMdU
(5-hydroxymethyl-2’-deoxyuridine, an oxidized thymidine) aAbs. Patients with
chronic inflammatory diseases, those with cancer or at high risk for cancer exhibited
significantly different levels of anti-HMdU aAbs. Furthermore, women who were diagnosed
with breast, colon or rectal cancer 0.5-6 years past the date of the donation of
the blood samples that were analyzed exhibited significantly elevated anti-HMdU
aAb titers. These titers persist for several years prior to diagnosis even in the
absence of family risk factors. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has
been developed to analyze human sera for the presence and levels of anti-HMdU aAb.
Applications:
Applications of this technology include: 1) diagnosis of inflammatory and autoimmune
diseases, 2) early diagnosis of a risk for various forms of neoplasia (including
breast, colon and rectal cancer), 3) monitoring the progress of such conditions
and their response to therapy, 4) diagnosis of any other diseases or conditions
the pathogenesis of which includes oxidative damage to DNA, 5) monitoring the effects
of exposure to radiation or UV light, 6) applications to research with an interest
in detecting anti-HMdU aAb, such as occupational and environmental exposures .
NYU is seeking an industrial partner to further develop and market this technology.
Patent Status: A U.S. Patent has been issued covering this technology.
For further information please contact
New York University
Industrial Liaison/Technology Transfer
650 First Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016
Tel: (212) 263-8178 Fax: (212) 263-8189
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