City of Hope

Tibor A Rauch

Gerd P Pfeifer

Xiwei Wu

Zunde Wang

The present invention relates to the identification of novel DNA biomarkers and the use of the aberrant methylation patterns of the biomarkers to diagnose a disease or a condition (e.g., a cancer) associated therewith. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of the novel DNA biomarkers to diagnose lung cancers, e.g., squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas.

DNA methylation biomarkers for lung cancer

The present invention provides new and improved assay for detection of genomic methylated CpG islands. This new method is termed the methylated-CpG island recovery assay (MIRA). In accordance with one embodiment, MIRA comprises the steps of: (a) incubating genomic DNA fragments with a methylated CpG island binding protein in the presence of a binding partner for the binding protein to produce bound DNA containing methylated CpG islands, (b) isolating the bound DNA, and (c) detecting CpG island methylation by gene-specific amplification reactions. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, MIRA comprises the steps of: (a) incubating sonicated genomic DNA with a matrix containing a fusion protein of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and MBD2b (GST-MBD2b) in the presence of MBD3L1 to produce bound DNA containing methylated CpG islands, (b) eluting bound DNA from the matrix, and (c) detecting CpG island methylation by gene-specific amplification reactions.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Tibor A Rauch