Abstract: Recombinant vectors in which expression of one or more elements (e.g. genes required for viral replication, detectable imaging agents, therapeutic agents, etc.) is driven by a truncated CCN 1 cancer selective promoter (tCCN1-Prom) are provided, as are cells and transgenic animals that contain such vectors. The vectors are used in cancer therapy and/or diagnostics, and the transgenic mice are used to monitor cancer progression, e.g. in screening assays.

Abstract: Recombinant vectors in which expression of one or more elements (e.g. gene required for viral replication, detectable imaging agents, therapeutic agents, etc.) is driven by an mda-9/syntenin (mda-9) cancer selective promoter are provided, as are cells and transgenic animals that contain such vectors. The vectors are used in cancer therapy and/or diagnostics, especially to visualize (image) and treat metastasis (including in rapid in vitro assays), and the transgenic mice are used to monitor cancer progression and/or the efficacy of candidate therapeutic agents in screening assays.

Abstract: Recombinant vectors in which expression of one or more elements (e.g. genes required for viral replication, detectable imaging agents, therapeutic agents, etc.) is driven by an mda-9/syntenin (mda-9) cancer selective promoter are provided, as are cells and transgenic animals that contain such vectors. The vectors are used in cancer therapy and/or diagnostics, especially to visualize (image) and treat metastasis (including in rapid in vitro assays), and the transgenic mice are used to monitor cancer progression and/or the efficacy of candidate therapeutic agents in screening assays.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter generally relates to genetic constructs and methods for their use in cancer imaging, cancer treatment, and combined imaging and treatment protocols. In particular, the presently disclosed subject matter relates to tripartite cancer theranostic nucleic acid constructs that permit simultaneous cancer specific viral replication, expression of a diagnostic gene product, and expression of a therapeutic gene.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates to compositions and methods directed to cancer theranostic nucleic acid constructs that permit simultaneous cancer-specific viral replication, expression of a diagnostic gene product, and expression of a therapeutic gene.

Abstract: Recombinant therapeutic cytokines (“therakines”) for the treatment of cancer are provided. The recombinant therakines include a truncated region of MDA-7/TL-24 (“M4”) not normally found in nature that has anti-cancer activity and a secretory signal which causes secretion of the therakine from plasmid/virus transduced normal and cancer cells and interaction of the therakine to MDA-7/IL-24 receptors on adjacent, neighboring and distant cancer cells. Therakine interaction results in bystander killing of the target cancer cell as well as adjacent, neighboring and distant cancer cells.

Abstract: Recombinant vectors in which expression of one or more elements (e.g. genes required for viral replication, detectable imaging agents, therapeutic agents, etc.) is driven by a truncated CCN 1 cancer selective promoter (tCCN1-Prom) are provided, as are cells and transgenic animals that contain such vectors. The vectors are used in cancer therapy and/or diagnostics, and the transgenic mice are used to monitor cancer progression, e.g. in screening assays.

Abstract: Inhibitors of Late SV-40 Factor (LSF) are used to treat cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In particular, small molecule chemical LSF inhibitors are employed. In addition, the activity and/or pattern of expression of LSF may is used to diagnose cancer, to characterize the cancer (e.g. stage, grade, prognosis, etc.) and also to develop suitable protocols for cancer treatment.

Abstract: Methods for monitoring cancer metastasis and/or monitoring the response of a patient to cancer therapy directed against metastatic cancer are provided. The methods involve measuring Insulin Growth Factor Binding Protein-2 (IGFBP-2) and/or other biomarkers in biological (e.g., blood, plasma, serum) samples from the patient.

Abstract: Inhibitors of Late SV-40 Factor (LSF) are used to treat cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In particular, small molecule chemical LSF inhibitors are employed. In addition, the activity and/or pattern of expression of LSF may is used to diagnose cancer, to characterize the cancer (e.g. stage, grade, prognosis, etc.) and also to develop suitable protocols for cancer treatment.

