Hematopoietic growth factor inducible neurokinin-1 gene and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses the cloning of a new cDNA, HGFIN, from stimulated bone marrow stromal cells that was retrieved with a probe specific for the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor. The novel gene, HGFIN, encodes a protein receptor that is involved in the regulation of hematopoietic proliferation and differentiation. HGFIN is implicated in the treatment of hyperproliferative disorders, particularly bone and breast cancer, because it acts to suppress the proliferating cells.

1 . A method for inhibiting the growth of a bone or breast cancer cell comprising contacting a bone or breast cancer cell with an effective amount of Hematopoietic Growth Factor Inducible Neurokinin-1 (HGFIN) thereby inhibiting the growth of the cancer cell.  
     
     
         2 . A method for treating bone or breast cancer comprising administering to a patient in need of treatment an effective dose of HGFIN thereby treating the patient's bone or breast cancer.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the HGFIN is administered in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the HGFIN is administered in a vector comprising an expression cassette encoding HGFIN.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the HGFIN has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein HGFIN has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the HGFIN is administered in combination with at least one other therapy.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the other therapy is radiation therapy, chemotherapy, ablative surgery, or partially ablative surgery.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising down-regulating NK-1 or NK-2 activity in the cancerous cells.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising modulating SP activity or expression in the cancerous cells.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising modulating the activity or expression of PPT-1 in the cancerous cells.  
     
     
         12 . A method of treating breast cancer, comprising administering to a patient in need of treatment an effective dose of HGFIN with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.