Qsox1 as an anti-neoplastic drug target

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for tumor treatment by administering an inhibitor of quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase 1 (QSOX1), compositions comprising such inhibitors, and methods for identifying such inhibitors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for tumor treatment, comprising administering to a subject having a tumor an amount effective of an inhibitor of quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase 1 (QSOX1) expression and/or activity, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to treat the tumor. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor of QSOX1 is selected from the group consisting of anti-QSOX1 antibodies, QSOX1-binding aptamers, QSOX1 antisense oligonucleotides, QSOX1 siRNA, and QSOX1. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tumor is a tumor that over-expresses QSOX1 compared to control. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tumor is a pancreatic tumor 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the pancreatic tumor comprises a pancreatic adenocarcinoma. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tumor is a breast tumor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the tumor is an estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast tumor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the breast tumor is a Luminal B breast tumor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor comprises an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group comprising antisense, siRNA, miRNA, and/or shRNA having a nucleic acid sequence perfectly complementary to at least 10 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or an RNA equivalent thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method limits tumor metastasis. 
     
     
         11 . A method inhibiting tumor metastasis, comprising administering to a subject having a tumor an amount effective of an inhibitor of quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase 1 (QSOX1) expression and/or activity, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to inhibit metastasis of the tumor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the inhibitor of QSOX1 is selected from the group consisting of anti -QSOX1 antibodies, QSOX1-binding aptamers, QSOX1 antisense oligonucleotides, QSOX1 siRNA, and QSOX1 shRNA. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tumor is a breast tumor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tumor is a cytokeratin 5/6 negative breast tumor, or a Luminal B breast tumor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tumor is a pancreatic tumor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the inhibitor comprises an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group comprising antisense, siRNA, miRNA, and/or shRNA having a nucleic acid sequence perfectly complementary to at least 10 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or an RNA equivalent thereof.