Inhibition of cancer growth and metastasis

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for treating or preventing cancer and metastasis. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for treating or preventing cancer by decreasing the expression and/or activity of Flightless I. Also provided are methods for inhibiting the growth of a cancerous cell and methods for inhibiting formation and/or growth of a tumour which also rely on decreasing the expression and/or activity of Flightless I. The present invention also extends to methods for diagnosing cancer, methods for determining if a subject is susceptible to developing cancer, and methods for assessing progression of cancer based on the finding that increased expression and/or activity of Flightless I is associated with cancer development, growth and metastasis. The present invention also provides methods for screening for a candidate therapeutic agent useful for treating or preventing cancer, and related pharmaceutical compositions and kits.

1 .- 65 . (canceled) 
     
     
         66 . A method of decreasing the expression and/or activity of Flightless I in a cancerous cell, the method including the step of administration to the cell an effective amount of an agent that decreases the expression and/or activity of Flightless I, wherein the agent is selected from one or more of the group consisting of a neutralizing antibody to Flightless I or an antigen binding part of a neutralizing antibody to Flightless I, an antisense oligonucleotide that binds to Flightless I mRNA, a ribozyme that can cleave a Flightless 1 mRNA, a small interfering RNA specific for Flightless I mRNA, a microRNA specific for Flightless I mRNA, a short hairpin RNA specific for Flightless I mRNA, and an aptamer specific for Flightless I mRNA. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the cell is a cancerous colon cell or cancerous breast cell. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the agent is a neutralizing antibody to Flightless I or an antigen binding part of a neutralizing antibody to Flightless I. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the agent is a small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific for Flightless I mRNA. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the agent is a short hairpin RNA specific for Flightless I mRNA. 
     
     
         71 . A method of inhibiting the growth of a cancerous colon cell, or inhibiting invasion and metastasis of a colon cancer cell, the method including the step of administration to the cell an effective amount of an agent that decreases the expression and/or activity of Flightless I, wherein the agent is a neutralizing antibody to Flightless I or an antigen binding part of a neutralizing antibody to Flightless I, or is a small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific for Flightless I mRNA. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the agent is a neutralizing antibody to Flightless I or an antigen binding part of a neutralizing antibody to Flightless I. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the agent is a small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific for Flightless I mRNA. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein invasion and metastasis to the lung is inhibited.