Office of Technology Development

Acid Sphingomyelinase: A New Drug Target to Regulate Apoptosis

SK 737

Summary of Invention

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the modulating acid sphingomyelinase (ASM)-related processes, including apoptosis. ASM-related apoptosis can be induced by environmental stressors, such as ionizing radiation and chemotherapeutic agents. Apoptosis can be characterized by a cellular morphology comprising cellular condensation, nuclear condensation, or zeiosis. The present invention further relates to methods for the identification of compounds, which modulate (i.e., either increase or decrease) sensitivity to ASM-related processes, including apoptosis.

Advantages

Methods for identifying compounds that increase or decrease a cell's sensitivity to acid sphingomyelinase-related apoptosis.

Areas of Application

Research tool

Stage of Development

In vivo proof of principle obtained

Lead Inventor

Richard N. Kolesnick, MD

Patent Information

U.S. patents issued:

References

Jarvis WD, et al. (1996) Clin Cancer Res. 2(1):1-6
Pena LA, et al. (2000) Cancer Res. 60(2):321-7
Lin T, et al. (2000) J Biol Chem. 275(12):8657-63

Contact Information

Sharon Seiler, PhD
Tel: 212-639-6181; Fax: 212-717-3934
E-mail: seilers@mskcc.org

Categories

Research Tools

acid (A-sid)

A chemical that gives off hydrogen ions in water and forms salts by combining with certain metals. Acids have a sour taste and turn certain dyes red. Some acids made by the body, such as gastric acid, can help organs work the way they should. An example of an acid is hydrochloric acid. Acidity is measured on a scale called the pH scale. On this scale, a value of 7 is neutral, and a pH value of less than 7 to 0 shows increasing acidity.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

apoptosis (A-pop-TOH-sis)

A type of cell death in which a series of molecular steps in a cell leads to its death. This is the body’s normal way of getting rid of unneeded or abnormal cells. The process of apoptosis may be blocked in cancer cells. Also called programmed cell death.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

ionizing radiation (I-uh-NY-zing RAY-dee-AY-shun)

A type of radiation made (or given off ) by x-ray procedures, radioactive substances, rays that enter the Earth's atmosphere from outer space, and other sources. At high doses, ionizing radiation increases chemical activity inside cells and can lead to health risks, including cancer.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

modulate (MAH-juh-layt)

To adjust, or change.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

morphology (mor-FAH-loh-jee)

The science of the form and structure of organisms (plants, animals, and other forms of life).

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

sensitivity (SEN-sih-TIH-vih-tee)

When referring to a medical test, sensitivity refers to the percentage of people who test positive for a specific disease among a group of people who have the disease. No test has 100% sensitivity because some people who have the disease will test negative for it (false negatives).

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)