Genes, compositions, kits, and methods for identification, assessment, prevention, and therapy of prostate cancer

A method of assessing whether a patient is afflicted with prostate cancer, the method comprising:

• a) determining the level of expression in the sample of at least two markers independently selected from the markers listed in Table 1;
• b) determining the level of expression of each of the markers in a control sample;
• c) comparing the level of expression of the marker in the patient sample and in the sample from the control sample;
• and
• d) determining the patient is afflicted with prostate cancer when a significant difference in the level of expression of at least two of the markers, relative to the corresponding control levels of expression of the markers, is an indication that the patient is afflicted with prostate cancer;
• thereby assessing whether a patient is afflicted with prostate cancer.

A method for monitoring the progression of prostate cancer in a patient, the method comprising:

• a) determining the level of expression of a marker in a patient sample from a first point in time, wherein the marker is selected from the group consisting of the markers listed in Table 1;
• b) determining the level of expression of the marker in a sample from the patient at a subsequent point in time;
• and
• c) comparing the level of expression detected in steps a) and b), thereby monitoring the progression of prostate cancer in the patient,
• wherein a change in expression of the marker is indicative of either progression or regression of prostate cancer.

A method of identifying a candidate test compound for inhibiting prostate cancer in a patient, the method comprising:

• a) determining the expression of a marker in a first sample obtained from the patient and exposed to a test compound, wherein the marker is selected from the group consisting of the markers listed in Table 1,
• b) determining the expression of the marker in a second sample obtained from the patient, wherein the sample is not exposed to the test compound,
• c) comparing the expression of the marker in the sample exposed to the test compound and the sample not exposed to the test compound;
• and
• d) determining a test compound is a candidate compound for inhibiting prostate cancer in a patient when a significantly lower level of expression of the marker in the sample exposed to the test compound, relative to the second sample, is an indication that the test compound is efficacious for inhibiting prostate cancer in the patient.

A kit for assessing whether a patient is afflicted with prostate cancer, the kit comprising reagents for assessing expression of at least one marker selected from the group consisting of the markers listed in Table 1;

• wherein the kit comprises reagents are selected from:
• a) at least one nucleic acid probe wherein the probe or probes specifically bind with transcribed polynucleotides corresponding to at least one marker selected from the group consisting of the markers listed in Table 1;
• and
• b) at least one antibody, wherein the antibody or antibodies specifically bind with proteins corresponding to at least one marker selected from the group consisting of the markers listed in Table 1.

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:

• SEQ ID NO:
• 3, SEQ ID NO:
• 5, SEQ ID NO:
• 9, SEQ ID NO:
• 11, SEQ ID NO:
• 13, SEQ ID NO:
• 15, SEQ ID NO:
• 17, SEQ ID NO:
• 21, SEQ ID NO:
• 25, SEQ ID NO:
• 27, SEQ ID NO:
• 29, and SEQ ID NO:
• 43.