Patents by Inventor Hiro Nitta

Hiro Nitta 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).

  • Publication number: 20260153510
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a triplex immunohistochemical assay for detecting the colocalization of the ER, PR, and Ki-67 biomarkers in cells or cell nuclei. It is believed that the brightfield triplex immunohistochemical assay of the present disclosure may serve as a prognostic assay for ER-positive breast cancer, facilitating the identification of disease-free survivors among ER-positive breast cancer patients treated with hormone therapy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2025
    Publication date: June 4, 2026
    Inventors: Rie Horii, Hiro Nitta, Takayuki Ueno
  • Patent number: 12631641
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for identifying a subject as having NSCLC that is predicted or is likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor, for example crizotinib. The methods include identifying a sample including NSCLC tumor cells as ALK-positive or ALK-negative using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and scoring methods disclosed herein. A subject is identified as having NSCLC likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-positive and is identified as having NSCLC not likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-negative. According to certain embodiments of the methods, subjects predicted to respond to an ALK inhibitor may then be treated with an ALK inhibitor such as crizotinib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Barnes, June F. Clements, Thomas Grogan, Hiro Nitta, Esteban Roberts, Crystal Schemp, Shalini Singh, Penny Towne
  • Publication number: 20260125767
    Abstract: A method for predicting responsiveness to a HER2-directed therapy by assessing HER2 heterogeneity in a tumor includes contacting a sample of the tumor with a biomarker-specific reagent that specifically binds to HER2 protein and detecting HER2 protein in the sample, contacting the sample of the tumor with a first nucleic acid probe that specifically binds HER2 genomic DNA and detecting HER2 gene amplification status in the sample, contacting the sample of the tumor with a second nucleic acid probe that specifically binds HER2 RNA and detecting HER2 RNA status in the sample scoring the HER2 protein (IHC), HER2 gene (DISH), and HER2 RNA (RNA-ISH), predicting that the tumor is responsive to the HER2-directed therapy if the tumor reveals a first foci having a first score and a second score, in which the first score and the second score are not the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2025
    Publication date: May 7, 2026
    Inventors: Adrian E. MURILLO, Hiro NITTA, Donald G. MUNROE, Amy A. LO, Takeshi KUWATA, Akio KAITO, Atsushi OCHIAI
  • Patent number: 12540359
    Abstract: A method for predicting responsiveness to a HER2-directed therapy by assessing HER2 heterogeneity in a tumor includes contacting a sample of the tumor with a biomarker-specific reagent that specifically binds to HER2 protein and detecting HER2 protein in the sample, contacting the sample of the tumor with a first nucleic acid probe that specifically binds HER2 genomic DNA and detecting HER2 gene amplification status in the sample, contacting the sample of the tumor with a second nucleic acid probe that specifically binds HER2 RNA and detecting HER2 RNA status in the sample scoring the HER2 protein (IHC), HER2 gene (DISH), and HER2 RNA (RNA-ISH), predicting that the tumor is responsive to the HER2-directed therapy if the tumor reveals a first foci having a first score and a second score, in which the first score and the second score are not the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2026
    Assignees: GENENTECH, INC., NATIONAL CANCER CENTER, VENTANA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Adrian E. Murillo, Hiro Nitta, Donald G. Munroe, Amy A. Lo, Takeshi Kuwata, Akio Kaito, Atsushi Ochiai
  • Publication number: 20230184772
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for identifying a subject as having NSCLC that is predicted or is likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor, for example crizotinib. The methods include identifying a sample including NSCLC tumor cells as ALK-positive or ALK-negative using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and scoring methods disclosed herein. A subject is identified as having NSCLC likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-positive and is identified as having NSCLC not likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-negative. According to certain embodiments of the methods, subjects predicted to respond to an ALK inhibitor may then be treated with an ALK inhibitor such as crizotinib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Barnes, June F. Clements, Thomas Grogan, Hiro Nitta, Esteban Roberts, Crystal Schemp, Shalini Singh, Penny Towne
  • Patent number: 11499974
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for identifying a subject as having NSCLC that is predicted or is likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor, for example crizotinib. The methods include identifying a sample including NSCLC tumor cells as ALK-positive or ALK-negative using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and scoring methods disclosed herein. A subject is identified as having NSCLC likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-positive and is identified as having NSCLC not likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-negative. According to certain embodiments of the methods, subjects predicted to respond to an ALK inhibitor may then be treated with an ALK inhibitor such as crizotinib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Barnes, June F. Clements, Thomas Grogan, Hiro Nitta, Esteban Roberts, Crystal Schemp, Shalini Singh, Penny Towne
