Novel Method of Diagnosing, Monitoring, Staging, Imaging and Treating Various Cancers

Abstract

The present invention provides a new method for detecting, diagnosing, monitoring, staging, prognosticating, imaging and treating selected cancers including gynecologic cancers such as breast, ovarian, uterine and endometrial cancer and lung cancer.

1 . A method for detecting the presence of cancer in a patient comprising:
 (a) measuring the level of the native protein expressed by the gene comprising the polynucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10, 11, 12 and 13 in a sample from a patient; and   (b) comparing the measured level of said protein in said patient with the level of said protein in a control, wherein an increase in the measured level of said protein in said patient versus said control is associated with the presence of a cancer.   
     
     
         2 . A method of detecting metastases of a cancer in a patient comprising:
 (a) identifying a patient having a cancer that is not known to have metastasized;   (b) measuring the level of the native protein expressed by the gene comprising the polynucleotide sequence of any of SEQ JD NOs: 1, 10, 11, 12 and 13 in a sample from a patient; and   (c) comparing the measured level of said protein with the level of said protein in a control, wherein an increase in measured levels of said protein in the patient versus the control is associated with a cancer which has metastasized.   
     
     
         3 . A method of staging cancer in a patient having cancer comprising:
 (a) identifying a patient having cancer;   (b) measuring the level of the native protein expressed by the gene comprising the polynucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10, 11, 12 and 13 in a sample from a patient; and   (c) comparing the measured level of said protein with level of said protein in a control, wherein an increase in the measured level of said protein in said patient versus the control is associated with a cancer which is progressing and a decrease in the measured level of said protein in said patient versus the control is associated with a cancer which is regressing or in remission.   
     
     
         4 . A method of monitoring cancer in a patient for the onset of metastasis comprising:
 (a) identifying a patient having cancer that is not known to have metastasized;   (b) periodically measuring the level of the native protein expressed by the gene comprising the polynucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10, 11, 12 and 13 in a sample from a patient; and   (c) comparing the periodically measured levels of said protein with level of said protein in a control, wherein an increase in any one of the periodically measured levels of said protein in the patient versus the control is associated with cancer which has metastasized.   
     
     
         5 . A method of monitoring the change in stage of cancer in a patient comprising:
 (a) identifying a patient having cancer;   (b) periodically measuring the level of the native protein expressed by the gene comprising the polynucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10, 11, 12 and 13 in a sample from a patient; and   (c) comparing the periodically measured of said protein with level of said protein a control, wherein an increase in any one of the periodically measured levels of said protein in the patient versus the control is associated with a cancer which is progressing in stage and a decrease is associated with a cancer which is regressing in stage or in remission.   
     
     
         6 . A method of imaging cancer in a patient comprising administering to the patient an antibody which binds to the native protein expressed by the gene comprising the polynucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10, 11, 12 and 13. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said antibody is labeled with paramagnetic ions or a radioisotope. 
     
     
         8 . A method of treating cancer in a patient comprising administering to the patient an antibody which binds to the native protein expressed by the gene comprising the polynucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10, 11, 12 and 13. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the antibody is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent. 
     
     
         10 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10, 11, 12 or 13;   (b) a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10, 11, 12 or 13;   (c) the native mRNA encoded by the gene comprising any of the polynucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10, 11, 12 or 13; or   (d) the gene comprising any of the polynucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10, 11, 12 or 13.   
     
     
         11 . The nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 10 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is a cDNA. 
     
     
         12 . The nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 10 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is a RNA. 
     
     
         13 . The nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is a human nucleic acid molecule. 
     
     
         14 . A native protein expressed by the nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         15 . An isolated polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) the native protein expressed by the gene comprising the polynucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10, 11, 12 or 13; or   (b) the protein encoded by polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10, 11, 12 or 13.