Geron patent published: Method for identification of sensitivity of a patient to telomerase inhibition therapy

[Fishermangents]

Method for identification of sensitivity of a patient to telomerase inhibition therapy

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13/124,376, filed Apr. 14, 2011, which is a 371 of PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US09/60526, filed Oct. 13, 2009, which claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 61/106,491, filed Oct. 17, 2008, which applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the field of identification of patients who are sensitive to telomerase inhibiting agents. In particular the invention provides methods for detecting patients who should limit or modify the use of telomerase inhibitors because they are in a risk category for developing limiting sensitivity such as thrombocytopenia.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides methods of determining the susceptibility of cancer patients to develop toxicities if treated with a telomerase inhibitor drug. The invention requires the measurement of telomere lengths in appropriate cells of the patient prior to initiation of the telomerase inhibitor treatment and the correlation of the telomere length measurement with susceptibility to thrombocytopenia. In one embodiment, an algorithm is provided to assist with the correlation.

The invention provides a method of monitoring a patient for an adverse event related to telomerase inhibition therapy wherein the method comprises testing a biological sample from the patient for the length or length distribution of telomeres. The method may further comprise the step of identifying the likelihood that a mammalian subject will exhibit an adverse reaction to treatment with a telomerase inhibition therapy.

link: http://www.freshpatents.com/-dt20171019 ... 298421.php

[cheng_ho]

I don't think this patent will apply to any therapeutic use of imet. Real-world therapies will always be combinations, so the issue of resistance to imet will be avoided.

This is a good thing for imet's possible clinical use, of course.... the patent aims to limit the applicable patient population based on their estimated response to imet monotherapy.

[Fishermangents]

Indeed, Cheng. It is for testing purposes.