Pancreatic cancer targets and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for diagnosing and detecting diseases associated with pancreas. The present invention provides one or more proteins or fragments thereof, peptides or nucleic acid molecules differentially expressed in pancreatic diseases (PCAT) and antibodies binds to PCAT. The present invention provides that PCAT is used as targets for screening agents that modulates the PCAT activities. Further, the present invention provides methods for treating diseases associated with pancreas.

1 . An isolated protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:1-288 and 703-873. 
     
     
         2 . A composition comprising the protein of  claim 1  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         3 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 a) SEQ ID NOS:289-702;   b) nucleotide sequences that encode a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:1-288 and 703-873; and   c) nucleotide sequences that are completely complementary to the nucleotide sequences of a) or b).   
     
     
         4 . An isolated RNAi or antisense nucleic acid molecule that selectively binds to the nucleic acid molecule of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         5 . An isolated antibody that selectively binds to the protein of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . The antibody of  claim 5 , wherein the antibody is at least one of a monoclonal, polyclonal, fully human, humanized, chimeric, single-chain, or anti-idiotypic antibody. 
     
     
         7 . A cell line, hybridoma, phage, or transgenic organism that produces the antibody of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         8 . The antibody of  claim 5 , wherein the antibody is coupled to a composition selected from the group consisting of detectable substances and therapeutic agents. 
     
     
         9 . A composition comprising the antibody of  claim 5  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         10 . An isolated antibody fragment of the antibody of  claim 5 , wherein the antibody fragment comprises a fragment selected from the group consisting of:
 a) an Fab fragment;   b) an F(ab′) 2  fragment; and   c) an Fv fragment.   
     
     
         11 . A method of modulating cell proliferation or apoptosis, the method comprising contacting a cell with the antibody of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises either inhibiting proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells or stimulating apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells. 
     
     
         13 . A method of modulating cell proliferation or apoptosis, the method comprising contacting a cell with the RNAi or antisense nucleic acid molecule of  claim 4 . 
     
     
         14 . A method of detecting the protein of  claim 1  in a sample, the method comprising contacting the sample with an isolated antibody that selectively binds to the protein and determining whether the antibody binds to the protein. 
     
     
         15 . A method of detecting the nucleic acid molecule of  claim 3  in a sample, the method comprising contacting the sample with an oligonucleotide that specifically hybridizes to the nucleic acid molecule and determining whether the oligonucleotide binds to the nucleic acid molecule. 
     
     
         16 . A method of diagnosing, prognosing, or determining risk of pancreatic cancer in a subject, the method comprising detecting at least one molecule in a sample, wherein the presence or abundance of the molecule is indicative of pancreatic cancer, and wherein the molecule is selected from the group consisting of:
 a) proteins comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:1-288 and 703-873;   b) antibodies that selectively bind to the protein of a);   c) nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:289-702 and nucleotide sequences that encode the protein of a); and   d) nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence that is completely complementary to the nucleic acid molecule of c).   
     
     
         17 . A method of treating pancreatic cancer, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody of  claim 5  to a subject. 
     
     
         18 . A method of screening agents, the method comprising contacting the protein of  claim 1  or a cell that expresses the protein with an agent, and assaying for whether the agent binds to the protein or modulates the function, activity, or expression of the protein. 
     
     
         19 . A composition comprising the agent identified by the method of  claim 18  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         20 . A method of determining or predicting the effectiveness of a treatment or selecting a treatment for administration to a subject having pancreatic cancer, the method comprising detecting the presence, abundance, or activity of the protein of  claim 1  in a sample and determining or predicting the effectiveness of the treatment or selecting the treatment for administration based on the presence, abundance, or activity of the protein.