Mcgill University

American Diagnostica, Inc.

Quebepharma Recherche, Inc.

Shafaat A Rabbani

Clarke Slemon

Richard K Hart

The present invention provides a method of regulating the expression of the urokinase type plasminogen activator ('uPA') gene in a mammalian cell comprising the steps of: identifying a target nucleotide sequence in a gene of interest, obtaining a methylated antisense oligonucleotide sequence complementary to the target sequence, said oligonucleotide sequence having 5 methylated cytosine in place of unmethylated cytosine in the region complementary to the CpG region in the target nucleotide sequence, and exposing the cell to copies of the oligonucleotide sequence under suitable conditions, such that the oligonucleotide sequence enters the nucleus and interacts with the target sequence to promote methylation of the target nucleotide sequence.

Methylated nucleotide regulation of gene expression

The present invention relates to the use of molecules capable of specifically binding a urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) as diagnostic reagents for the detection of metastases in vivo. Such metastases can include, but are not limited to, micrometastases.

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Westmount, Canada

Shafaat A Rabbani