Q3 sparc deletion mutant and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention provides for SPARC polypeptides with a mutation corresponding to a deletion of the third glutamine in the mature form of the human SPARC protein, nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides, antibodies against such polypeptides, and methods of the use of such polypeptides, nucleic acids, and antibodies.

1 .- 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A method of classifying a disease comprising detecting a SPARC polypeptide with a deletion of the glutamine at corresponding to amino acid position 20 in SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the disease involves neoangiogenesis. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the disease is a proliferative disease. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the proliferative disease is a cancer. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the mutant SPARC polypeptide detected comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         57 . A method of classifying a disease comprising detecting a nucleic acid encoding a SPARC polypeptide with a deletion of the glutamine at the position corresponding to amino acid position 20 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the disease involves neoangiogenesis. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the disease is a proliferative disease. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the proliferative disease is a cancer. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the nucleic acid is DNA or RNA. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the mutant SPARC nucleic acid detected comprises the nucleic sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the nucleic acid encoding a SPARC polypeptide is detected using a method comprising a polymerase chain reaction. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the polymerase chain reaction uses one or more forward primers selected from primers comprising the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 7-9 and a reverse primer comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10.