Patents by Inventor Helena Mauceri

Helena Mauceri 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).

  • Activation of Egr-1 promoter by DNA damaging chemotherapeutics
    Patent number: 8034791
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inducing expression of a polynucleotide encoding a therapeutic polypeptide, e.g., TNF-?, in a cell comprising contacting the cell with a construct comprising an Egr-1 promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, and at least one chemotherapeutic agent, wherein the chemotherapeutic agent induces expression of the polypeptide. The invention also relates to methods of inhibiting a neoplastic cell, comprising contacting the cell with a construct comprising an Egr-1 promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding TNF-? and a chemotherapeutic agent. The present invention further relates to methods of inhibiting or reducing the growth of a tumor in a subject, comprising co-administering to the subject a construct comprising an Egr-1 promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding TNF-? and a chemotherapeutic agent, wherein the co-administration inhibits or reduces the ability of the tumor to grow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignees: The University of Chicago, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
    Inventors: Ralph R. Weichselbaum, Donald W. Kufe, Mitchell Posner, Helena Mauceri, James O. Park
  • COMBINATION THERAPIES FOR CANCER
    Publication number: 20070036748
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inducing expression of a polynucleotide encoding a therapeutic polypeptide, e.g., TNF-?, in a cell comprising contacting the cell with a construct comprising an Egr-1 promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, and at least one chemotherapeutic agent, wherein the chemotherapeutic agent induces expression of the polypeptide. The invention also relates to methods of inhibiting a neoplastic cell, comprising contacting the cell with a construct comprising an Egr-1 promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding TNF-? and a chemotherapeutic agent. The present invention further relates to methods of inhibiting or reducing the growth of a tumor in a subject, comprising co-administering to the subject a construct comprising an Egr-1 promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding TNF-? and a chemotherapeutic agent, wherein the co-administration inhibits or reduces the ability of the tumor to grow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Inventors: Ralph Weichselbaum, Donald Kufe, Mitchell Posner, Helena Mauceri, James Park
  • 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