Individualized cancer therapy

Abstract

In certain preferred embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating cancer, which comprise (a) obtaining a specimen of cancer tissue from a patient; (b) obtaining a specimen of normal tissue in the proximity of the cancer tissue from such patient; (c) extracting total protein and RNA from the cancer tissue and normal tissue; (d) obtaining a protein expression profile of the cancer tissue and normal tissue using 2D DIGE and mass spectrometry; (e) identifying proteins that are expressed in such cancer tissue at significantly different levels than in the normal tissue; (f) obtaining a gene expression profile of the cancer tissue and normal tissue using microarray technology and comparing the results thereof to the protein expression profile; (g) prioritizing over-expressed proteins by assessing the connectivity thereof to other cancer-related or stimulatory proteins; (h) designing an appropriate RNA interference expression cassette to, directly or indirectly, modulate the expression of genes encoding such prioritized proteins; (i) incorporating said cassette into an appropriate delivery vehicle; and (j) providing the patient with an effective amount of the delivery vehicle to, directly or indirectly, modify the expression (i.e., production) of such proteins.