Ephrin-b receptor protein involved in carcinoma

Abstract

The present invention provides a polypeptide (CCMP-1) of use in the diagnosis, screening, treatment and prophylaxis of carcinoma. Also provided are compositions comprising the protein, vaccines and antibodies that are immunospecific for the protein.

1 . A method of screening for and/or diagnosis of carcinoma in a subject, and/or monitoring the effectiveness of carcinoma therapy, which comprises the step of detecting and/or quantifying in a biological sample obtained from said subject:
 (i) a CCMP-1 polypeptide which:
 a) comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1; 
 b) is a derivative having one or more amino acid substitutions, modifications,
 deletions or insertions relative to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 
 which retains the activity of CCMP-1; or 
 
 c) is a fragment of a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, which is at least ten amino acids long and has at least 70% homology over the length of the fragment; or 
   (ii)) a nucleic acid molecule which:
 d) comprises or consists of the DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or its RNA equivalent; 
 e) has a sequence which is complementary to the sequences of d); 
 f) has a sequence which codes for a CCMP-1 polypeptide as defined in a) to c); 
 g) has a sequence which shows substantial identity with any of those of d), e) and f); or 
 h) is a fragment of d), e), f) or g), which is at least ten nucleotides in length. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the level of said polypeptide or said nucleic acid is compared to a previously determined reference range or control. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting comprises:
 (a) contacting the sample with a capture reagent that is specific for a polypeptide as defined in  claim 1  (i); and   (b) detecting whether binding has occurred between the capture reagent and said polypeptide in the sample.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein step (b) comprises detecting the captured polypeptide using a directly or indirectly labelled detection reagent. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the capture reagent is immobilised on a solid phase. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the
 polypeptide is detected and/or quantified using an antibody that recognises a CCMP-1 polypeptide as defined in  claim 1  (i).   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A diagnostic kit comprising a capture reagent specific for a CCMP-1 polypeptide as defined in  claim 1  (i), reagents and instructions for use. 
     
     
         10 . A method for treating carcinoma, comprising administering a medicament comprising a material selected from the group consisting of:
 (i) a CCMP-1 polypeptide as defined in  claim 1  (i); and   (ii) a nucleic acid molecule as defined in  claim 1  (ii).   
     
     
         11 . A method for treating carcinoma, comprising administering a medicament, said medicament comprising an antibody as defined in  claim 6  or  8 . 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  (i) or (ii), wherein the medicament is a vaccine. 
     
     
         13 . A method of screening for anti-carcinoma agents that interact with a CCMP-1 polypeptide as defined in  claim 1  (i), said method comprising:
 (a) contacting said polypeptide with a candidate agent; and 
 (b) determining whether or not the candidate agent interacts with said polypeptide. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the determination of interaction between the candidate agent and CCMP-1 polypeptide comprises quantitatively detecting binding of the candidate agent and said polypeptide. 
     
     
         15 . A method of screening for anti-carcinoma agents that modulate
 (a) the expression or activity of a CCMP-1 polypeptide as defined in  claim 1  (i), or   (b) the expression of a nucleic acid molecule as defined in  claim 1  (ii), comprising
 (i) comparing the expression or activity of said polypeptide, or the expression of said nucleic acid molecule, in the presence of a candidate agent with the expression or activity of said polypeptide, or the expression of said nucleic acid molecule, in the absence of the candidate agent or in the presence of a control agent; and 
 (ii) determining whether the candidate agent causes the expression or activity of said polypeptide, or the expression of said nucleic acid molecule, to change. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the expression or activity level of said polypeptide, or the expression level of said nucleic acid molecule is compared with a predetermined reference range. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein part (ii) additionally comprises selecting an agent which modulates the expression or activity of said polypeptide, or the expression of said nucleic acid molecule for further testing, or therapeutic or prophylactic use as an anti-carcinoma agent. 
     
     
         18 . An agent identified by the method of  claim 13 , which causes the expression or activity of said polypeptide, or the expression of said nucleic acid molecule, to change. 
     
     
         19 . A method for treating carcinoma comprising administering a medicament which comprises an agent which interacts with, or modulates the expression or activity of a CCMP-1 polypeptide or the expression of a CCMP-1 nucleic acid as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . The method of claim, wherein the carcinoma is breast cancer or colon cancer. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carcinoma is breast cancer or colon cancer. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the carcinoma is breast cancer or colon cancer.