Genetic alterations associated with prostate cancer

Abstract

The present invention provides new probes for the detection of prostate cancer cells. The probes bind selectively with target polynucleotide sequences selected from the group consisting of 2q, 4q, 5q, 6q, 10p, 15q, 1q, 2p, 3q, 3p, 4q, 6p, 7p, 7q, 9q, 11p, 16p, and 17q. PATENT

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of screening for the presence of prostate cancer cells in a sample, the method comprising: 
 contacting a nucleic acid sample from a human patient with a probe which binds selectively to a target polynucleotide sequence on a chromosomal region which is deleted in prostate cells and is selected from the group consisting of 2q, 4q, 5q, 6q, 10p, and 15q, wherein the probe is contacted with the sample under conditions in which the probe binds selectively with the target polynucleotide sequence to form a stable hybridization complex; and    detecting the formation of a hybridization complex.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid sample is from a prostate biopsy sample from the patient.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising contacting the sample with a reference probe which binds selectively to a centromeric DNA.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting the hybridization complex comprises determining the copy number of the target sequence.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the probe is labeled with digoxigenin or biotin.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting the hybridization complex. is carried out by detecting a fluorescent label.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the fluorescent label is FITC.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample comprises a metaphase cell.  
     
     
         9 . A method of screening for the presence of prostate cancer cells in a sample, the method comprising: 
 contacting a nucleic acid sample from a human patient with a probe which binds selectively to a target polynucleotide sequence on a genomic region in which copy number is increased in prostate cells and is selected from the group consisting of 1q, 2p, 3q, 3p, 4q, 6p, 7p, 7q, 9q, 11p, 16p, and 17q, wherein the probe is contacted with the sample under conditions in which the probe binds selectively with the target polynucleotide sequence to form a stable hybridization complex; and    detecting the formation of a hybridization complex.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the nucleic acid sample is from a prostate biopsy sample from the patient.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising contacting the sample with a reference probe which binds selectively to a centromeric DNA.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of detecting the hybridization complex comprises determining the copy number of the target sequence.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the probe is labeled with digoxigenin or biotin.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of detecting the hybridization complex is carried out by detecting a fluorescent label.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the fluorescent label is FITC.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sample comprises a metaphase cell.  
     
     
         17 . A kit for the detection of a chromosome abnormality correlated with prostate cancer, the kit comprising a compartment which contains a nucleic acid probe which binds selectively to a target polynucleotide sequence in a region of a chromosome correlated with prostate cancer, wherein the probe binds selectively with the target polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of 2q, 4q, 5q, 6q, 10p, 15q, 1q, 2p, 3q, 3p, 4q, 6p, 7p, 7q, 9q, 11p, 16p, and 17q.  
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the probe is labeled.  
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein label is selected from the group consisting of digoxigenin and biotin.