Windows 8 All Version Activator K.J 121017L
Theodora Glime
Described herein are genes whose expression are up-regulated or down-regulated in ovarian cancer. Related methods and compositions that can be used for diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer are disclosed. Also described herein are methods that can be used to identify modulators of ovarian cancer.
[0002] The invention relates to the identification of nucleic acid and protein expression profiles and nucleic acids, products, and antibodies thereto that are involved in ovarian cancer; and to the use of such expression profiles and compositions in the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of ovarian cancer. The invention further relates to methods for identifying and using agents and/or targets that inhibit ovarian cancer.
[0003] Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women, accounting for 6% of all female cancers. It ranks fifth as the cause of cancer death in women. The American Cancer Society predicts that there will be about 23,100 new cases of ovarian cancer in this country in the year 2000 and about 14,000 women will die of the disease. Because many ovarian cancers cannot be detected early in their development, they account for a disproportionate number of fatal cancers, being responsible for almost half the deaths from cancer of the female genital tract; more deaths than any other reproductive organ cancer.
[0007] The identification of novel therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers is essential for improving the current treatment of ovarian cancer patients. Recent advances in molecular medicine have increased the interest in tumor-specific cell surface antigens that could serve as targets for various immunotherapeutic or small molecule strategies. Antigens suitable for immunotherapeutic strategies should be highly expressed in cancer tissues and ideally not expressed in normal adult tissues. Expression in tissues that are dispensable for life, however, may be tolerated. Examples of such antigens include Her2/neu and the B-cell antigen CD20. Humanized monoclonal antibodies directed to Her2/neu (Hercepting/trastuzumab) are currently in use for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Ross and Fletcher (1998) Stem Cells 16:413-428. Similarly, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (Rituxin/rituximab) are used to effectively treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Maloney, et al. (1997) Blood 90:2188-2195; Leget and Czuczman (1998) Curr. Opin. Oncol. 10:548-551.
[0010] Other biochemical markers such as CA125 have been reported to be associated with ovarian cancer, but they are not absolute indicators of disease. Although roughly 85% of women with clinically apparent ovarian cancer have increased levels of CA125, CA125 is also increased during the first trimester of pregnancy, during menstruation, in the presence of non-cancerous illnesses, and in cancers of other sites.
[0011] While industry and academia have identified novel gene sequences, there has not been an equal effort exerted to identify the function of these novel sequences. The elucidation of a role for novel proteins and compounds in disease states for identification of therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers is essential for improving the current treatment of ovarian cancer patients. Accordingly, provided herein are molecular targets for therapeutic intervention in ovarian and other cancers. Additionally, provided herein are methods that can be used in diagnosis and prognosis of ovarian cancer. Further provided are methods that can be used to screen candidate bioactive agents for the ability to modulate ovarian cancer.
[0012] The present invention therefore provides nucleotide sequences of genes that are up- and down-regulated in ovarian cancer cells. Such genes are useful for diagnostic purposes, and also as targets for screening for therapeutic compounds that modulate ovarian cancer, such as hormones or antibodies. The methods of detecting nucleic acids of the invention or their encoded proteins can be used for many purposes, e.g., early detection of ovarian cancers, monitoring and early detection of relapse following treatment, monitoring response to therapy, selecting patients for postoperative chemotherapy or radiation therapy, selecting therapy, determining tumor prognosis, treatment, or response to treatment (of primary or metastatic tumors), and early detection of pre-cancerous lesions. Other aspects of the invention will become apparent to the skilled artisan by the following description of the invention.
[0013] In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of detecting an ovarian cancer-associated transcript in a cell from a patient, the method comprising contacting a biological sample from the patient with a polynucleotide that selectively hybridizes to a sequence at least 80% identical to a sequence as shown in Tables 1-20.
[0015] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of detecting an ovarian cancer-associated transcript in a cell from a patient, the method comprising contacting a biological sample from the patient with a polynucleotide that selectively hybridizes to a sequence at least 80% identical to a sequence as shown in Tables 1-20.
[0024] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of monitoring the efficacy of a therapeutic treatment of ovarian cancer, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a biological sample from a patient undergoing the therapeutic treatment; and (ii) determining the level of an ovarian cancer-associated transcript in the biological sample by contacting the biological sample with a polynucleotide that selectively hybridizes to a sequence at least 80% identical to a sequence as shown in Tables 1-20, thereby monitoring the efficacy of the therapy. In a further embodiment, the patient has metastatic ovarian cancer. In a further embodiment, the patient has a drug resistant form of ovarian cancer.
[0025] In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: (iii) comparing the level of the ovarian cancer-associated transcript to a level of the ovarian cancer-associated transcript in a biological sample from the patient prior to, or earlier in, the therapeutic treatment.
[0026] Additionally, provided herein is a method of evaluating the effect of a candidate ovarian cancer drug comprising administering the drug to a patient and removing a cell sample from the patient. The expression profile of the cell is then determined. This method may further comprise comparing the expression profile to an expression profile of a healthy individual. In a preferred embodiment, said expression profile includes a gene of Tables 1-20.
[0030] In another aspect, the present invention provides an antibody that specifically binds to an isolated polypeptide which is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having polynucleotide sequence as shown in Tables 1-20.
[0033] In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of detecting an ovarian cancer cell in a biological sample from a patient, the method comprising contacting the biological sample with an antibody as described herein.
[0034] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of detecting antibodies specific to ovarian cancer in a patient, the method comprising contacting a biological sample from the patient with a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid comprising a sequence from Tables 1-20.
[0035] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for identifying a compound that modulates an ovarian cancer-associated polypeptide, the method comprising the steps of: (i) contacting the compound with an ovarian cancer-associated polypeptide, the polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that selectively hybridizes to a sequence at least 80% identical to a sequence as shown in Tables 1-20; and (ii) determining the functional effect of the compound upon the polypeptide.
[0039] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of inhibiting proliferation of an ovarian cancer-associated cell to treat ovarian cancer in a patient, the method comprising the step of administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound identified as described herein.
[0040] In one embodiment, the compound is an antibody. In another aspect, the present invention provides a drug screening assay comprising the steps of: (i) administering a test compound to a mammal having ovarian cancer or to a cell sample isolated from; (ii) comparing the level of gene expression of a polynucleotide that selectively hybridizes to a sequence at least 80% identical to a sequence as shown in Tables 1-20 in a treated cell or mammal with the level of gene expression of the polynucleotide in a control cell sample or mammal, wherein a test compound that modulates the level of expression of the polynucleotide is a candidate for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
[0041] In one embodiment, the control is a mammal with ovarian cancer or a cell sample that has not been treated with the test compound. In another embodiment, the control is a normal cell or mammal, or is non-malignant tissue.
[0042] In one embodiment, the test compound is administered in varying amounts or concentrations. In another embodiment, the test compound is administered for varying time periods. In another embodiment, the comparison can occur after addition or removal of the drug candidate.
[0043] In one embodiment, the levels of a plurality of polynucleotides that selectively hybridize to a sequence at least 80% identical to a sequence as shown in Tables 1-20 are individually compared to their respective levels in a control cell sample or mammal. In a preferred embodiment the plurality of polynucleotides is from three to ten.
[0044] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for treating a mammal having ovarian cancer comprising administering a compound identified by the assay described herein. In another aspect, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for treating a mammal having ovarian cancer, the composition comprising a compound identified by the assay described herein and a physiologically acceptable excipient.
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