Methods of Treating Various Cancers Using Melanoma Differentiating Associated Protein-7

Abstract

This invention provides a method for reversing the cancerous phenotype of a cancer cell by introducing a nucleic acid having the melanoma differentiation associated gene (mda-7) into the cell under conditions that permit the expression of the gene so as to thereby reverse the cancerous phenotype of the cell. This invention also provides a method for reversing the cancerous phenotype of a cancer cell by introducing the gene product of the above-described gene into the cancerous cell so as to thereby reverse the cancerous phenotype of the cell. This invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition having the melanoma differentiation associated gene (mda-7) or the gene product of the melanoma differentiation associated gene (mda-7) effective to reverse the cancerous phenotype of a cancer cell and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

1 . A method for reversing a cancerous phenotype of a melanoma cell which comprises introducing a nucleic acid comprising a melanoma differentiation associated gene (mda-7) into the cell under conditions permitting the expression of the gene so as to thereby reverse the cancerous phenotype of the cell. 
   
   
       2 . A method of treating a melanoma in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a nucleic acid comprising an mda-7 gene. 
   
   
       3 . A method of treating a melanoma in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an mda-7 protein.