24318 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 84 / Wednesday, May 2, 2007 / Notices 

SUMMARY: The inventions listed below 

are owned by an agency of the U.S. 

Government and are available for 

licensing in the U.S. in accordance with 

35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious 

commercialization of results of 

federally-funded research and 

development. Foreign patent 

applications are filed on selected 

inventions to extend market coverage 

for companies and may also be available 

for licensing. 

ADDRESSES: Licensing information and 

copies of the U.S. patent applications 

listed below may be obtained by writing 

to the indicated licensing contact at the 

Office of Technology Transfer, National 

Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive 

Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, 

Maryland 20852–3804; telephone: 301/ 

496–7057; fax: 301/402–0220. A signed 

Confidential Disclosure Agreement will 

be required to receive copies of the 

patent applications. 

Diagnosing and Treating Cancer Using 

Beta-Catenin Splice Variants 

Description of Technology: This 

application discloses and claims 

inventions which may be used alone or 

together. One group of inventions 

relates to early detection diagnostic, 

prognostic and patient monitoring 

methods (‘‘Diagnostic Methods’’). The 

other group of inventions relates to 

methods of treatment. Both groups of 

inventions have particular application 

with respect to esophageal squamous 

cell cancers (ESCC) or other types of 

adenocarcinomas and squamous cell 

carcinomas. 

The Diagnostic Methods are useful in 

evaluating the status of preneoplastic 

lesions as well as tumor tissue. Because 

of this, the methods can be used to track 

the progression or regression of disease 

in many types of cell samples from 

normal to dysplasia to cancer. 

The Diagnostic Methods involve 

measuring the level of one or more pairs 

of transcripts or the protein products of 

these pairs of transcripts or the cellular 

localization of the transcripts or 

proteins. The primary transcripts or 

protein products useful in this method 

are those of the beta-Catenin gene 

(CTNNB1). In particular, the levels of 

the 16A and 16B CTNNB1 transcripts or 

protein products are of importance in 

carrying out the methods of this patent 

application. Other gene transcripts or 

protein products that may be used in 

conjunction with CTNNB1 16A and 16B 

to provide additional information are 

WAF1 (p21) and cMYC. 

The treatment methods include 

employing small interfering RNA 

molecules (siRNAs) as a means to alter 

the expression of one or more of these 

particular CTNNB1 transcripts. More 

specifically, preferred siRNA molecules 

can be used to alter the expression of 

the CTNNB1 transcripts 16A and/or 

16B. These siRNA molecules may be 

single-stranded (ss) or double-stranded 

(ds) and may be delivered using a 

construct capable of producing the 

siRNA molecule upon delivery to the 

target cell. 

Applications: Diagnostic or prognostic 

methods for squamous cell cancers and 

adenocarcinomas; Monitoring 

therapeutic response during and after 

patient treatment; Development of 

cancer treatments; Basic research to 

further elucidate the role of beta catenin 

in signal transduction pathways and 

carcinogenesis. 

Development Stage: The use of beta 

catenin transcripts to provide prognostic 

or diagnostic information remains the 

subject of research but early patient data 

is found in the article in Genes 

Chromosomes & Cancer listed below. 

Work related to the use of siRNA as a 

treatment strategy remains in its early 

stages of research and has not yet 

progressed to clinical trials. 

Inventors: Mark J. Roth and Konrad 

Huppi (NCI). 

Publications: 

1. The patent application has been 

published as WO 2006/086772 A2 on 17 

August 2006. 

2. MJ Roth et al. beta-Catenin splice 

variants and downstream targets as 

markers for neoplastic progression of 

esophageal cancer. Genes Chromosomes 

Cancer. 2005 Dec;44(4):423–428. 

3. SE Martin et al. Multiplexing 

siRNAs to compress RNAi-based screen 

size in human cells. Nucleic Acids Res. 

2007 Mar 28; E published ahead of 

print, doi:10.1093/nar/gkm141. 

4. A Thiele et al. AU-rich elements 

and alternative splicing in the betaCatenin 3’ UTR can influence the 

human beta-Catenin mRNA stability. 

Exp Cell Res. 2006 Jul;312:2367–2378. 

