Novel compositions and methods for identification, assessment, prevention, and therapy of ovarian cancer

Abstract

The present invention is directed to the identification of markers that can be used to determine whether ovarian cancer is sensitive or resistant to a therapeutic agent. In particular, the present invention is directed to the use of certain combinations of markers, wherein the expression of the markers correlates with sensitivity or resistance to a therapeutic agent. Thus, by examining the expression of the individual markers of a marker set, also referred to as the expression profile of the marker set, it is possible to determine whether a therapeutic agent, or combination of agents, will be most likely to reduce the growth rate of the ovarian cancer.

1 . A method for determining whether an agent can be used to reduce the growth of ovarian cancer, comprising the steps of:
 a. Obtaining a sample of ovarian cancer cells;   b. Determining the expression profile of a marker set, wherein the marker set is selected from those set forth in Tables 2-15; and   c. Identifying that the agent is or is not appropriate to reduce the growth of the ovarian cancer cells based on the expression profile.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ovarian cancer cells are selected from the group consisting of ovarian cancer cell lines and ovarian cancer cells obtained from a patient. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expression profile of the marker set in the sample is assessed by detecting the presence in the sample of polynucleotides or portions thereof, wherein the polynucleotides comprise the marker set. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expression profile of the marker set in the sample is assessed by detecting the presence in the sample of proteins or protein fragments corresponding to the marker set. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agent is a chemotherapeutic compound. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the chemotherapeutic compound is a taxane compound. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the chemotherapeutic compound is a platinum compound. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the chemotherapeutic compound is a combination of a taxane compound and a platinum compound. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the taxane compound is TAXOL or an analog of TAXOL. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the platinum compound is cisplatin or an analog of cisplatin. 
     
     
         11 . A method for determining whether treatment with an anti-cancer agent should be continued in an ovarian cancer patient, comprising the steps of:
 a. Obtaining two or more samples of ovarian cancer cells from a patient at different times during the course of anti-cancer agent treatment;   b. Determining the expression profile of a marker set, in the two or more samples, wherein the marker set is selected from those set forth in Tables 2-15; and   c. Continuing or discontinuing the treatment based on the evaluation.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ovarian cancer cells are selected from the group consisting of ovarian cancer cell lines and ovarian cancer cells obtained from a patient. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the expression profile of the marker set in the sample is assessed by detecting the presence in the sample of polynucleotides or portions thereof, wherein the polynucleotides comprise the marker set. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the expression profile of the marker set in the sample is assessed by detecting the presence in the sample of proteins or protein fragments corresponding to the marker set. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the agent is a chemotherapeutic compound. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the chemotherapeutic compound is a taxane compound. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the chemotherapeutic compound is a platinum compound. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the chemotherapeutic compound is a combination of a taxane compound and a platinum compound. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the taxane compound is TAXOL or an analog of TAXOL. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the platinum compound is cisplatin or an analog of cisplatin.