Patents by Inventor Donald W. Kufe

Donald W. Kufe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Use of DF3/MUC1 regulated expression in gene therapy
    Patent number: 7247297
    Abstract: The present invention provides for improved vectors for use in gene therapy. Utilizing the cancer specific DF3/MUC1 promoter to drive a replication essential gene, vectors are made conditionally replication-competent, permitting wider infection and expression of tumor cells. In addition, therapeutic genes and adjunct therapies further increase anti-tumor efficacy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignees: The University of Chicago, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
    Inventors: Ralph R. Weichselbaum, Donald W. Kufe
  • Induction of apoptosis by cellular stress
    Patent number: 7118862
    Abstract: The invention provides methods of screening to identify compounds that modulate the ability of a protein to translocate to the mitochondria when a cell is subjected to cellular stress. Such compounds can be useful to modulate the level of apoptosis in a cell. For example, compounds identified according to the methods described herein can be used to treat disorders characterized by excessive apoptosis, e.g., a neurological disorder, or insufficient apoptosis, e.g., cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignees: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc., The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Donald W. Kufe, Rima Kaddurah-Daouk, Ralph R. Weichselbaum
  • Gene transcription and ionizing radiation: methods and compositions
    Patent number: 7041653
    Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA molecule comprising a radiation responsive enhancer-promoter operatively linked to an encoding region that encodes at least one polypeptide. An encoding region can comprise a single encoding sequence for a polypeptide or two or more encoding sequences encoding DNA binding, activation or repression domains of a transcription factor. Processes for regulating polypeptide expression and inhibiting tumor growth using such DNA molecules are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignees: The University of Chicago, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph R. Weichselbaum, Dennis E. Hallahan, Vikas P. Sukhatme, Donald W. Kufe
  • Chemo-inducible cancer gene therapy
    Publication number: 20040242523
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting a hyperproliferative cell comprising providing to the cell a TNF-&agr; expression construct comprising a chemotherapeutic responsive promoter and a chemotherapeutic selected from doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, taxol and gemcitabine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: ana-Farber Cancer Institue and The Univiersity of Chicago
    Inventors: Ralph R. Weichselbaum, Donald W. Kufe
  • Regulation of cell growth by MUC1
    Publication number: 20040166543
    Abstract: The invention features a method of identifying a compound that inhibits (a) the physical interaction (binding) between MUC1 and tumor progressors (e.g., &bgr;-catenin, c-Src, EGF-R, p120ctn, or PKC&dgr;) and/or (b) phosphorylation of MUC1 by tumor progressors with kinase activity (e.g., c-Src, EGF-R, or PKC&dgr;). The invention also includes a method of inhibiting an interaction between MUC1 and &bgr;-catenin and a method of inhibiting expression of MUC1 or a tumor progressor in a cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc., a Boston corporation
    Inventor: Donald W. Kufe
  • Tumor radiosensitization and /or chemopotentiation using isocoumarin derivatives
    Publication number: 20040024015
    Abstract: A method for enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy and/or radiation in the treatment of cancer in animals, particularly humans, is provided wherein certain isocoumarin derivatives which exhibit unique radiosensitization activity and/or chemopotentiation properties are employed in a combination treatment with ionizing radiation and/or chemotherapy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Corinne L. Reimer, Naoki Agata, Tomio Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Kumagai, Takeo Yoshioka, Masaaki Ishizuka, Donald W. Kufe, Ralph R. Weichselbaum
  • MUC1 interference RNA compositions and methods derived therefrom
    Publication number: 20040018181
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells and for the treatment of tumors with antagonists of the binding of ligands to the extracellular domain of MUC1, such binding being related to an oncogenic function of MUC1, and by compositions that downregulate the expression of MUC1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Donald W. Kufe, Surender Kharbanda, Steven D. Weitman
  • Gene transcription and ionizing radiation: methods and compositions
    Patent number: 6605712
    Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA molecule comprising a radiation responsive enhancer-promoter operatively linked to an encoding region that encodes at least one polypeptide. An encoding region can comprise a single encoding sequence for a polypeptide or two or more encoding sequences encoding DNA binding, activation or repression domains of a transcription factor. Processes for regulating polypeptide expression and inhibiting tumor growth using such DNA molecules are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Arch Development Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph R. Weichselbaum, Dennis E. Hallahan, Vikas P. Sukhatme, Donald W. Kufe
  • Tumor radiosensitization and/or chemopotentiation using isocoumarin derivatives
    Patent number: 6589981
    Abstract: A method for enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy and/or radiation in the treatment of cancer in animals, particularly humans, is provided wherein certain isocoumarin derivatives which exhibit unique radiosensitization activity and/or chemopotentiation properties are employed in a combination treatment with ionizing radiation and/or chemotherapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignees: ILEX Oncology, Inc., Mercian Corporation
    Inventors: Corinne L. Reimer, Naoki Agata, Tomio Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Kumagai, Takeo Yoshioka, Masaaki Ishizuka, Donald W. Kufe, Ralph R. Weichselbaum
  • Use of DF3/MUC1 regulated expression in gene therapy
    Publication number: 20030091539
    Abstract: The present invention provides for improved vectors for use in gene therapy. Utilizing the cancer specific DF3/MUC1 promoter to drive a replication essential gene, vectors are made conditionally replication-competent, permitting wider infection and expression of tumor cells. In addition, therapeutic genes and adjunct therapies further increase anti-tumor efficacy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Ralph R. Weichselbaum, Donald W. Kufe
