Compositions and methods for cancer diagnosis and therapy
AssigneeThomas Jefferson University
InventorsCarlo Croce, George Calin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The miR15 and miR16 micro RNA genes are located at 13q14 within a 30 kb region of loss characteristic of cells from certain cancers, such as cells from chronic lymphocytic leukemia or prostate cancer. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia or prostate cancer can be diagnosed by detecting a reduction in miR15 or miR16 gene copy number, by determining miR15 or miR16 gene mutational status, or by detecting a reduction in the RNA transcribed from these genes. The miR15 or miR16 gene products can inhibit the neoplastic or tumorigenic growth of cancers such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia or prostate cancer cells when administered to subjects suffering from these diseases.
Claims20
A method of diagnosing an miR16-mediated B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia in a subject, comprising the steps of:
- (i) obtaining a test sample containing B-lymphocytes from the subject,
- (ii) measuring the level of an miR16 gene product that comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:4 in the test sample,
- (iii) comparing the level of the miR16 gene product in the test sample to a control level of the miR16 gene product in a control miR16 gene product sample, and
- (iv) determining the subject has an miR16-mediated B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia by detecting a lower level of the miR16 gene product in the test sample, relative to the control miR16 gene product sample.
A method of diagnosing an miR16-mediated prostate cancer in a subject, comprising the steps of:
- (i) obtaining a test sample containing prostate cells from the subject,
- (ii) measuring the level of an miR16 gene product that comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:4 in the test sample,
- (iii) comparing the level of the miR16 gene product in the test sample to a control level of the miR16 gene product in a control miR16 gene product sample, and
- (iv) determining the subject has an miR16-mediated prostate cancer by detecting a lower level of the miR16 gene product in the test sample, relative to the control miR16 gene product sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.