Method of diagnosing bladder cancer

Abstract

Objective methods for detecting and diagnosing bladder cancer (BLC) are described herein. In one embodiment, the diagnostic method involves determining the expression level of a BLC-associated gene that discriminates between BLC cells and normal cells. The present invention further provides means for predicting and preventing bladder cancer metastasis using BLC-associated genes having unique altered expression patterns in bladder cancer cells with lymph-node metastasis. Finally, the present invention provides methods of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of bladder cancer, methods of treating bladder cancer and method for vaccinating a subject against bladder cancer. In particular, the present application provides novel human genes C2093, B5860Ns and C6055s whose expression is markedly elevated in bladder cancers. The genes and polypeptides encoded by the genes can be used, for example, in the diagnosis of bladder cancers, as target molecules for developing drugs against the disease, and for attenuating cell growth of bladder cancer.

1 .- 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4;   (b) a polypeptide that comprises an amino acid sequence having at least about 80% homology to SEQ ID NO: 4;   (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, wherein one or more amino acid(s) in the sequence is modified by deletion, addition, insertion and/or substitution by other amino acids, and the number of mutation is typically no more than 35% of all amino acids, and wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 4; and   (d) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.   
     
     
         35 . A vector comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 34 . 
     
     
         36 . A host cell harboring the polynucleotide of  claim 34  or the vector comprising the polynucleotide. 
     
     
         37 . A method for producing a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4;   (b) a polypeptide that comprises an amino acid sequence having at least about 80% homology to SEQ ID NO: 4;   (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, wherein one or more amino acid(s) in the sequence is modified by deletion, addition, insertion and/or substitution by other amino acids, and the number of mutation is typically no more than 35% of all amino acids, and wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 4; and   (d) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4   
       said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) culturing the host cell harboring the polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide or the vector comprising the polynucleotide; 
 (b) allowing the host cell to express the polypeptide; and 
 (c) collecting the expressed polypeptide. 
 
     
     
         38 - 63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing bladder cancer, said composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide selected from the group of (a)-(d):
 (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or fragment thereof;   (b) a polypeptide that comprises an amino acid sequence having at least about 80% homology to SEQ ID NO: 4;   (c) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added and that has a biological activity equivalent to the polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, wherein the number of mutation is typically no more than 35% of all amino acids;   (d) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to the polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, or fragment thereof.   as an active ingredient, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.   
     
     
         65 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 64  wherein the polynucleotide is incorporated in an expression vector. 
     
     
         66 - 73 . (canceled) 
     
     
         74 . The polynucleotide of  claim 34 , wherein the polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.