Methods of diagnosing cancer using epigenetic biomarkers

A method for identifying an agent for the treatment of a cancer in a mammal comprising contacting a cancer cell comprising a biomarker selected from a cancer-associated polycomb group (CAP) body, a cancer-associated satellite transcript (CAST) body, and a satellite II RNA molecule with a test agent and determining whether the test agent reduces the level of the biomarker by detecting a reduction in the formation of the CAP body or CAST body, or a reduction in expression of the satellite II RNA molecule, in said cancer cell, wherein a reduction in the level of the biomarker in said cancer cell, relative to the level of the biomarker in a cancer cell not contacted with the test agent, indicates that the test agent is suitable for the treatment of the cancer.

A method for determining whether a chemotherapeutic agent increases epigenetic imbalance in a cell of a mammal comprising contacting said cell with a chemotherapeutic agent and determining a level of a biomarker selected from a cancer-associated polycomb group (CAP) body, a cancer-associated satellite transcript (CAST) body, and a satellite II RNA molecule in said cell, wherein an increase in the level of the biomarker in said cell, relative to the level of the biomarker in a cell not contacted with the chemotherapeutic agent, indicates that the chemotherapeutic agent increases epigenetic imbalance in said cell, wherein said epigenetic imbalance is associated with an increased risk of cancer in said mammal.

20-22. (canceled)

24-25. (canceled)

29-48. (canceled)

A method for detecting epigenetic imbalance in a cell of a mammal comprising determining a copy number of, or the level of polycomb proteins on, a satellite II DNA locus at chromosome 1q12 in said cell, wherein an increase in said copy number of, or an increase in the number of said polycomb proteins on, said satellite II DNA locus, relative to a non-cancer control cell, indicates said cell has said epigenetic imbalance wherein said epigenetic imbalance indicates an increased risk of cancer in said mammal.

(canceled)

A method for diagnosing, or providing a prognostic indicator of, cancer comprising detecting, as a biomarker, the ubiquitination status of histone H2A in a cell of a mammal, wherein the detection of an increase in UbH2A foci in said cell, relative to UbH2A foci in a non-cancer control cell, indicates the presence of cancer in the mammal;

• or detecting, as a biomarker, the distribution of a heterochromatic marker in a cell of the mammal, wherein an unbalanced distribution of the heterochromatic marker in the cell, relative to a non-cancer control cell, indicates the presence of cancer in the mammal.

52-57. (canceled)