Identification and use of new tumor-promoting gene in hematological malignancies

Abstract

Methods are provided for diagnosing and treating a blood cancer or a myelodysplastic syndrome in a subject. Associated compositions and kits therefor are also provided.

1 . A method of treating a cancer in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of an agent which inhibits expression of a BX648577 gene, or an amount of an agent which inhibits activity of an expression product of a BX648577 gene, so as to thereby treat the cancer. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A method of treating a cancer in a subject or inhibiting development of a cancer in a subject comprising determining whether a sample obtained from the subject expresses a BX648577 gene at a level in excess of a predetermined control level, wherein BX648577 gene expressed in the sample determined to be in excess of the predetermined control level identifies the subject as having the cancer or as likely to develop the cancer, and administering to a subject so-identified an anti-cancer therapy so as to thereby treat the cancer or inhibit development of a cancer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the method is of treating a cancer in a subject and the subject has the cancer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the method is of inhibiting development of a cancer in a subject and the subject does not yet have the cancer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is a hematological malignancy. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the hematological malignancy is an acute myeloid leukemia. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the anti-cancer therapy is an anti-acute myeloid leukemia therapy. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the anti-cancer therapy is agent which inhibits expression of a BX648577 gene, or an agent which inhibits activity of an expression product of a BX648577 gene. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the agent comprises an anti-translocated in Hodgkin's lymphoma protein (TIHL) antibody or an antigen-binding fragment of an anti-TIHL antibody. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the level of expression of the BX648577 gene is effected by quantifying BX648577 gene RNA transcript levels. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein RNA transcript levels are quantified using quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the agent is an siRNA directed to a BX648577 gene or a transcript thereof, an shRNA directed to a BX648577 gene or a transcript thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the BX648577 gene encodes an mRNA encoding SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the sample comprises a blood sample, a sample derived from blood, a bone marrow sample, or a stem cell. 
     
     
         16 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An isolated antibody directed against the translocated in Hodgkin's lymphoma protein (THIL) comprising SEQ ID NO:1 or an isolated antigen-binding fragment of such antibody. 
     
     
         19 . The antibody or fragment of  claim 18 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         20 . The antibody or fragment of  claim 18 , wherein the antibody is a human antibody, a humanized antibody or a chimeric antibody. 
     
     
         21 . A composition comprising the antibody of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the composition comprises the isolated antibody. 
     
     
         23 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the isolated antibody or isolated antigen-binding fragment of the antibody is conjugated to a cyotoxin, a radioisotope, a chemotherapeutic or an imaging label. 
     
     
         26 - 33 . (canceled)