Abstract: Systems and methods for characterizing cancer cells are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods involve coating a first chamber with ECM material and adding a first plurality of cells to the first chamber, adding media to a second chamber, and adding a second plurality of cells and media to a third chamber. The first, second, and third chambers are then clipped together to form a chamber array. The chamber array is mounted to an electric cell impedance sensing reader and impedance readouts of cell invasion are collected from the electric array at time intervals. Cells detected to invade into the second chamber are extracted and characterized.

Abstract: Method of treating secondary cancer in a lung of a subject in need thereof, comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of an inhibitor of transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) to the subject. In addition, methods of inhibiting growth of a secondary tumor in a lung of a subject in need thereof, of increasing number of T-cells at a secondary tumor in a lung of a subject in need thereof, of increasing number of alveolar macrophages in a lung of a subject in need thereof, of decreasing number of infiltrating monocytes/macrophages in a lung of a subject in need thereof, methods of reducing lung metastases in a subject in need thereof, method of inducing polarization of one or more M2 macrophages to M1 macrophages in the lung of a subject with lung cancer, and methods of activating IL12 signaling in lung of a subject with lung cancer.

Abstract: Method of determining if a subject has suffered tissue damage from exposure to a toxic agent. The method comprises sequencing cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in a biospecimen from the subject; determining cellular origin of the cfDNA by identifying methylation patterns in one or more portions of the sequence of the cfDNA that contains methylation sites, in which the cellular origin of the cfDNA is determined when the methylation pattern in the one or more portions is the same as a known cell-type specific methylation patterns; measuring the quantity of the cfDNA of the determined cellular origin, and comparing the measured quantity of the cfDNA of the determined cellular origin with a normal quantity of cfDNA of the determined cellular origin. A greater quantity of the measured cfDNA of the determined cellular origin is indicative that the subject has suffered tissue damage.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of identifying neopeptides in abnormal cells, with the methods comprising sequencing long-read messenger RNA (mRNA) isolated from the abnormal cells, identifying splice variants that could be generated from the sequenced long-read mRNA, determining if the abnormal cells contain neopeptides that correlate with the identified splice variants. The methods may also comprise identifying at least one neoantigen on the neopeptides that are present in the abnormal cells.

Abstract: A method of detecting donor cell death in a subject receiving foreign biological material from a donor. The method comprises sequencing cfDNA in a biospecimen from the subject; determining cellular origin of the cfDNA by identifying methylation patterns in the sequence of the cfDNA and comparing the methylation patterns in the sequence of the cfDNA to known methylation patterns associated with different cell types; and determining source origin of the cfDNA by genotyping the cfDNA and identifying whether the cfDNA originates from the foreign biological material or from the subject. Cell death is detected when the cfDNA has both a cellular origin of the type of foreign biological material that was received from the donor, and a source origin of the donor.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of identifying neopeptides in abnormal cells, with the methods comprising sequencing long-read messenger RNA (mRNA) isolated from the abnormal cells, identifying splice variants that could be generated from the sequenced long-read mRNA, determining if the abnormal cells contain neopeptides that correlate with the identified splice variants. The methods may also comprise identifying at least one neoantigen on the neopeptides that are present in the abnormal cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for predicting the outcome for a subject suffering from a disease. The invention further relates to a diagnostic kit for the prediction of the outcome. The invention further relates to a use of the expression of CHRM3 mRNA or protein as a marker of the outcome. The invention further relates to a method for treating a subject suffering from a disease or disorder associated with an expression of CHRM3 mRNA or protein and activity of CHRM3 protein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for characterizing cancer cells are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods involve coating a first chamber with ECM material and adding a first plurality of cells to the first chamber, adding media to a second chamber, and adding a second plurality of cells and media to a third chamber. The first, second, and third chambers are then clipped together to form a chamber array. The chamber array is mounted to an electric cell impedance sensing reader and impedance readouts of cell invasion are collected from the electric array at time intervals. Cells detected to invade into the second chamber are extracted and characterized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating hypertension in a subject in need of treatment thereof, with the methods comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of an angiotensin II inhibitor and a pharmaceutically effective amount of a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor to the subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of treating a metabolic disorder in a subject, the method comprising administering fibroblast growth factor binding protein 3 (FGFBP3) or a variant thereof to a subject in need of treatment of a metabolic disorder.

Abstract: In certain aspects, the disclosure relates to methods of predicting recurrence of colorectal cancer by using a combination of microRNAs in the circulation, wherein the microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-15a, miR-103, miR-148a, miR-320a, miR-451 and miR-596. In other aspects, the disclosure relates to methods of treating colorectal cancer by administering a therapeutic agent after determining an increased risk of recurrence.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of identifying neopeptides in abnormal cells, with the methods comprising sequencing long-read messenger RNA (mRNA) isolated from the abnormal cells, identifying splice variants that could be generated from the sequenced long-read mRNA, determining if the abnormal cells contain neopeptides that correlate with the identified splice variants. The methods may also comprise identifying at least one neoantigen on the neopeptides that are present in the abnormal cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of treating a metabolic disorder in a subject, the method comprising administering fibroblast growth factor binding protein 3 (FGFBP3) or a variant thereof to a subject in need of treatment of a metabolic disorder.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of lowering blood glucose levels in a subject, with the methods comprising administering fibroblast growth factor binding protein 3 (FGFBP3) or a variant thereof to a subject in need of having lower glucose levels.

Abstract: In certain aspects, the disclosure relates to methods of predicting recurrence of colorectal cancer by using a combination of microRNAs in the circulation, wherein the microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-15a, miR-103, miR-148a, miR-320a, miR-451 and miR-596. In other aspects, the disclosure relates to methods of treating colorectal cancer by administering a therapeutic agent after determining an increased risk of recurrence.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of treating a metabolic disorder in a subject, the method comprising administering fibroblast growth factor binding protein 3 (FGFBP3) or a variant thereof to a subject in need of treatment of a metabolic disorder.

Abstract: Described herein are homing polypeptides that home to atherosclerotic plaque(s) in mammals and nucleic acids that encode such polypeptides. Also described are methods for detecting and treating conditions or disorders associated with, or characterized, by elevated levels of homing polypeptides that home to atherosclerotic plaque and/or vulnerable plaque.

Abstract: The present invention concerns antibodies that neutralize at least one biological activity of pleiotrophin. The antibodies can inhibit cancer cell growth and angiogenesis in vitro or in vivo. The present invention provides for methods of inhibiting cancer cell growth or angiogenesis in a subject comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of the antibodies described herein. The present invention also provides for methods of making the neutralizing antibodies described herein.

Abstract: Described herein are polypeptides that home to developing microvasculature, (also referred to as developing microvessels), such as newly developing microvasculature in mammals, particularly in humans, and to DNA that encodes such polypeptides. These polypeptides are referred to herein as developing microvasculature homing polypeptides. In a specific embodiment, the homing peptides are collateral vessel endothelia (CVE) homing polypeptides, which have been shown to home to collateral vessel endothelia after ischemia.

Abstract: Described herein are polypeptides that home to developing microvasculature, (also referred to as developing microvessels), such as newly developing microvasculature in mammals, particularly in humans, and to DNA that encodes such polypeptides. These polypeptides are referred to herein as developing microvasculature homing polypeptides. In a specific embodiment, the homing peptides are collateral vessel endothelia (CVE) homing polypeptides, which have been shown to home to collateral vessel endothelia after ischemia.