Diagnostics and Therapeutics for Adrenocortical Carcinomas
The National Cancer Institute's Endocrine Oncology Branch seeks parties to co-develop diagnostic that target altered human miRNA expression such as miRNA-483 and miRNA 100 to accurately predict if a patient's adrenal cortex tumor is benign or malignant.
Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) are rare but aggressive cancers and typically have a poor prognosis. Currently, there are limited options for molecular diagnosis to distinguish malignant tumors from benign tumors of this type. As a result there are few treatment strategies for ACC.
This technology describes that altered human miRNA expression such as miRNA-483 and miRNA 100 can accurately predict if a patient''''s adrenal cortex tumor is benign or malignant. Additionally, preliminary results suggest that altering the expression of this miRNA in ACC cells can effect cancer cell growth. Therefore, inhibiting a miRNA may serve as a therapeutic option for ACC.
- Technology can be developed into a diagnostic and prognostic marker for ACC.
- Inhibiting miRNA can serve as a potential therapeutics for ACC.
- Distinguishes malignant Adrenal cortex tumor from a benign tumor, options for such distinction are limited at this time.