Prognostic evaluation of cancer

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the prevention, prognostic evaluation, and treatment of oncogenic disorders, especially breast cancer, wherein a protein tyrosine kinase capable of complexing with a member of the SH2-and/or SH3-containing family of adaptor proteins is involved. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the protein tyrosine kinase is the receptor protein tyrosine kinase HER2, and the adaptor protein is GRB, so that the protein tyrosine kinase/adaptor protein complex is a HER2/GRB-7 complex.

1 - 46 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         47 . A method for prognostic evaluation of a patient suspected of exhibiting an oncogenic disorder involving a receptor protein tyrosine kinase polypeptide/adaptor polypeptide complex comprising: 
 (a) determining the concentration of a component of the receptor protein tyrosine kinase polypeptide/adaptor polypeptide complex present in a biological sample, taken from the patient, suspected of containing oncogenic tissue;    (b) comparing the concentration determined in step (a) to the concentration range of the component of the receptor protein tyrosine kinase polypeptide/adaptor polypeptide complex known to be present in normal tissue of the same type as present in the biological sample; and    (c) correlating the result of step (b) to a prognosis.    
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the component of the receptor protein tyrosine kinase polypeptide/adaptor polypeptide complex is a protein tyrosine kinase polypeptide or an adaptor polypeptide.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the receptor protein tyrosine kinase polypeptide is a HER2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the adaptor protein polypeptide is a GRB-7 polypeptide.