Medical use of ras antagonists for the treatment of capillary malformation

A method of treating, preventing or alleviating vascular anomalies comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a substance that converts active GTP bound Ras protein into inactive GDP bound Ras protein in a cell to a mammal in need thereof.

A method of treatment, prevention or alleviation of vascular anomalies comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment, prevention or alleviation a therapeutically effective amount of a substance that inactivates GTP bound Ras protein in said mammal.

A method for diagnosis of inherited capillary malformation using a nucleic acid of at least 10 nucleotides having a sequence which is substantially complementary to a sequence in the RASA1 gene.

A probe for in vitro diagnosis of vascular anomalies in a subject carrying a mutation in the RASA1 gene, wherein said probe comprises a sequence of at least about 10 successive nucleotides substantially complementary to a sequence in the RASA1 gene wherein one of the following deletions or mutations occurs:

• RASA1ΔCT593-594, RASA1ΔGTCT1697-1700, RASA1ΔGC2454-2455, RASA1ΔT630, RASA11454(C>T), RASA1ΔGIVS17+1, or RASA1Δ1737(G>A).

A method for diagnosis of inherited capillary malformation using at least one nucleic acid substantially complementary to a sequence in the RASA1 gene, said sequence flanking the region wherein a mutation may occur.

A primer for in vitro diagnosis of vascular anomalies in a subject carrying a mutation in the RASA1 gene, wherein said primer comprises a sequence of from about 10 successive nucleotides specifically amplifying the sequence of the RASA1 gene wherein one of the following deletions or mutations occurs:

• RASA1ΔCT593-594, RASA1ΔGTCT1697-1700, RASA1ΔGC2454-2455, RASA1ΔT630, RASA11454(C>T), RASA1ΔGIV517-301, or RASA1Δ1737(G>A).

A primer comprising the sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs 3 to 61.

A method for in vitro diagnosis of inherited vascular malformations which comprises the use of a nucleic acid of at least 10 contiguous basepairs chosen from the sequence of the RASA1 gene.

A kit for in vitro diagnosis of vascular anomalies in a subject carrying a mutation in the RASA1 gene, said kit comprising at least one primer selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 3 to 61.

A method of treating, preventing or alleviating vascular anomalies comprising administering a therapeutic amount of a Ras antagonist or a Ras activity modulator to a mammal in need thereof.

(canceled)