Tusc2 therapies

Abstract

A method for predicting a subject's response to a TUSC2 therapy is provided. In particular, a subject's response is predicted based on the proportion of cancers cells that are apoptotic. Also provided is a method of treating a subject previously predicted to have a favorable response with a TUSC2 therapy. Methods for treating cancer by administration of a TUSC2 therapeutic in conjunction with an EGFR inhibitor and/or a protein kinase inhibitor are also disclosed. Kits and reagents for use in TUSC2 therapy are provided.

1 . A method of predicting a response to a TUSC2 therapy in a subject having a cancer comprising assessing apoptosis in cancer cells of the subject, wherein if 10% or more of the cancer cells are apoptotic, then the subject is predicted to have a favorable response to TUSC2 therapy. 
     
     
         2 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of selecting a subject having a cancer for a TUSC2 therapy comprising assessing apoptosis in cancer cells of the subject, wherein if 10% or more of the cancer cells are apoptotic, then the subject is predicted to have a favorable response to TUSC2 therapy. 
     
     
         16 . A method for treating a subject having a cancer, wherein it was determined that at least 10% of the cells of said cancer are apoptotic, the method comprising administering a TUSC2 therapy to the subject. 
     
     
         17 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the TUSC2 therapy is administered in conjunction with an anti-inflammatory agent. 
     
     
         27 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein it was previously determined that at least 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40% or 50% of the cells of said cancer are apoptotic. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising administering at least a second anti-cancer therapy to the subject. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the second anti-cancer therapy is chemotherapy, radiotherapy, gene therapy, surgery, hormonal therapy, anti-angiogenic therapy or cytokine therapy. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the second anti-cancer therapy is an EGFR inhibitor. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cancer is oral cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, respiratory cancer, urogenital cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, central or peripheral nervous system tissue cancer, an endocrine or neuroendocrine cancer or hematopoietic cancer, glioma, sarcoma, carcinoma, lymphoma, melanoma, fibroma, meningioma, brain cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, renal cancer, biliary cancer, pheochromocytoma, pancreatic islet cell cancer, Li-Fraumeni tumors, thyroid cancer, parathyroid cancer, pituitary tumors, adrenal gland tumors, osteogenic sarcoma tumors, multiple neuroendocrine type I and type II tumors, breast cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, prostate cancer, esophageal cancer, tracheal cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, testicular cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer or skin cancer. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the cancer is a lung cancer. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the lung cancer is a non-small cell lung cancer. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the cancer is a metastatic lung cancer. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cancer is resistant to a least a first chemotherapy. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the cancer is resistant to a platinum-based chemotherapy. 
     
     
         41 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A method for treating a subject having a cancer, comprising administering to the subject a TUSC2 therapy in conjunction with an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor. 
     
     
         44 - 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . A method for treating a subject having a cancer comprising administering to the subject TUSC2 and an EGFR inhibitor, wherein the cancer comprises EGFR-expressing tumor cells. 
     
     
         61 - 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . A method for treating a subject having a cancer, comprising administering to the subject a TUSC2 therapy in conjunction with a protein kinase inhibitor. 
     
     
         71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein the protein kinase inhibitor is an EGFR, VEGFR, AKT, Erb1, Erb2, ErbB, Syk, Bcr-Abl, JAK, Src, GSK-3, PI3K, Ras, Raf, MAPK, MAPKK, mTOR, c-Kit, eph receptor or BRAF inhibitor. 
     
     
         73 . (canceled) 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the protein kinase inhibitor is an AKT inhibitor. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the AKT inhibitor is MK-2206, GSK690693, A-443654, VQD-002, Miltefosine or Perifosine. 
     
     
         76 - 78 . (canceled)