Methods of screening for risk of proliferative disease and methods for the treatment of proliferative disease

Abstract

A method of screening a subject for a proliferative disease risk factor comprises detecting the presence or absence of upregulation of the CLN3 gene in the subject. The upregulation of the CLN3 gene in the subject indicates the subject is at increased risk of developing a proliferative disease. Methods of screening compounds for the treatment of proliferative diseases based on the CLN3 gene and its product are also disclosed, along with methods of treating such diseases and vectors useful therefore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of screening a subject for a proliferative disease risk factor, comprising:
 detecting the presence or absence of upregulation of the CLN3 gene in said subject;   the upregulation of the CLN3 gene in said subject indicating said subject is at increased risk of developing a proliferative disease.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject has been previously diagnosed as afflicted with said proliferative disease. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject has not been previously diagnosed as afflicted with said proliferative disease. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject has been previously prognosed to be at risk of developing said proliferative disease. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject has not been previously prognosed to be at risk of developing said proliferative disease. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said detecting step is carried out by detecting increased mRNA levels for said CLN3 gene. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said proliferative disease is cancer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said proliferative disease is breast cancer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said proliferative disease is colon cancer. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said patient has undergone treatment for said proliferative disease. 
     
     
         11 - 46 . (canceled)