MCC gene (mutated in colorectal cancer) used for diagnosis of cancer in humans
AssigneesThe Johns Hopkins University, University of Utah, Cancer Institute
InventorsBert Vogelstein, Kenneth W. Kinzler, Raymond White, Yusuke Nakamura
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A new human gene termed MCC is disclosed. Methods and kits are provided for assessing mutations of the MCC gene in human tissues and body samples. Gross rearrangement and point mutations in MCC are observed in human tumor cells. MCC is expressed in most normal tissues. These results suggest that MCC is a tumor suppressor.
Claims30
A method of diagnosing a neoplastic colorectal tissue of a human, comprising:
- (a) obtaining a colorectal tissue sample of a human;
- (b) comparing MCC gene coding sequences or MCC mRNA molecules in said tissue sample to wild-type MCC gene coding sequences or MCC mRNA molecules, an observed alteration in MCC gene coding sequence or mRNA molecules in said tissue sample as compared to wild-type indicating neoplasia of the tissue.
A kit useful for detecting MCC genes in the human genetic complement comprising a battery of nucleic acid probes which in the aggregate are fully complementary to all nucleotides of the MCC gene coding sequences as shown in SEQ ID NO:
- 1 or the full complement of the MCC gene coding sequences as shown in SEQ ID NO:
- 1, wherein said probes overlap or are contiguous with each other, and wherein said probes specifically hybridize to the MCC gene.
A method of detecting the presence of a neoplastic colorectal tissue in a human, comprising:
- (a) obtaining a body sample isolated from a human;
- (b) comparing MCC gene coding sequences or MCC mRNA molecules in the body sample to a wild-type MCC gene coding sequence or wild-type MCC mRNA molecule, an observed alteration in said sample as compared to wild-type indicating the presence of a neoplastic tissue in the human.
A method of detecting genetic predisposition to colorectal cancer in a human comprising:
- (a) obtaining a human sample selected from the group consisting of blood and fetal tissue;
- (b) comparing MCC gene coding sequences or MCC mRNA molecules in said sample to wild-type MCC gene coding sequences or MCC mRNA molecules, an observed alteration in said sample as compared to the wild-type indicating predisposition to colorectal cancer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.