Genes and polypeptides relating to human pancreatic cancers

Abstract

The present application provides novel human genes C1958V1 or C1958V2 whose expression is markedly elevated in pancreatic cancers compared to corresponding non-cancerous tissues. The genes and polypeptides encoded by the genes can be used, for example, in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, and as target molecules for developing drugs against the disease.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of screening for a compound for treating pancreatic cancer, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) contacting a test compound with a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
 (1) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4; 
 (2) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4 in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted, and/or added and that has a biological activity equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4; and 
 (3) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4; 
   (b) detecting the binding activity between the polypeptide and the test compound; and   (c) selecting a compound that binds to the polypeptide.   
     
     
         13 . A method of screening for a compound for treating pancreatic cancer, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) contacting a candidate compound with a cell expressing one or more polynucleotides comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3; and   (b) selecting a compound that reduces the expression level of one or more polynucleotides comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3 in comparison with the expression level detected in the absence of the test compound.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cell is pancreatic cancer cell. 
     
     
         15 . A method of screening for a compound for treating pancreatic cancer, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) contacting a test compound with a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
 (1) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4; 
 (2) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4 in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted, and/or added and that has a biological activity equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4; and 
 (3) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4; 
   (b) detecting the biological activity of the polypeptide of step (a); and   (c) selecting a compound that suppresses the biological activity of the polypeptide in comparison with the biological activity detected in the absence of the test compound.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the biological activity is cell-proliferating activity. 
     
     
         17 . A method of screening for a compound for treating pancreatic cancer, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) contacting a candidate compound with a cell into which a vector comprising the transcriptional regulatory region of one or more marker genes and a reporter gene that is expressed under the control of the transcriptional regulatory region has been introduced, wherein the one or more marker genes comprise any one of nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID: NO 1 or 3,   b) measuring the activity of said reporter gene; and   c) selecting a compound that reduces the expression level of said reporter gene as compared to a control.   
     
     
         18 - 28 . (canceled)