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:
Aug. 05, 2014
Filed:
Sep. 16, 2011
Yardena R. Samuels, Rehovot, IL;
Todd D. Prickett, Sterling, VA (US);
Yardena R. Samuels, Rehovot, IL;
Todd D. Prickett, Sterling, VA (US);
Abstract
Described herein is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR)-directed mutational analysis of tumor DNA obtained from melanoma tissue samples. The GPCR gene glutamate receptor, metabotropic 3 (GRM3) was identified as the most highly mutated GPCR gene in this screen. Functional characterization of GRM3 mutants revealed that these mutants promote activation of MEK, anchorage-independent cell growth and metastasis. Thus, provided herein are methods of diagnosing a subject as having melanoma, or susceptible to developing melanoma, by detecting the presence of at least one mutation in GRM3. Also provided are methods of treating a subject with melanoma by detecting the presence of at least one mutation in GRM3 and administering an appropriate therapy. Further provided are methods of selecting a subject diagnosed with melanoma as a candidate for treatment with a GRM3 inhibitor, an MEK inhibitor, or both, by detecting the presence of at least one mutation in GRM3.