Method to control tumor progression and invasiveness

Abstract

Described is a method of modulating E-cadherin mediated cell adhesion. More specifically, described is the use of hECRep1a and homologues thereof to modulate and/or control tumor cell invasiveness.

1 . A method of modulating E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion, said method comprising: 
 using an hECRep1 protein, or a functional fragment thereof, to modulate E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion.    
     
     
         2 . A tumor marker comprising an hECRep1 protein, or a functional fragment thereof.  
     
     
         3 . A method of determining a tumor's invasive and metastatic capacity comprising: 
 using an hECRep1 protein, or a functional fragment thereof, to determine the tumor's invasive and metastatic capacity.    
     
     
         4 . A method of screening compounds limiting tumor progression and/or metastasis, the method comprising: 
 using an hECRep1 protein, or a functional fragment thereof, to screen compounds limiting tumor progression and/or metastasis.    
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said hECRep1 protein comprises SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 6, or a functional fragment thereof.  
     
     
         6 . A tumor marker comprising: a gene encoding an hECRep1 protein, or a functional fragment of said gene.  
     
     
         7 . A method of determining a tumor's invasive and/or metastatic capacity of a tumor, said method comprising: 
 using a gene encoding an hECRep1 protein, or a functional fragment of said gene to determine the invasive and/or metastatic capacity of the tumor.    
     
     
         8 . A method of screening compounds limiting tumor progression and/or metastasis, said method comprising: 
 using a gene encoding an hECRep1 protein, or a functional fragment thereof, to screen compounds limiting tumor progression and/or metastasis.    
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7  or  claim 8 , wherein said gene comprises SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO: 3, or SEQ ID NO:5, or a functional fragment thereof.  
     
     
         10 . A method of screening compounds that restore cell adhesion and/or inhibit invasiveness, said method comprising: 
 using hECRep1 expressing cells to screen compounds restoring cell adhesion and/or inhibiting invasiveness.    
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said cells are mammalian cells.  
     
     
         12 . A compound obtained with the method according to  claim 4 .  
     
     
         13 . A pharmaceutical composition, comprising the compound of  claim 12 .  
     
     
         14 . A method for identifying a compound that limits tumor progression and/or metastasis, said method comprising: 
 a) setting up a protein-protein interaction screen, using an hecRep1 protein or a functional part thereof as a bait,    b) adding one or more compounds to be tested to the screen, and    c) scoring those compounds that interrupt said protein-protein interaction.    
     
     
         15 . A method for identifying a compound that limits tumor progression and/or metastasis, said method comprising: 
 a) treating hECRep1 expressing cells with the compound to be screened, and    b) scoring differences in cell adhesion and/or cell invasiveness between treated and non-treated cells.    
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14  or  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 mixing the compound identified therewith with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.    
     
     
         17 . The tumor marker of  claim 2 , wherein said hECRep1 protein comprises SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 6, or a functional fragment thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The tumor marker of  claim 6 , wherein said gene comprises SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO:5, or a functional fragment thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 mixing the compound identified therewith with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said gene comprises SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO: 3, or SEQ ID NO:5, or a functional fragment thereof.