Cytodyn Inc. is seeking to expand prospects for lead program PRO-140 beyond HIV and a more recent effort in graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) by evaluating its use in cancer and immunology. To drive that effort, the Vancouver, Wash.-based firm is bringing in Prostagene LLC, a privately held company focused on prostate cancer diagnostics and therapies seeking to prevent cancer metastasis by blocking CCR5. The companies said that research conducted by Cytodyn along with Richard Pestell, Prostagene's CEO, and his collaborators showed that selectively blocking the CCR5 receptor and the interaction of the chemokine CCL5/RANTES was important to modulate immune cell trafficking. The CCR5 receptor also is believed to play a role in cancer cell invasion and metastasis.