Polynucleotide constructs, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for targeted downregulation of angiogenesis and anticancer therapy

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A novel nucleic acid construct for down-regulating angiogenesis in a tissue of a subject is provided. The nucleicacid construct includes: (a) a first polynucleotide region encoding a chimeric polypeptide including a ligand binding domain fused to an effector domain of an apoptosis signaling molecule; and (b) a second polynucleotide region encoding a cis acting regulatory element being for directing expression of the chimeric polypeptide in a specific tissue or cell; wherein the ligand binding domain is selected such that it is capable of binding a ligand present in the specific tissue or cell whereas binding of the ligand to the ligand binding domain activates the effector domain of …