Method of screening for sensitivity to kinase inhibitor therapy

Abstract

Described herein are methods for treating cancer and other disease conditions in individuals who have either developed a resistance to conventional tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy or who are non-responsive ab initio to conventional TKI therapy. In various embodiments, the methods include administering to a patient a resistance-surmounting quantity of a TKI on a weekly or semi-weekly basis. Alternate embodiments of the present invention include a diagnostic method for assessing an individual's probability of being resistant to TKI therapy, based upon an expression level of epithelial membrane protein-1 (EMP-1); one of the genes believed to be responsible for TKI resistance. The methods of the present invention may be particularly useful in the treatment of lung, breast, prostate, ovarian, brain and colon cancers. The methods of the present invention may be effective in blocking the HER-2 kinase domain either in addition to or in lieu of blocking the EGFR kinase domain.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A method of screening an individual for sensitivity to kinase inhibitor therapy, comprising: 
 examining an expression level of an EMP-1 gene in the individual; and    making a determination regarding sensitivity of the individual to conventional kinase inhibitor therapy based upon the expression level of the EMP-1 gene.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein making a determination regarding sensitivity further includes determining that the individual has a less than 10% probability of responding to conventional kinase inhibitor therapy when the expression level of the EMP-1 gene is detectable.  
     
     
         15 - 27 . (canceled)