Description:
Background
Studies have shown that endotrophin, the carboxy-terminal cleavage product of the COL6α3 chain, has potent effects on transformed mammary ductal epithelial cells in rodents. It is abundantly expressed in adipose tissue and is a chemoattractant for macrophages, exerts effects on endothelial cells and enhances the progression through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumor cells. In a recombinant form, human endotrophin exerts similar effects on human macrophages and endothelial cells as in its rodent counterpart. It enhances EMT in human breast cancer cells and upon overexpression in tumor cells, the cells become chemoresistant.
Technology Highlights
Inventors at the UTHealth Institute for Molecular Medicine and UT Southwestern Medical Center have raised large panel of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against human endotrophin. Experimental results demonstrated that the anti-endotrophin antibodies were effective in inhibiting tumor growth as well as in enhancing chemosensitivity in mouse tumor models. The antibodies have potential for development of therapeutics for treatment of cancer and fibrosis diseases.
Possible Features and Benefits of this Technology
· potential to inhibit cancer cell proliferation
· potential co-administration with other platinum-based chemotherapy to increase chemosensitivity or to enhance angiogenesis inhibition
Related Publications:
· Human endotrophin as a driver of malignant tumor growth. JCI Insight. 2019 Mar 21;5. pii: 125094.
· Endotrophin triggers adipose tissue fibrosis and metabolic dysfunction. Nat Commun. 2014 Mar 19;5:3485.
· Adipocyte-derived endotrophin promotes malignant tumor progression. J Clin Invest. 2012 Nov;122(11):4243-56.
UTHealth Ref. No.: 2018-0068 and 2013-0042
Inventors: Dr. Zhiqiang An and Dr. Ningyan Zhang at UTHealth; Dr. Phil Scherer at UT Southwestern Medical Center
Patent Status: Issued U.S. Patent Nos. 9,605,057 and 10,221,235; PCT application PCT/US2019/049653 filed 9/5/2019
License Available: world-wide, exclusive or non-exclusive