The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 19, 2013
Filed:
Dec. 27, 2007
Peter W. Laird, South Pasadena, CA (US);
Martin Widschwendter, London, GB;
Peter W. Laird, South Pasadena, CA (US);
Martin Widschwendter, London, GB;
The University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (US);
University College London, , GB;
Abstract
In particular aspects, stem-cell polycomb group (PcG) targets are more likely to have cancer-specific promoter DNA methylation than non-targets, indicating a stem-cell origin of cancer, where reversible gene repression is replaced by permanent silencing, locking the cell into a perpetual state of self-renewal and predisposition to subsequent malignant transformation. Exemplary aspects provide methods for identifying preferred DNA methylation markers for a cellular proliferative disorder and/or cancer and markers for developmental lineages and/or stages, based on identifying PcG protein or PcG repressive complex genomic target loci within a precursor cell (e.g., stem or progenitor cell) population, and determining, in cells of the proliferative disorder and/or cancer or cell of the particular developmental lineages and/or stages, a characteristic methylation status of the PcG target loci. Additional aspects provide methods for validating and/or monitoring a precursor cell (e.g., stem cell) population. Diagnostic and prognostic methods for ovarian and breast cancer are provided.