Abstract: Devices are provided with a bridge made of a biocompatible material that surrounds a neck region of an encapsulated shunt. In one embodiment, the bridge is configured to maintain an outer diameter while the diameter of the neck region is reduced or increased in vivo to adjust the fluid flow rate through the device. The bridge may have an outer diameter that is configured to be placed within an enlarged septal hole. Methods for adjusting the flow of fluid and methods for the manufacture of such devices are also provided.

Abstract: The present technology relates to compositions comprising BRAF inhibitors and uses thereof for treating and/or preventing a MEK inhibitor-associated cutaneous condition in a subject. Kits for use in practicing the methods are also provided.

Abstract: The use of mitogen activated kinase inhibition therapy in combination with receptor tyrosine kinase therapy for the treatment of cancer is described.

Abstract: The present technology relates to compositions comprising BRAF inhibitors and uses thereof for treating and/or preventing a MEK inhibitor-associated cutaneous condition in a subject. Kits for use in practicing the methods are also provided.

Abstract: The use of mitogen activated kinase inhibition therapy in combination with receptor tyrosine kinase therapy for the treatment of cancer is described.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the detection of novel BRAF splice variants that mediate resistance to BRAF and/or pan-RAF inhibitors. In particular, the invention provides PCR primer(s) to be used in the disclosed methods of detection. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods of the present invention are used to predict resistance to BRAF and/or pan-RAF inhibitors in a subject suffering from or suspected of having cancer and further provides alternative treatment strategy(ies) for a subject predicted to be resistant to BRAF and/or pan-RAF inhibitors. In a further embodiment, methods and composition for the identification of novel agents useful to overcome resistance to BRAF and/or pan-RAF inhibitors are disclosed. The present invention also provides isolated polynucleotide sequences of novel 5? BRAF splice variant(s) and proteins produced from such polynucleotide sequences as well as cell line(s) that endogenously or exogenously express the splice variant(s).

Abstract: The present invention provides for methods and compositions for treating cancer. A subject having cancer is administered an interferon and an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. The combination of the interferon and the inhibitor of the MAPK pathway produces a synergistic effect on the cancer compared to the effect of the interferon or the inhibitor of the MAPK pathway alone. The activity of the interferon pathway, interferon expression levels and/or interferon locus copy number can be used as biomarkers for treatment of cancer by MAPK pathway inhibitors.

Abstract: Novel methods of treating proliferative disorders characterized by elevated Her-2, and the patient is then administered an effective amount of an HSP90 inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the detection of novel BRAF splice variants that mediate resistance to BRAF and/or pan-RAF inhibitors. In particular, the invention provides PCR primer(s) to be used in the disclosed methods of detection. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods of the present invention are used to predict resistance to BRAF and/or pan-RAF inhibitors in a subject suffering from or suspected of having cancer and further provides alternative treatment strategy(ies) for a subject, predicted to be resistant to BRAF and/or pan-RAF inhibitors. In a further embodiment, methods and composition for the identification of novel agents useful to overcome resistance to BRAF and/or pan-RAF inhibitors are disclosed. The present invention also provides isolated polynucleotide sequences of novel 5? BRAF splice variant(s) and proteins produced from such polynucleotide sequences as well as cell line(s) that endogenously or exogenously express the splice variant(s).

Abstract: Novel methods of treating proliferative disorders characterized by elevated Her-2, and the patient is then administered an effective amount of an HSP90 inhibitor.

Abstract: Novel methods of treating proliferative disorders characterized by elevated Her-2, and the patient is then administered an effective amount of an HSP90 inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides identification of a thirty-five gene set that predicts the anticancer activity of inhibitors of the RAF/MEK/MAPK pathway, methods of qualifying cancer status in a subject, methods of identifying an anti-tumor response in a subject, methods of monitoring the efficacy of a therapeutic drug in a subject, and methods of identifying an agent useful in the treatment of a cancer based on expression of the thirty-five gene set.

