Epigenetic Differentiation Targets

for

Cancer Treatment

Est. Market Size - > $8 B.

It is clear that cancer cells and stem cells share certain characteristics.

•   Lack of contact inhibition

•   No Heyflick's Number limitation

•   Many cell markers are the same.

But stem cells and cancer cells differ in the stem cell can further differentiate into other cell types.  Cancer cells cannot differentiate or differentiate in a controlled fashion.

It is obvious that this cellular differentiation process falls into the category of epigenetics.  Although interfering RNAs are considered epigenetic controls, for cell differentiation, it is more likely a methylation or acetylation modification of the DNA involved in the necessary genes that generate the appropriate expression profiles for the specified cell type.

Epigenetic methylases or acetylases are thus likely targets for this caner screening protocol.     

To differ from the standard screening protocol for a cancer cell treatment, in stead of screening for growth specific toxic compounds, in the screening is for compounds that will reinitiated or reestablish the ability of the cancer cells to differentiate in a controlled fashion.

The In Vitro generate cancer cell models discuss here in another section would be a good source for the first stage of compound screening.

The assay would be simple.  After the addition of the compounds, see if the In Vitro cancer cells exhibit:

•    Contact inhibition - they stop growing but not die.

•    Differentiation - they became some other cell type.

It is a relatively straight forward assay.  It could be done quickly.  The initial candidates would then be screened against known human cancer cells types.

There maybe an issue of regenerating something similar to the in situ, local cellular environment of the cancer cells, but that is a detail.

The resulting compounds should not be toxic, but cause aberrant stem cells lacking the ability to differentiate (cancer) to reacquire that capability.

A cancer cell would then simply change into the cell type appropriate for its place in the patient's body.  The treatment would be relatively harmless compared to what a cancer patient has to suffer during chemotherapy. 

This seems so obvious, someone should be doing it already.

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Last modified: 04/24/2008