Abstract: Microbubble-assisted delivery of viruses is disclosed. In particular, methods for targeting a virus to cancer cells in an immunocompetent animal by administering a selectively replicating virus to the immunocompetent animal and disrupting the microbubbles in a location of the animal comprising cancer cells are provided. The virus is encompassed in a suspension of microbubbles, and the surface of the suspension does not include any virus. A suspension of microbubbles comprising a selectively replicating virus that is encompassed in a suspension of microbubbles, which does not include any virus on the surface of the suspension, is also provided.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, and therapeutic products for use in the field of oncology and specifically, for the treatment of cancer and other diseases in which SARI is ameliorative or therapeutic and/or small molecule screening for anti-cancer drugs are provided. Cancer specific gene expression using the CCN1 promoter, which is negatively regulated by SARI, for targeting therapeutic molecules in tumors is also provided.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of generating a subtracted cDNA library of a cell comprising: a) generating a cDNA library of the cell; b) isolating double-stranded DNAs from the cDNA library; c) releasing the double-stranded cDNA inserts from the double-stranded DNAs; d) denaturing the isolated double-stranded cDNA inserts; e) hybridizing the denatured double-stranded cDNA inserts with a labelled single-stranded nucleic acid molecules which are to be subtracted from the cDNA library; and f) separating the hybridized labeled single-stranded nucleic acid molecule from the double-stranded cDNA inserts, thereby generating a subtracted cDNA library of a cell. This invention also provides different uses of the subtracted library.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for reversing the cancerous phenotype of a cancer cell by introducing a nucleic acid having the melanoma differentiation associated gene (mda-7) into the cell under conditions that permit the expression of the gene so as to thereby reverse the cancerous phenotype of the cell. This invention also provides a method for reversing the cancerous phenotype of a cancer cell by introducing the gene product of the above-described gene into the cancerous cell so as to thereby reverse the cancerous phenotype of the cell. This invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition having the melanoma differentiation associated gene (mda-7) or the gene product of the melanoma differentiation associated gene (mda-7) effective to reverse the cancerous phenotype of a cancer cell and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to MDA-7 variant proteins which are deficient in or lack glycosylation. It is based, at least in part, on the results of experiments which have demonstrated that such variants are functionally equivalent to wild-type MDA-7 protein. Such proteins may be more easily produced large-scale than the wild-type protein, and may be found to be less immunogenic (thereby facilitating treatment, especially repeated treatments). Accordingly, the present invention provides for such proteins (‘Gly(def)MDA-7 proteins’), nucleic acids encoding them (‘Gly(def)mda-7 nucleic acids), pharmaceutical compositions comprising such proteins or nucleic acids, and related methods of treatment.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of generating a subtracted cDNA library of a cell comprising: a) generating a cDNA library of the cell; b) isolating double-stranded DNAs from the cDNA library; c) releasing the double-stranded cDNA inserts from the double-stranded DNAs; d) denaturing the isolated double-stranded cDNA inserts; e) hybridizing the denatured double-stranded cDNA inserts with a labelled single-stranded nucleic acid molecules which are to be subtracted from the cDNA library; and f) separating the hybridized labeled single-stranded nucleic acid molecule from the double-stranded cDNA inserts, thereby generating a subtracted cDNA library of a cell. This invention also provides different uses of the subtracted library.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for reversing the cancerous phenotype of a cancer cell by introducing a nucleic acid having the melanoma differentiation associated gene (mda-7) into the cell under conditions that permit the expression of the gene so as to thereby reverse the cancerous phenotype of the cell. This invention also provides a method for reversing the cancerous phenotype of a cancer cell by introducing the gene product of the above-described gene into the cancerous cell so as to thereby reverse the cancerous phenotype of the cell. This invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition having the melanoma differentiation associated gene (mda-7) or the gene product of the melanoma differentiation associated gene (mda-7) effective to reverse the cancerous phenotype of a cancer cell and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Astrocyte Modulated Genes (AMGs). AMGs are genes whose expression are modulated in human astrocytes grown in primary cell culture following the exposure of these cells to either the human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1 or to the HIV-1 protein gp120. AMGs comprise both Astrocyte Enhanced Genes (AEGs) and Astrocyte Suppressed Genes (ASGs). Thus, the present invention further relates to Astrocyte Enhanced Genes (AEGs), the expression of which are up-regulated in human astrocytes grown in primary cell culture that are exposed to either the human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1 or to the HIV-1 protein gp120, and to Astrocyte Suppressed Genes (ASGs), the expression of which are downregulated in human astrocytes grown in primary cell culture that are exposed to either the human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1 or to the HIV-1 protein gp120. Because they may play a role in HIV-associated dementia (“HAD”), AMGs may be used as markers in methods for screening for drugs that treat or prevent HAD.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Astrocyte Enhanced Genes (AEGs), the expression of which is upregulated in human astrocytes grown in primary cell cultures that are exposed to either the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) or to the HIV-1 glycoprotein gp120.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of generating a subtracted cDNA library of a cell comprising: a) generating a cDNA library of the cell; b) isolating double-stranded DNAs from the cDNA library; c) releasing the double-stranded cDNA inserts from the double-stranded DNAs; d) denaturing the isolated double-stranded cDNA inserts; e) hybridizing the denatured double-stranded cDNA inserts with a labelled single-stranded nucleic acid molecules which are to be subtracted from the cDNA library; and f) separating the hybridized labeled single-stranded nucleic acid molecule from the double-stranded cDNA inserts, thereby generating a subtracted cDNA library of a cell. This invention also provides different uses of the subtracted library.