  • Publication number: 20210071270
    Abstract: A method for predicting responsiveness to a HER2-directed therapy by assessing HER2 heterogeneity in a tumor includes contacting a sample of the tumor with a biomarker-specific reagent that specifically binds to HER2 protein and detecting HER2 protein in the sample, contacting the sample of the tumor with a first nucleic acid probe that specifically binds HER2 genomic DNA and detecting HER2 gene amplification status in the sample, contacting the sample of the tumor with a second nucleic acid probe that specifically binds HER2 RNA and detecting HER2 RNA status in the sample scoring the HER2 protein (IHC), HER2 gene (DISH), and HER2 RNA (RNA-ISH), predicting that the tumor is responsive to the HER2-directed therapy if the tumor reveals a first foci having a first score and a second score, in which the first score and the second score are not the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Adrian E. MURILLO, Hiro NITTA, Donald G. MUNROE, Amy A. LO, Takeshi KUWATA, Akio KAITO, Atsushi OCHIAI
  • Publication number: 20210011023
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for detecting the presence and/or amount of HER2 protein, HER2 nucleic acid (for example, HER2 genomic DNA), ER protein, and Chromosome 17 centromere DNA in a single sample. Samples stained for HER2 protein, HER2 DNA, ER protein, and Chromosome 17 DNA allow for the identification of various types of cancer cells, for example HER2 protein positive/ER protein positive/HER2 gene positive cells, HER2 protein positive/ER protein negative/HER2 gene positive cells, HER2 protein negative/ER protein positive/HER2 gene positive cells, and HER2 protein negative/ER protein negative/HER2 gene positive cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Hiro NITTA, Brian D. KELLY, Eslie DENNIS, Shinobu MASUDA
  • Publication number: 20200225237
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for identifying a subject as having NSCLC that is predicted or is likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor, for example crizotinib. The methods include identifying a sample including NSCLC tumor cells as ALK-positive or ALK-negative using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and scoring methods disclosed herein. A subject is identified as having NSCLC likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-positive and is identified as having NSCLC not likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-negative. According to certain embodiments of the methods, subjects predicted to respond to an ALK inhibitor may then be treated with an ALK inhibitor such as crizotinib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Barnes, June F. Clements, Thomas Grogan, Hiro Nitta, Esteban Roberts, Crystal Schemp, Shalini Singh, Penny Towne
  • Patent number: 10620207
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for identifying a subject as having NSCLC that is predicted or is likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor, for example crizotinib. The methods include identifying a sample including NSCLC tumor cells as ALK-positive or ALK-negative using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and scoring methods disclosed herein. A subject is identified as having NSCLC likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-positive and is identified as having NSCLC not likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-negative. According to certain embodiments of the methods, subjects predicted to respond to an ALK inhibitor may then be treated with an ALK inhibitor such as crizotinib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Grogan, Hiro Nitta, Michael Barnes, Penny Towne, Shalini Singh, June F. Clements, Crystal Schemp, Esteban Roberts
  • Publication number: 20180031567
    Abstract: Multiplex assays for improved scoring of tumor tissues stained with PD-L1 featuring PD-L1 staining in a first color plus staining of one or more differentiating markers, such as a marker specific for tumor cells and a marker specific for immune cells, are disclosed. The differentiation between the tumor cells and immune cells may improve the ease of scoring, the accuracy and speed of scoring, and the reproducibility of scoring of PD-L1 positive samples for therapy purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Eslie Dennis, Hiro Nitta, Bharathi Vennapusa
  • Publication number: 20170212122
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are multiplex methods for co-detecting a B cell marker, TP53 nucleic acid, and Chromosome 17 centromere DNA in a single sample. Samples stained for the B cell marker (e.g., CD79a protein), TP53 nucleic acid, and Chromosome 17 centromere DNA may allow for the identification of the subtype of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with the 17p deletion. The methods feature staining the B cell marker (e.g., CD79a) a first distinct color, TP53 in a second distinct color, and chromosome 17 centromere DNA in a third distinct color. Further disclosed are nucleic acid probes specific for 19q12, INSR, ATM, DLEU2, TP53, and 13q12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Nelson R. Alexander, Thomas M. Grogan, Leigh A. Henricksen, Brian D. Kelly, Hiro Nitta, Stacey Stanislaw, Alisa Tubbs
  • Publication number: 20170205416
