The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions which can modulate the globoseries glycosphingolipid synthesis. Particularly, the present disclosure is directed to glycoenzyme inhibitor compound and compositions and methods of use thereof that can modulate the synthesis of globoseries glycosphingolipid SSEA-3/SSEA-4/GloboH in the biosynthetic pathway; particularly, the glycoenzyme inhibitors target the alpha-4GalT; beta-4GalNAcT-I; or beta-3GalT-V enzymes in the globoseries synthetic pathway. Additionally, the present disclosure is also directed to vaccines, antibodies, and/or immunogenic conjugate compositions targeting the SSEA-3/SSEA-4/GLOBO H associated epitopes (natural and modified) which elicit antibodies and/or binding fragment production useful for modulating the globoseries glycosphingolipid synthesis. Moreover, the present disclosure is also directed to the method of using the compositions described herein for the treatment or detection of hyperproliferative diseases and/or conditions. Furthermore, the instant disclosure also relates to cancer stem cell biomarkers for diagnostic and therapeutic uses.

Described herein are compositions and methods for predicting drug responsiveness in cellular samples from cancer subjects. Described herein are compositions and methods that can help determine treatment options and select subjects for clinical trials.

Disclosed are compositions and methods for modulating cancer stem cells. More particularly, the present invention discloses the use of lysine demethylase (LSD) inhibitors and protein kinase C theta inhibitors (PKC-θ) for inhibiting the growth of LSD- and/or PKC-θ-overexpressing cells including cancer stem cells, for enhancing the biological effects of chemotherapeutic drugs or irradiation on cancer cells, for treating cancer, including non-metastatic and metastatic cancer and/or for preventing cancer recurrence.

The present invention is directed to a method for identifying an individual who is at risk for developing metastatic liver disease that involves measuring, in a sample isolated from the individual, exosomal levels of one or more markers of metastatic liver disease. Kits for carrying out this method are also disclosed. The present invention also relates to a method of preventing metastatic liver disease in an individual who are at risk for developing the disease that involves administering one or more inhibitors of liver pre-metastatic niche formation.

A system and method for capturing and analyzing a set of cells, comprising: an array including a set of parallel pores, each pore including a chamber including a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet, and configured to hold a single cell, and a pore channel fluidly connected to the chamber outlet; an inlet channel fluidly connected to each chamber inlet of the set of parallel pores; an outlet channel fluidly connected to each pore channel of the set of parallel pores; a set of electrophoresis channels fluidly coupled to the outlet channel, configured to receive a sieving matrix for electrophoretic separation; and a set of electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the set of electrodes is configured to provide an electric field that facilitates electrophoretic analysis of the set of cells.

A lateral flow assay device for testing a biological sample includes housing, a sample receiving pad, a conjugate test pad, and a nitrocellulose membrane. The sample receiving pad and conjugate test pad, as well as the nitrocellulose membrane, are enclosed within an interior portion of the housing. The sample receiving pad is in fluid communication with an opening defined in an outer surface of the housing for receiving the biological sample. At least a portion of the conjugate test pad is in contact with the sample receiving pad and is configured to test the biological sample. At least one window is defined in the outer surface of the housing adjacent the conjugate test pads such that the results of the test performed on the conjugate test pads are visible from outside of the housing.

A method of generating MSCs which secrete neurotrophic factors (NTFs) comprising incubating a population of undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a differentiating medium comprising basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), heregulin and cAMP.

The present invention relates to functional binding fragments comprising the minimal binding fragments of VAR2CSA, to antibodies against such binding fragments of VAR2CSA, nucleic acids encoding such fragments of VAR2CSA as well as methods for their production. The invention further relates to conjugates and fusion proteins of VAR2CSA polypeptides including the minimal binding fragments and their use, in particular in the treatment of conditions associated with expression of chondroitin sulfate A (CSA), such as an inappropriate expression of chondroitin sulfate A (CSA).

Methods for treating, preventing and predicting a subject's risk of developing breast cancer are provided.

A system and method for capturing and analyzing a set of cells, comprising: an array including a set of parallel pores, each pore including a chamber including a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet, and configured to hold a single cell, and a pore channel fluidly connected to the chamber outlet; an inlet channel fluidly connected to each chamber inlet of the set of parallel pores; an outlet channel fluidly connected to each pore channel of the set of parallel pores; a set of electrophoresis channels fluidly coupled to the outlet channel, configured to receive a sieving matrix for electrophoretic separation; and a set of electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the set of electrodes is configured to provide an electric field that facilitates electrophoretic analysis of the set of cells.