Abstract
Researchers in the field of tumor suppressor genes are actively attempting to discover new tumor suppressor genes and/or characterize known tumor suppressor genes with the intention of treating and diagnosing cancers. A number of recent patents and patent applications have been published that discuss some of these discoveries. Some of the patents and patent applications discuss newly discovered tumor suppressor genes, including WW Domain-Containing Oxidoreductase (WWOX), Cancer Associated Ring-1 (CAR-1), Human Cervical Cancer Suppressor 1 (HCCS-1), Srcsuppressed C kinase substrate (SSeCKS), ADP-Ribosylation factor-like putative Tumor Suppressor gene 1 (ARTS1), and Deleted in Osteosarcoma (DOS). One recent patent describes the discovery that known caspase family member caspase-8 (CASP8) is a tumor suppressor. Another recent patent describes the use of Wilms Tumor suppressor gene (WT1) peptides as a cancer vaccine. In addition, Sakai et al. received a patent describing a fragment of the p51 tumor suppressor gene containing a promoter region, which is useful for identifying compounds that modulate p51 activity. Another patent application recently published describes a chimeric tumor suppressor gene generated by combining a portion of the rat PEG-3 protein with the human GADD34 protein, thus creating a protein with apoptotic activity. These patents and patent applications provide valuable information that may be useful in fighting cancer by focusing on tumor suppressor gene activities.
Keywords: Tumor suppressor, tumor suppressors, homozygous deletion, methylation-induced gene silencing, gene therapy, WWOX, Caspase-8 (CASP8), Cancer Associated Ring-1 (CAR-1), Human Cervical Cancer Suppressor Protein 1 (HCCS-1), Wilms Tumor 1 (WT1)
14