Breast cancer related gene znfn3a1

Abstract

Objective methods for detecting and diagnosing breast cancer (BRC) are described herein. Also described are methods of treating and preventing breast cancer and breast cancer metastasis as well as methods of assessing the prognosis of a breast cancer subject and the efficacy of a breast cancer therapy. In one embodiment, the diagnostic method involves determining the expression level of ZNFN3A1, a gene whose expression is markedly elevated in breast cancers, that therefore can be used to discriminate between BRC cells and normal cells. The present invention further provides methods of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of BRC, methods of treating BRC and method for vaccinating a subject against BRC.

1 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing breast cancer, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) contacting a test compound with a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide of ZNFN3A1;   b) detecting the binding activity between the polypeptide and the test compound; and   c) selecting the test compound that binds to the polypeptide.   
     
     
         8 . A method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing breast cancer, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) contacting a candidate compound with a cell expressing ZNFN3A1; and   b) selecting the candidate compound that reduces the expression level of ZNFN3A1 as compared to the expression level of ZNFN3A1 detected in the absence of the candidate compound.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said cell comprises a breast cancer cell. 
     
     
         10 . A method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing breast cancer, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) contacting a test compound with a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide of ZNFN3A1;   b) detecting the biological activity of the polypeptide of step (a); and   c) selecting the test compound that suppresses the biological activity of the polypeptide of step (a) as compared to the biological activity of said polypeptide detected in the absence of the test compound.   
     
     
         11 . A method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing breast 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 ZNFN3A1 and a reporter gene that is expressed under the control of the transcriptional regulatory region, has been introduced;   b) measuring the expression level or activity of said reporter gene; and   c) selecting the candidate compound that reduces the expression level or activity of said reporter gene.   
     
     
         12 .- 26 . (canceled)