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for identifying a subject as having NSCLC that is predicted or is likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor, for example crizotinib. The methods include identifying a sample including NSCLC tumor cells as ALK-positive or ALK-negative using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and scoring methods disclosed herein. A subject is identified as having NSCLC likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-positive and is identified as having NSCLC not likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-negative. According to certain embodiments of the methods, subjects predicted to respond to an ALK inhibitor may then be treated with an ALK inhibitor such as crizotinib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Grogan, Hiro Nitta, Michael Barnes, Penny Towne, Shalini Singh, June F. Clements, Crystal Schemp, Esteban Roberts
  • Patent number: 9651555
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for identifying a subject as having NSCLC that is predicted or is likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor, for example crizotinib. The methods include identifying a sample including NSCLC tumor cells as ALK-positive or ALK-negative using immunohistochemistry (IBC) and scoring methods disclosed herein. A subject is identified as having NSCLC likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-positive and is identified as having NSCLC not likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-negative. According to certain embodiments of the methods, subjects predicted to respond to an ALK inhibitor may then be treated with an ALK inhibitor such as crizotinib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Grogan, Michael Barnes, June Clements, Hiro Nitta, Esteban Roberts, Crystal Schemp, Shalini Singh, Penny Towne
  • Publication number: 20170082627
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for predicting the response to a HER2-directed therapy and for scoring a breast cancer tumor sample. In some embodiments, the methods include contacting the sample with an antibody that specifically binds HER2 protein and detecting presence and/or amount of HER2 protein and contacting the sample with a nucleic acid probe that specifically binds to HER2 genomic DNA and detecting presence and/or amount of HER2 genomic DNA (such as HER2 gene copy number). In some embodiments, the methods further include detection of a centromere nucleic acid (such as chromosome 17 centromere DNA) and contacting the sample with an antibody that specifically binds ER protein and detecting presence and/or amount of ER protein in the same sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Eslie Dennis, Masafumi Kurosumi, Sasagu Kurozumi, Hiro Nitta, Mary Padilla, James Ranger-Moore
  • Patent number: 9562259
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for analyzing chromosomal translocations, and in particular to analysis of chromosomal translocation by in situ hybridization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiro Nitta, Mike Farrell, Wenjun Zhang, Tom Grogan
  • Publication number: 20170023579
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for detecting the presence and/or amount of HER2 protein, HER2 nucleic acid (for example, HER2 genomic DNA), ER protein, and Chromosome 17 centromere DNA in a single sample. Samples stained for HER2 protein, HER2 DNA, ER protein, and Chromosome 17 DNA allow for the identification of various types of cancer cells, for example HER2 protein positive/ER protein positive/HER2 gene positive cells, HER2 protein positive/ER protein negative/HER2 gene positive cells, HER2 protein negative/ER protein positive/HER2 gene positive cells, and HER2 protein negative/ER protein negative/HER2 gene positive cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Hiro Nitta, Brian D. Kelly, Eslie Dennis, Shinobu Masuda
  • Publication number: 20160130666
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for simultaneously detecting mutational status and gene copy number. In particular, the present invention provides simultaneous measurement of gene copy number and detection of the L858R and Exon 19 del mutations in a tissue sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: SHALINI SINGH, Hiro NITTA, Fabien GAIRE, Edmundo David DEL VALLE
  • Publication number: 20150346210
    Abstract: Multiplex assays for improved scoring of tumor tissues stained with PD-L1 featuring PD-L1 staining in a first color plus staining of one or more differentiating markers, such as a marker specific for tumor cells and a marker specific for immune cells, are disclosed. The differentiation between the tumor cells and immune cells may improve the ease of scoring, the accuracy and speed of scoring, and the reproducibility of scoring of PD-L1 positive samples for therapy purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Hiro Nitta, Bharathi Vennapusa, Eslie Dennis
  • Publication number: 20150346206
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for identifying a subject as having NSCLC that is predicted or is likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor, for example crizotinib. The methods include identifying a sample including NSCLC tumor cells as ALK-positive or ALK-negative using immunohistochemistry (IBC) and scoring methods disclosed herein. A subject is identified as having NSCLC likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-positive and is identified as having NSCLC not likely to respond to treatment with an ALK inhibitor if the sample is identified as ALK-negative. According to certain embodiments of the methods, subjects predicted to respond to an ALK inhibitor may then be treated with an ALK inhibitor such as crizotinib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas GROGAN, Hiro NITTA, Michael BARNES, Penny TOWNE, Shalini SINGH, June F. CLEMENTS, Crystal SCHEMP, Esteban ROBERTS