  • Chemotherapeutic induction of egr-1 promoter activity
    Publication number: 20030082685
    Abstract: The present invention provides for improved therapeutic regimens for treating benign hyperproliferative diseases and cancers. The Egr-1 promoter, long known to be radiation-responsive, has now been shown to be inducible for DNA damaging chemical agents, many of which themselves are used in therapies. Thus, the present invention provides for the advantageous combination of a DNA damaging chemical and an expression vector containing a therapeutic gene driven by the Egr-1 promoter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Ralph R. Weichselbaum, Donald W. Kufe, Vinay Kumar Gupta, Helena Mauceri, James O. Park, Mitchell Posner
  • Induction of apoptosis by cellular stress
    Publication number: 20020182588
    Abstract: The invention provides methods of screening to identify compounds that modulate the ability of a protein to translocate to the mitochondria when a cell is subjected to cellular stress. Such compounds can be useful to modulate the level of apoptosis in a cell. For example, compounds identified according to the methods described herein can be used to treat disorders characterized by excessive apoptosis, e.g., a neurological disorder, or insufficient apoptosis, e.g., cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Donald W. Kufe, Rima Kaddurah-Daouk, Ralph R. Weichselbaum
  • Phospholipase A2 inhibitors as mediators of gene expression
    Patent number: 6486170
    Abstract: A signaling pathway is identified that involves the activation of phospholipase A2 and protein kinase C in human cells, which in turn confers x-ray induction of the tumor necrosis factor &agr; (TNF) gene. Inhibition of phospholipase A2 abolishes radiation-mediated arachidonate production, as well as the subsequent activation of protein kinase C and TNF gene expression. These phospholipase A2 inhibitors may be used to ameliorate the adverse-effects of radiotherapy associated with TNF production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Arch Development Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis E. Hallahan, Ralph R. Weichselbaum, Donald W. Kufe
  • Regulation of cell growth by MUC1
    Publication number: 20020110841
    Abstract: The invention features a method of identifying a compound that inhibits (a) the physical interaction (binding) between MUC1 and tumor progressors (e.g., &bgr;-catenin, c-Src, EGF-R, p120ctn, or PKC&dgr;) and/or (b) phosphorylation of MUC1 by tumor progressors with kinase activity (e.g., c-Src, EGF-R, or PKC&dgr;). The invention also includes a method of inhibiting an interaction between MUC1 and &bgr;-catenin and a method of inhibiting expression of MUC1 or a tumor progressor in a cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: Donald W. Kufe
  • Chelerythrine-based therapies for cancer
    Patent number: 6426351
    Abstract: Chelerythrine is an effective inhibitor of solid tumor growth and is extremely cytotoxic in combination with chemotherapeutic agents that directly damage DNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignees: Dana-Farber Cancer, Inc., Arch Development Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph R. Weichselbaum, Donald W. Kufe, Steven J. Chmura, Mary E. Dolan
  • Combination of radiotherapy and anti-angiogenic factors
    Patent number: 6420335
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the fields of angiogenesis and cancer therapy. More particularly, it concerns the use of anti-angiogenic factors in cancer therapy. The present invention demonstrates that angiostatin or endostatin can sensitize a cell to radiation therapy. Methods and compositions for inhibiting growth, sensitizing a cell to radiotherapy and treating cancer growth by first inhibiting angiogenesis and then employing radiotherapy are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignees: Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Inc., ARCH Development Corporation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph R. Weichselbaum, Vikas P. Sukhatme, Donald W. Kufe
  • Tumor radiosensitization and/or chemopotentiation using isocoumarin derivatives
    Publication number: 20020019366
    Abstract: A method for enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy and/or radiation in the treatment of cancer in animals, particularly humans, is provided wherein certain isocoumarin derivatives which exhibit unique radiosensitization activity and/or chemopotentiation properties are employed in a combination treatment with ionizing radiation and/or chemotherapy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Corinne L. Reimer, Naoki Agata, Tomio Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Kumagai, Takeo Yoshioka, Masaaki Ishizuka, Donald W. Kufe, Ralph R. Weichselbaum
  • METHOD OF ENHANCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DCK PHOSPHORYLATED MOLECULES
    Publication number: 20010012835
    Abstract: A method of increasing the effectiveness of molecules that can be phosphorylated by dCK is described. This method involves transducing cells with the gene for deoxycytidine kinase which can chemosensitize the cell to molecules that are phosphorylated by dCK.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventors: HOWARD A FINE, DONALD W. KUFE, YOSHINOBU MANOME
  • Gene transcription and ionizing radiation: methods and compositions
    Publication number: 20010006954
    Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA molecule comprising a radiation responsive enhancer-promoter operatively linked to an encoding region that encodes at least one polypeptide. An encoding region can comprise a single encoding sequence for a polypeptide or two or more encoding sequences encoding DNA binding, activation or repression domains of a transcription factor. Processes for regulating polypeptide expression and inhibiting tumor growth using such DNA molecules are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Ralph R. Weichselbaum, Dennis E. Hallahan, Vikas P. Sukhatme, Donald W. Kufe
  • Gene transcription and ionizing radiation: methods and compositions
    Patent number: 6156736
    Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA molecule comprising a radiation responsive enhancer-promoter operatively linked to an encoding region that encodes at least one polypeptide. An encoding region can comprise a single encoding sequence for a polypeptide or two or more encoding sequences encoding DNA binding, activation or repression domains of a transcription factor. Processes for regulating polypeptide expression and inhibiting tumor growth using such DNA molecules are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignees: Arch Development Corporation, Dana-Faber Cancer Institute
    Inventors: Ralph R. Weichselbaum, Dennis E. Hallahan, Vikas P. Sukhatme, Donald W. Kufe