Georgetown University Medical Center

GMI Ganglioside as a Diagnostic Marker and Therapeutic Target in Cervical Dysplasia and Human Papillomavirus Infection

Section: For Industry

Category(ies): Cancer Therapeutics

Reference #: SCRI422515

OTC Contact: Ruchika Nijhara Ph.D. (Directory Information | Send a Message)

Description

High-risk human pappillomaviruses (HPVs), especially HPV16, may a primary role in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. HPV-16 encodes the E5 oncoprotein, whose expression correlates with papillomavirus oncogenicity. Researchers at Georgetown University demonstrate that lipid raft component, GM1 ganglioside levels are dramatically increased on the surface of cervical cells expressing E5 oncoprotein. Specifically, the present invention relates to use of GM1 ganglioside as a diagostic marker and a therapeutic target in cervical dysplasia and human papillomavirus infection.

Applications

Applications:

  • GMI can be used as biomarker for early stage HPV-16 positive infection.
  • Therapeutic target for specifically  killing HPV infected cells.
  • Therapeutic target for treating cervical cancer

Advantages:

  • Rapid identification of clinical samples for HPV-infected cells
  • Automated screening possible
  • Can be used in conjunction with other marker staining such as keratin staining or in Pap smears.
  • Can be used to develop reagents to specifically react with and kill HPV-infected cells.
  • Selective therapeutic treatment - can be used to specifically killing HPV infected cells.
  • Can be used to enhance the host immune response against HPV-infected cells.

Advantages

Stage of Development

Stage of Development: In-vitro studies demonstrate GMI ganglioside is 23-40 fold higher in E5 expressing cervical cells than in mutant E5 expressing cells.   Studies ongoing to validate the results in E5 transgenic mice, in pap smear samples, and in tissue sections of biopsies and tumors.  

Inventors: Richard Schlegel, and Frank Suprynowicz

Relevant Publications

“HPV-16 E5 oncoprotein upregulates lipid raft components caveolin-1 and ganglioside GM1 at the plasma membrane of cervical cells”. Schlegel et al; Oncogene. 2008 Feb 14; 27(8):1071-8.

Patent Status

Patent pending.