Gene encoding a human reduced folate carrier (RFC)

US5763216A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services · US

Inventors

• Jeffrey Moscow · Silver Spring, US
• Kenneth H. Cowan
• Kathy Dixon · Olney, US
• Rui He · 红钢城街道, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 7, 1995
• Grant date: Jun 9, 1998
• Expiry date: Jun 7, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61K48/00
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

One shortcoming of methotrexate chemotherapy is that previously responsive tumors can become refractory to methotrexate after continued exposure. Such methotrexate resistance may be due to underexpression of reduced folate carrier (RFC) protein. The present invention provides DNA molecules encoding human RFC. The present invention also relates to expression vectors comprising RFC-encoding DNA molecules, and to the use of such vectors to restore methotrexate sensitivity in mammalian cells. The present invention further relates to antibodies that bind with human RFC protein, and to methods of detecting human RFC protein using such antibodies.