Signatures and determinants associated with prostate cancer progression and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a set of DETERMINANTS (e.g., genes and gene products) that can accurately inform about the risk of cancer progression and recurrence, as well as methods of their use.

1 - 89 . (canceled) 
     
     
         90 . A method of detecting CUL2 protein in a cancer patient, said method comprising:
 obtaining a first tissue sample from the patient; and   detecting whether CUL2 protein is present in the sample by contacting the tissue sample with an anti-CUL2 antibody or fragment thereof, and detecting binding between CUL2 protein and the anti-CUL2 antibody or fragment thereof.   
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 90 , which further comprises detecting DERL1 protein in the first tissue sample or a second tissue sample from the patient. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein detecting DERL1 protein in the first tissue sample or second tissue sample comprises detecting whether DERL1 protein is present in the sample by contacting the first tissue sample or second tissue sample with an anti-DERL1 antibody or fragment thereof, and detecting binding between DERL1 protein and the anti-DERL1 antibody or fragment thereof. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 90 , which further comprises detecting SMAD4 protein in the first tissue sample or a second tissue sample from the patient. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein detecting SMAD4 protein in the first tissue sample or second tissue sample comprises detecting whether SMAD4 protein is present in the sample by contacting the first tissue sample or second tissue sample with an anti-SMAD4 antibody or fragment thereof, and detecting binding between SMAD4 protein and the anti-SMAD4 antibody or fragment thereof. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein detecting CUL2 comprises performing immunofluorescence. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the first tissue sample comprises prostate cancer tissue. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein the second tissue sample comprises prostate cancer tissue. 
     
     
         98 . A method of detecting DERL1 protein in a cancer patient, said method comprising:
 obtaining a first tissue sample from the patient; and   detecting whether DERL1 protein is present in the sample by contacting the tissue sample with an anti-DERL1 antibody or fragment thereof, and detecting binding between DERL1 protein and the anti-DERL1 antibody or fragment thereof.   
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 98 , wherein the first tissue sample comprises prostate cancer tissue. 
     
     
         100 . A reaction mixture comprising a prostate tissue sample and:
 a CUL2 probe or a CUL2 antibody or fragment thereof, or   a DERL1 probe or a DERL1 antibody or fragment thereof.   
     
     
         101 . A reaction mixture comprising a prostate tissue sample and a DERL1 antibody or fragment thereof bound to a detectable label.