University of South Carolina

Musc Foundation for Research Development

Paul L Baron

Takis S Papas

Clifford W Schweinfest

Dennis K Watson

David J Cole

Paul H O'Brien

The present invention relates to a novel gene, CaSm, that is highly expressed in cancer tissues and cell lines, especially pancreatic cancer. The full length cDNA of CaSm encodes a protein of 133 amino acids. CaSm contains the two Sm motifs found in the common snRNP proteins, with the greatest homology to the Sm G protein (60% similarity). The present invention further encompasses CaSm peptides, fusion proteins, host cell expression systems, antibodies to CaSm, antisense CaSM molecules, and compounds that modulate CaSm gene expression or CaSm activity. Antisense CaSm RNA is able to alter the transformed phenotype of pancreatic cancer cells by reducing their ability to form large colonies in soft agar when compared to untransfected cells. The present invention also encompasses methods for disease diagnosis, drug screening and the treatment of cancer.

Methods and compositions for diagnosis and treatment of cancer

A method of detecting the metastasis of primary breast cancer to a lymph node is provided, comprising detecting, in lymph node tissue, the presence of a nucleic acid of c-myc, PIP or keratin-19. The presence of any one of these nucleic acids in lymph node tissue is associated with metastatic breast cancer. The presence of one or more of these markers in lymph node tissue or other tissue indicates that cells from the primary tumor have migrated from the breast tissue to the lymph node or other tissue. Also provided is a method of predicting the histopathologic stage of a cancer in a patient without having to perform a histopathologic analysis, comprising detecting, in lymph node tissue from the patient, the presence of a nucleic acid of c-myc, the presence of a nucleic acid of c-myc being correlated with stage I cancer as determined by histopathology. Alternatively, the absence of a nucleic acid of PIP and the absence of a nucleic acid of keratin-19 are correlated with stage I cancer as determined by histopathology. In another embodiment, the presence of a nucleic acid of PIP is correlated with stages later than stage I cancer as determined by histopathology. Further, the presence of a nucleic acid of keratin-19 is correlated with stages later than stage I cancer as determined by histopathology. A method of predicting survival time of cancer patients is also provided, comprising detecting, in lymph node tissue from the patient, the presence of a nucleic acid of c-myc, PIP or keratin-19. The presence of a nucleic acid of any of c-myc, PIP or keratin-19 is correlated with a shorter average survival time compared with the presence of none of the nucleic acids.

Multi-marker RT-PCR panel for detecting metastatic breast cancer

Growing community of inventors

Charleston, SC, United States of America

Paul L Baron