Abstract: Structural differences in binding pockets of members of the HSP90 family can be exploited to achieve differential degradation of kinases and other signaling proteins through the use of designed small molecules which interact with the N-terminal binding pocket with an affinity which is greater than ADP and different from the ansamycin antibiotics for at least one species of the HSP90 family. Moreover, these small molecules can be designed to be soluble in aqueous media, thus providing a further advantage over the use of ansamycin antibiotics. Pharmaceutical compositions can be formulated containing a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a molecule that includes a binding moiety which binds to the N-terminal pocket of at least one member of the HSP90 family of proteins. Such binding moieties were found to have antiproliferative activity against tumor cells which are dependent on proteins requiring chaperones of the HSP90 family for their function.

Abstract: The present invention provides identification of a thirty-five gene set that predicts the anticancer activity of inhibitors of the RAF/MEK/MAPK pathway, methods of qualifying cancer status in a subject, methods of identifying an anti-tumor response in a subject, methods of monitoring the efficacy of a therapeutic drug in a subject, and methods of identifying an agent useful in the treatment of a cancer based on expression of the thirty-five gene set.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds having the structure (and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof) wherein Ro-R4, Z, X, A-B, D-E, G-J, and K-L are as defined herein, the synthesis thereof and the use of these compounds as therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Bifunctional molecules comprising two hsp-binding moieties which bind to hsp90 in the pocket to which ansamycin antibiotics bind connected via a linker are effective for inducing the degradation and/or inhibition of HER-family tyrosine kinases. For example, a compound of two geldanamycin moities joined by a four-carbon linker provides selective degradation of HER-family tyrosine kinases, without substantially affecting other kinases. These compounds can be used for treatment of HER-positive cancers with reduced toxicity, since these compounds potently kill cancer cells but affect fewer proteins than geldanamycin.

Abstract: A method for evaluation of molecules to identify those that can act as therapeutic inhibitors of Hsp90 makes use of a fluorescence polarization (FP) assay and a cell based assay, either individually or in combination. The FP assay uses a fluorescently-labeled Hsp90 binding agent and measure the degree of fluorescence polarization relative to the standard. A decrease in the degree of polarization indicates that fluorescently-labeled Hsp90 binding agent has been wholly or partially displaced by a candidate molecule, and identifies the molecule as having activity as an inhibitor of Hsp90. The cell based assay tests for decrease is an Hsp90-dependent activity of normal or tumor cells.

Abstract: Bifunctional molecules comprising two hsp-binding moieties which bind to hsp90 in the pocket to which ansamycin antibiotics bind connected via a linker are effective for inducing the degradation and/or inhibition of HER-family tyrosine kinases. For example, a compound of two geldanamycin moities joined by a four-carbon linker provides selective degradation of HER-family tyrosine kinases, without substantially affecting other kinases. These compounds can be used for treatment of HER-positive cancers with reduced toxicity, since these compounds potently kill cancer cells but affect fewer proteins than geldanamycin.

Abstract: The administration of cytotoxic agents followed by the administration of heat shock protein 90 inhibitors, such as ansamycins, has a synergistic effect on the growth inhibition of cells. This synergy occurs at doses of each cytotoxic agent that normally only causes minimal growth inhibition of cells. Such combination therapy thus allows one to use lower doses of cytotoxic agents to avoid or reduce their respective toxicity to patients without compromising their growth inhibitory effects. Thus, these combinations can be used for the treatment of an animal, preferably a mammal, that has a cell proliferative disorder, whether the cells have wild-type Rb or are Rb deficient or Rb negative. One such method, directed to treating cell proliferative disorders includes the step of administering a therapeutic effective amount of a cytotoxic agent followed by administering a therapeutic effective amount of a heat shock protein 90 inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds having the structure (and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof) wherein R0–R4, Z, X, A—B, D—E, G—J, and K—L are as defined herein, the synthesis thereof and the use of these compounds as therapeutic agents.