GEF-H1b: BIOMARKERS, COMPLEXES, ASSAYS AND THERAPEUTIC USES THEREOF

Abstract

The present invention relates to diagnosing abnormal cell proliferation in biological samples and screening for drugs which inhibit, reduce or abolish cell growth, especially tumorigenic cell growth, by detecting a phosphovariant isoform of a guanine nucleotide exchange factor biomarker, such as the novel GEF-H1S.

1 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A method for detecting cell proliferation, cell motility and/or cell invasion in a mammal comprising monitoring at timepoint A and at least one other timepoint, B, the phosphorylation level of GEF-H1 in a sample taken from said mammal, wherein an increase in the phosphorylation level of GEF-H1 in said sample between said timepoints, is indicative of cell proliferation, cell motility and/or cell invasion. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said GEF-H1 is a GEF-H1b protein comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said sample is a sample of said mammal's skin, blood, or cells. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said cells are tumor cells. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said mammal is selected from the group consisting of a human, rat, mouse, dog, rabbit, pig, sheep, cow, horse, cat, primate, goat, or monkey. 
     
     
         52 - 103 . (canceled)