Gene products differentially expressed in cancerous cells

Abstract

The present invention provides polynucleotides, as well as polypeptides encoded thereby, that are differentially expressed in cancer cells. These polynucleotides are useful in a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic methods. The present invention further provides methods of reducing growth of cancer cells. These methods are useful for treating cancer.

1 . A method for inhibiting a cancerous phenotype of a cell, said method comprising:
 contacting a cancerous mammalian cell with an agent for inhibition of a product of a gene identified by a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9358 or homologs thereof having at least 90% identity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cell is a colon cell. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancerous phenotype is aberrant cellular proliferation relative to a normal cell. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancerous phenotype is loss of contact inhibition of cell growth. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of a small molecule, an antibody, an antisense polynucleotide, and an RNAi molecule. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inhibition is associated with a reduction in a level of protein encoded by a gene identified by SEQ ID NO: 9358 or homologs thereof having at least 90% identity. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inhibition is associated with a reduction in a level of an RNA encoded by a gene identified by SEQ ID NO: 9358 or homologs thereof having at least 90% identity. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inhibition is associated with a reduction in a level of activity of a protein encoded a gene identified by SEQ ID NO: 9358 or homologs thereof having at least 90% identity. 
     
     
         9 . A method for detecting a cancerous cell, said method comprising:
 detecting a level of a product of a gene identified by SEQ ID NO: 9358, homologs thereof having at least 90% identity or a fragment thereof in a test sample obtained from a cell of a subject; and   comparing the level of said gene product to a control level of said gene product, wherein the presence of a cancerous cell is indicated by detection of said level and comparison to said control level.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said cancerous cell is a cancerous colon cell. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said gene product is nucleic acid. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said gene product is a polypeptide. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said detecting step uses a polymerase chain reaction. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said detecting step uses hybridization. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said sample is a sample of colon tissue. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said level of said product is indicative of the cancerous state of the cell of the test sample. 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating a subject with cancer, said method comprising:
 administering to a subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of an agent,   wherein said agent modulates the activity of a product of a gene identified by SEQ ID NO: 9358 or homologs thereof having at least 90% identity.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said cancer is colon cancer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of a small molecule, an antibody, an antisense polynucleotide, and an RNAi molecule. 
     
     
         20 . A method for assessing the tumor burden of a subject, said method comprising:
 detecting a level of a product of a gene identified by SEQ ID NO: 9358 or homologs thereof having at least 90% identity in a test sample from a subject,   wherein the level of said gene product in the test sample is indicative of the tumor burden in the subject.   
     
     
         21 . A method for identifying an agent that modulates a biological activity of a gene product differentially expressed in a cancerous cell as compared to a normal cell, said method comprising:
 contacting a candidate agent with a product of a gene identified by SEQ ID NO: 9358 or homologs thereof having at least 90% identity; and   detecting modulation of a biological activity of said product relative to a level of biological activity in the absence of the candidate agent.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said cancerous cell and said normal cell are colon cells. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said detecting is by assessing expression of said gene product. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein expression is assessed by detecting a polynucleotide gene product. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein expression is assessed by detecting a polypeptide gene product. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said candidate agent is selected from the group consisting of a small molecule, an antibody, an antisense polynucleotide, and an RNAi molecule. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said biological activity is modulation of a cancerous phenotype. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said cancerous phenotype is abnormal cellular proliferation. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said cancerous phenotype is loss of contact inhibition.