Compositions, kits, and methods for identification, assessment, prevention, and therapy of breast cancer

Abstract

The invention relates to compositions, kits, and methods for detecting, characterizing, preventing, and treating human breast cancers. A variety of newly identified markers are provided, wherein changes in the levels of expression of one or more of the markers is correlated with the presence of breast cancer.

1 . A method of assessing whether a patient is afflicted with breast cancer, the method comprising comparing:
 (a) the level of expression of one or more markers in a patient sample, wherein the one or more markers are selected from the group consisting of markers listed in Table 1; and   (b) the normal level of expression of the one or more markers in a control non-breast cancer sample,
 wherein a significant increase in the level of expression of the one or more markers in the patient sample and the normal level is an indication that the patient is afflicted with breast cancer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the level of expression is determined by detecting the amount of mRNA that is encoded by the one or more markers present in the sample. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the level of expression is determined by detecting the amount of protein that is encoded by said one or more markers present in the sample. 
     
     
         4 . A method of assessing whether a patient is afflicted with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer, the method comprising comparing:
 (a) the level of expression of one or more markers in a patient sample, wherein the one or more markers are selected from the group consisting of markers listed in Table 2; and   (b) the level of expression of the one or more markers in a control,
 wherein a significant difference between the level of expression of the one or more markers in the patient sample and the control is an indication that the patient is afflicted with ER positive breast cancer. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the control is the level of expression of the one or more markers in an ER negative breast cancer sample. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the level of expression is determined by detecting the amount of mRNA that is encoded by the one or more markers present in the sample. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the level of expression is determined by detecting the amount of protein that is encoded by said one or more markers present in the sample. 
     
     
         8 . A method of assessing whether a patient is afflicted with estrogen receptor negative breast cancer, the method comprising comparing:
 (a) the level of expression of one or more markers in a patient sample, wherein the one or more markers are selected from the group consisting of markers listed in Table 3; and   (b) the level of expression of the one or more markers in a control,
 wherein a significant difference between the level of expression of the one or more markers in the patient sample and the control is an indication that the patient is afflicted with ER negative breast cancer. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the control is the level of expression of the one or more markers in an ER positive breast cancer sample. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the level of expression is determined by detecting the amount of mRNA that is encoded by the one or more markers present in the sample. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the level of expression is determined by detecting the amount of protein that is encoded by said one or more markers present in the sample.