Patent Status: 

PCT/US2006/05032 filed 10 Feb 2006 

and published as WO 2006/086772 on 

17 Aug 2006, currently pending, 

entitled ‘‘Method of Diagnosing and 

Treating Cancer Using Beta Catenin 

Splice Variants’’ (HHS Reference No. E– 

018–2005/2–PCT–01); 

U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/ 

667,084 filed 30 Mar 2005, now 

abandoned (HHS Reference No. E–018– 

2005/1–US–01); 

U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/ 

652,154 filed 10 Feb 2005, now 

abandoned (HHS Reference No. E–018– 

2005/0–US–01). 

Biological Materials Availability: 

Biological materials related to this 

technology are available and include 

those referred to in the following 

publications as well as a series of 

recently established aptamers capable of 

specific binding to the CTNNB1 protein. 

1. MJ Roth et al. Cytologic detection 

of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma 

and precursor lesions using balloon and 

sponge samplers in asymptomatic adults 

in Linxian, China. Cancer. 1997 Dec 

1;80(11):2047–2059. 

2. Q–J Pan et al. Cytologic detection 

of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma 

and its precursor lesions using balloon 

samplers and liquid-based cytology in 

asymptomatic adults in Linxian, China. 

ACTA Cytologica (In Press). 

3. MJ Roth et al. A study of betacatenin splice variants and associated 

downstream targets as markers for 

neoplastic progression of squamous cell 

carcinoma of the esophagus. Genes 

Chromosomes Cancer. 2005 

Dec;44(4):423–428. 

4. PJ Limburg et al. Randomized, 

placebo-controlled esphogeal squamous 

cell cancer chemoprevention trial of 

selenomethionine and celecoxib. 

Gastroenterology. 2005 Sept;129(3):863– 

873. 

Licensing Availability: This 

application is available for license on a 

non-exclusive or exclusive basis. 

Licensing Contact: Susan S. Rucker, 

Esq.; 301/435–4478; 

ruckersu@mail.nih.gov 

Collaborative Research Opportunity: 

The National Cancer Institute, Division 

of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, is 

seeking statements of capability or 

interest from parties interested in 

collaborative research to further 

develop, evaluate, or commercialize a 

method of diagnosing and treating 

cancer using beta-Catenin splice 

variants. Please contact John D. Hewes, 

PhD at 301–435–3121 or 

hewesj@mail.nih.gov for more 

information. 8356 

Dated: April 25, 2007. 

Steven M. Ferguson, 

Director, Division of Technology Development 

and Transfer, Office of Technology Transfer, 

National Institutes of Health. 

[FR Doc. E7–8356 Filed 5–1–07; 8:45 am] 

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Meeting 

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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 84 / Wednesday, May 2, 2007 / Notices 24319 

Fogarty International Center Advisory 

Board. 

The meeting will be open to the 

public as indicated below, with 

attendance limited to space available. 

Individuals who plan to attend and 

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The meeting will be closed to the 

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Name of Committee: Fogarty International 

Center Advisory Board. 

Date: May 21–22, 2007. 

Closed: May 21, 2007, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Agenda: To review and evaluate grant 

applications and/or proposals. 

Place: National Institutes of Health, 

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Open: May 22, 2007, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Agenda: Fogarty International Center will 

present an early draft of the Strategic Plan. 

Place: National Institutes of Health, 

Lawton Chiles International House, Bethesda, 

MD 20892. 

Contact Person: Jean L. Flagg-Newton, 

Ph.D., Special Assistant to the Director, FIC, 

Fogarty International Center, National 

Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, 

Building 31, Room B2C29, Bethesda, MD 

20892, (301) 496–2968, 

flaggnej@mail.nih.gov. 

Any interested person may file written 

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the statement to the Contact Person listed on 

this notice. The statement should include the 

name, address, telephone number and when 

applicable, the business or professional 

affiliation of the interested person. 

In the interest of security, NIH has 

instituted stringent procedures for entrance 

onto the NIH campus. All visitor vehicles, 

including taxicabs, hotel, and airport shuttles 

will be inspected before being allowed on 

campus. Visitors will be asked to show one 

form of identification (for example, a 

government-issued photo ID, driver’s license, 

or passport) and to state the purpose of their 

visit. 

