Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Animal cell – per se ; composition thereof; process of... – Method of regulating cell metabolism or physiology
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-02
2002-01-01
McGarry, Sean (Department: 1635)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Animal cell, per se ; composition thereof; process of...
Method of regulating cell metabolism or physiology
C436S006000, C436S169000, C436S169000, C536S023100, C536S024100, C536S024500, C514S04400A
Reexamination Certificate
active
06335194
ABSTRACT:
The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating the expression of Survivin. In particular, this invention relates to antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, specifically hybridizable with nucleic acids encoding human Survivin. Such oligonucleotides have been shown to modulate the expression of Survivin.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A hallmark feature of cancerous cells is uncontrolled proliferation. Among the differences that have been discovered between tumor and normal cells is resistance to the process of programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis (Ambrosini et al.,
Nat. Med.,
1997, 3, 917-921). Apoptosis is a process multicellular organisms have evolved to prevent uncontrolled cell proliferation as well as to eliminate cells that have become sick, deleterious, or are no longer necessary. The process of apoptosis involves a multistep cascade in which cells are degraded from within through the concerted action of proteolytic enzymes and DNA endonucleases, resulting in the formation of apoptotic bodies that are then removed by scavenger cells. Research to date has shown that much of the intracellular degradation is carried out through the action of the caspases, a family of proteolytic enzymes that cleave adjacent to aspartate residues (Cohen,
Biochemistry Journal,
1997, 326, 1-16).
The finding that most tumor cells display resistance to the apoptotic process has led to the view that therapeutic strategies aimed at attenuating the resistance of tumor cells to apoptosis could represent a novel means to halt the spread of neoplastic cells (Ambrosini et al.,
Nat. Med.,
1997, 3, 917-921). One of the mechanisms through which tumor cells are believed to acquire resistance to apoptosis is by overexpression of Survivin, a recently described member of the IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis) caspase inhibitor family. To date, overexpression of Survivin has been detected in tumors of the lung, colon, pancreas, prostate, breast, stomach, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and neuroblastoma (Adida et al.,
Lancet,
1998, 351, 882-883; Ambrosini et al.,
Nat. Med.,
1997, 3, 917-921; Lu et al.,
Cancer Res.,
1998, 58, 1808-1812). A more detailed analysis has been performed in neuroblastoma where it was found that Survivin overexpression segregated with tumor histologies known to associate with poor prognosis (Adida et al.,
Lancet,
1998, 351, 882-883). Finally, Ambrosini et al. describe transfection of HeLa cells with an expression vector containing a 708 nt fragment of the human cDNA encoding effector cell protease receptor 1 (EPR-1), the coding sequence of which is extensively complementary to the coding strand of Survivin (Ambrosini et al.,
J. Bio. Chem.,
1998, 273, 11177-11182) and which potentially acts as a Survivin antisense RNA. This construct caused a reduction in cell viability. Methods for modulating apoptosis and for reducing the severity of a pathological state mediated by Survivin using agents that modulate amounts or activity of Survivin are disclosed in WO 98/22589, which also discloses the EPR-1 coding strand/Survivin antisense construct described by Ambrosini et al., supra.
Survivin has recently been found to play a role in cell cycle regulation. It has been found to be expressed in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle in a cycle-regulated manner, and associates with microtubules of the mitotic spindle. Disruption of this interaction results in loss of Survivin's anti-apoptotic function and increased caspase-3 activity during mitosis. Caspase-3 is associated with apoptotic cell death. It is therefore believed that Survivin may counteract a default induction of apoptosis in G2/M phase. It is believed that the overexpression of Survivin in cancer may overcome this apoptotic checkpoint, allowing undesired survival and division of cancerous cells. The Survivin antisense construct described by Ambrosini above was found to downregulate endogenous Survivin in HeLa cells and to increase caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in cells in G2/M phase. Li et al., Nature, 1998, 396, 580-584.
As a result of these advances in the understanding of apoptosis and the role that Survivin expression is believed to play in conferring a growth advantage to a wide variety of tumor cell types, there is a great desire to provide compositions of matter which can modulate the expression of Survivin. It is greatly desired to provide methods of diagnosis and detection of nucleic acids encoding Survivin in animals. It is also desired to provide methods of diagnosis and treatment of conditions arising from Survivin expression. In addition, improved research kits and reagents for detection and study of nucleic acids encoding Survivin are desired.
Currently, there are no known therapeutic agents which effectively inhibit the synthesis of Survivin. Consequently, there is a long-felt need for agents capable of effectively inhibiting Survivin expression in tumor cells. Antisense oligonucleotides against Survivin may therefore prove to be uniquely useful in a number of therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, which are targeted to a nucleic acid encoding Survivin, and which modulate the expression of Survivin. Pharmaceutical and other compositions comprising the antisense compounds of the invention are also provided. Further provided are methods of modulating the expression of Survivin in cells or tissues comprising contacting said cells or tissues with one or more of the antisense compounds or compositions of the invention. Further provided are methods of treating an animal, particularly a human, suspected of having or being prone to a disease or condition associated with expression of Survivin by administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of one or more of the antisense compounds or compositions of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention employs oligomeric antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, for use in modulating the function of nucleic acid molecules encoding Survivin, ultimately modulating the amount of Survivin produced. This is accomplished by providing antisense compounds which specifically hybridize with one or more nucleic acids encoding Survivin. As used herein, the terms “target nucleic acid” and “nucleic acid encoding Survivin” encompass DNA encoding Survivin, RNA (including pre-mRNA and mRNA) transcribed from such DNA, and also cDNA derived from such RNA. The specific hybridization of an oligomeric compound with its target nucleic acid interferes with the normal function of the nucleic acid. This modulation of function of a target nucleic acid by compounds which specifically hybridize to it is generally referred to as “antisense”. The functions of DNA to be interfered with include replication and transcription. The functions of RNA to be interfered with include all vital functions such as, for example, translocation of the RNA to the site of protein translation, translation of protein from the RNA, splicing of the RNA to yield one or more mRNA species, and catalytic activity which may be engaged in or facilitated by the RNA. The overall effect of such interference with target nucleic acid function is modulation of the expression of Survivin. In the context of the present invention, “modulation” means either an increase (stimulation) or a decrease (inhibition) in the expression of a gene. In the context of the present invention, inhibition is the preferred form of modulation of gene expression and mRNA is a preferred target.
It is preferred to target specific nucleic acids for antisense. “Targeting” an antisense compound to a particular nucleic acid, in the context of this invention, is a multistep process. The process usually begins with the identification of a nucleic acid sequence whose function is to be modulated. This may be, for example, a cellular gene (or mRNA transcribed from the gene) whose expression is associated with a particular disorder or disease state, or
Ackermann Elizabeth J.
Bennett C. Frank
Cowsert Lex M.
Swayze Eric E.
ISIS Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Licata & Tyrrell P.C.
McGarry Sean
LandOfFree
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