This project aimed to protect and commercialize a new panel of transplantable mouse lung cancer cell lines with defined mutation status (MLC) for cancer research and drug discovery. In addition, we aimed at disseminating and exploiting a novel method for generating an unlimited pool of such lines from various strains of mice. Human lung cancer is characterized by a variety of mutations in oncogenes (i.e. KRAS) and tumor suppresors (i.e. TRP53), which largely determine whether lung tumors respond to a given therapeutic regime. Human lung cancer cell lines are invaluable for in vitro studies, but need to be propagated in immunodeficient mice, compromising the validity of the results obtained. A panel of syngeneic MLC with a defined and a genetically malleable battery of mutated oncogenes would allow more physiologically relevant studies, would help accelerate research and drug discovery in the field, and would generate substantial interest in the academia and the industry. For the purposes of mother project FP7-IDEAS-ERC-StG-2010-KRASHIMPE-260524 aimed at studying KRAS-driven host-tumor interactions, we derived such MLC lines from the lungs of mice using exposure to tobacco carcinogens or genetic oncogenesis. We requested funding to i) characterize MLC lines to show proof-of-concept data that they can be used for drug and oncogene discovery; ii) assemble them into a marketable product; iii) protect these discoveries; iv) assess their market potential; v) attract potential interested parties; and vi) commercialize this new product, in hope to speed up investigation and drug discovery by shortening the presently wide time interval between cancer wet bench research and clinical applications. The project’s goals were largely achieved, and several milestones towards commercialization and dissemination of the cell lines and the technology were met. More cell lines were derived. Existing and new cell lines were better characterized. The market potential of the cell lines and the method to generate them was assessed and a strategy was defined to get the best out of the product for research and the society. Potential vendors were contacted and negotiations were initiated for potential dissemination. Publications were published and are currently being drafted that will attract interest in the new cell lines. Overall, the PoC grant initiated and facilitated the process of dissemination of the cell lines, which is anticipated to be fully deployed and completed within the forthcoming year.