Information is also available on the 

Institute’s/Center’s home page: http:// 

www.nih.gov/fic/about/advisory.html, where 

an agenda and any additional information for 

the meeting will be posted when available. 

(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance 

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and Behavioral Sciences; 93.154, Special 

International Postdoctoral Research Program 

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Awards Program, National Institutes of 

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Dated: April 24, 2007. 

Jennifer Spaeth, 

Director, Office of Federal Advisory 

Committee Policy. 

[FR Doc. 07–2144 Filed 5–1–07; 8:45 am] 

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National Institutes of Health 

National Cancer Institute; Notice of 

Meeting 

Pursuant to section 10(d) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 

amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice 

is hereby given of a meeting of the 

National Cancer Advisory Board. 

The meeting will be open to the 

public as indicated below, with 

attendance limited to space available. 

Individuals who plan to attend and 

need special assistance, such as sign 

language interpretation or other 

reasonable accommodations, should 

notify the Contact Person listed below 

in advance of the meeting. 

A portion of the meeting will be 

closed to the public in accordance with 

the provisions set forth in sections 

552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C., 

as amended. The grant applications and 

the discussions could disclose 

confidential trade secrets or commercial 

property such as patentable material, 

and personal information concerning 

individuals associated with the grant 

applications, the disclosure of which 

would constitute a clearly unwarranted 

invasion of personal privacy. 

Name of Committee: National Cancer 

Advisory Board. 

Date: June 14, 2007, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Agenda: Program reports and 

presentations; Business of the Board. 

Place: National Cancer Institute, 9000 

Rockville Pike, building 31, C Wing, 6th 

Floor, Conference Room 10, Bethesda, MD 

20892. 

Contact Person: Dr. Paulette, S. Gray, 

Executive Secretary, National Cancer 

Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6116 

Executive Boulevard, 8th Floor, Room 8001, 

Bethesda, MD 20892–8327, (301) 496–5147. 

Name of Committee: National Cancer 

Advisory Board. 

Date: June 14, 2007, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

Agenda: Review of grant applications. 

Contact Person: Dr. Paulette, S. Gray, 

Executive Secretary, National Cancer 

Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6116 

Executive Boulevard, 8th Floor, Room 8001, 

Bethesda, MD 20892–8327, (301) 496–5147. 

Name of Committee: National Cancer 

Advisory Board. 

Date: June 15, 2007, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Agenda: Program reports and 

presentations; Business of the Board. 

Place: National Cancer Institute, 9000 

Rockville Pike, Building 31, C Wing, 6th 

Floor, Conference Room 10, Bethesda, MD 

20892. 

Contact Person: Dr. Paulette S. Gray, 

Executive Secretary, National Cancer 

Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6116 

Executive Boulevard, 8th Floor, Room 8001, 

Bethesda, MD 20892–8327, (301) 496–5147. 

Any interested person may file written 

comments with the committee by forwarding 

the statement to the Contact Person listed on 

this notice. The statement should include the 

name, address, telephone number and when 

applicable, the business or professional 

affiliation of the interested person. 

In the interest of security, NIH has 

instituted stringent procedures for entrance 

onto the NIH campus. All visitor vehicles, 

including taxicabs, hotel, and airport shuttles 

will be inspected before being allowed on 

campus. Visitors will be asked to show one 

form of identification (for example, a 

government-issued photo ID, driver’s license, 

or passport) and state the purpose of their 

visit. 

Information is also available on the 

Institute’s/Center’s home page: 

deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/ncab.htm, 

where an agenda and any additional 

information for the meeting will be posted 

when available. 

(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program Nos. 93.392, Cancer Construction; 

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Research; 93.394, Cancer Detection and 

Diagnosis Research; 93.395, Cancer 

Treatment Research; 93.396, Cancer biology 

Research; 93.397, Cancer Centers Support; 

93.398, Cancer Research Manpower; 93.399, 

Cancer Control, National Institutes of Health, 

HHS) 

Dated: April 25, 2007. 

Jennifer Spaeth, 

Director, Office of Federal Advisory 

Committee Policy. 

[FR Doc. 07–2146 Filed 5–1–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4140–01–M 

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National Center for Research 

Resources; Notice of Closed Meetings 

Pursuant to section 10(d) of the 

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amended ( 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice 

is hereby given of the following 

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