Compounds and methods are provided for inhibiting an aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Methods of treating cancer are also provided. The ALDH-inhibitor can be a compound that is based on a cyclic guanidine, or an imidazolium core. In certain embodiments, the ALDH-inhibitor compound is a substituted cyclic guanidine, or a substituted imidazolium compound. Aspects of the methods include methods of selectively inhibiting a particular ALDH family member. In some cases, the subject compounds are ALDH1 B1-selective inhibitors. In some cases, the subject compounds are ALDH1A3-selective inhibitors.

The disclosure provides an in vitro method for determining potency (e.g., cytotoxicity) of an immune cell expressing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) molecule. In a test sample, CAR-expressing immune cells are incubated with target cells expressing an antigen which interacts with the CAR. In a control sample, the CAR-expressing immune cells are incubated with the target cells and an inhibitory molecule that prevents interaction between the CAR and the target cells. The amount of target cell death is determined in both the test sample and the control sample and is compared.

The invention is in the field of genomics and it provides an in vitro method for predicting whether a compound is genotoxic in vivo. In particular, the invention provides a method for predicting the in vivo genotoxicity of a compound comprising the steps of performing an Ames test on the compound and determining if the result is positive or negative, followed by a step wherein the gene expression of at least 3 genes is determined in a HepG2 cell, compared to a reference value and predicting that the compound is in vivo genotoxic if the expression level of more than 2 of the genes is above a reference value.

The invention provides methods, compositions, and systems for diagnosis, prognosis, evaluation of status, and/or determination of treatment for pathological conditions.

The invention generally relates to a microfluidic platforms or “chips” for testing and understanding cancer, and, more specifically, for understanding the factors that contribute to cancer invading tissues and causing metastases. Tumor cells are grown on microfluidic devices with other non-cancerous tissues under conditions that simulate tumor invasion. The interaction with immune cells can be tested to inhibit this activity by linking a cancer chip to a lymph chip.

The present disclosure relates to methods for screening test samples or substances that are capable of inducing or reducing nucleolar hypertrophy in cancer cells. The present disclosure further provides methods of contacting isolated cancer cells with a test sample or a substance that can induce nucleolar hypertrophy in a cancer cell. The present disclosure further provides methods for contacting an isolated cancer cell characterized by nucleolar hypertrophy with a test sample or substance that can reduce the nucleolar hypertrophy. One benefit to the method of screening disclosed herein can be the identification of test samples or substances capable of reducing nucleolar hypertrophy. Another benefit to the method of screening disclosed herein can be the identification of those combinations of test samples, substances, or combinations or series thereof, which are suitable or optimal for treating specific cancers in patients.

The present disclosure provides methods for producing activated type I sulfatases, or functional fragments thereof, using Formylglycine Generating Enzymes (FGEs). Also featured by the disclosure are recombinant fungal (e.g., Yarrowia lipolytica) cells expressing the FGE and, in some embodiments, type I sulfatases, or functional fragments thereof, and/or additional accessory enzymes. The disclosure also provides activated type I sulfatases or functional fragments thereof, made by the disclosed methods and therapeutic methods using the activated type I sulfatases or functional fragments thereof.

The invention generally relates to a microfluidic platforms or “chips” for testing and understanding cancer, and, more specifically, for understanding the factors that contribute to cancer invading tissues and causing metastases. Tumor cells are grown on microfluidic devices with other non-cancerous tissues under conditions that simulate tumor invasion. The interaction with immune cells can be tested to inhibit this activity by linking a cancer chip to a lymph chip.

The present invention generally relates to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics markers for cancer therapeutic regimens and methods of treating cancer. Oncolytic virus probes that comprise a nucleic acid encoding soluble interferon beta (IFNβ) and methods for use thereof are provided.

Pre-treatment clinical data and radiomic features extracted from computed tomography (CT) scans were used to develop a parsimonious model to predict survival outcomes among NSCLC patients treated with immunotherapy. The biological underpinnings of the radiomics features were assessed utilizing geneexpression information from a well-annotated radiogenomics NSCLC dataset and were further assessed for survival in four independent NSCLC cohorts. Therefore, disclosed herein is a method for predicting efficacy of immunotherapy in a subject with lung cancer using the disclosed radiomic features.