Reagents and Methods for Identifying Gene Targets for Treating Cancer

Abstract

The invention provides methods and reagents for identifying mammalian genes necessary for tumor cell growth as targets for developing drugs that inhibit expression of said genes and inhibit tumor cell growth thereby.

1 . One or a plurality of target genes for identifying compounds that inhibit tumor cell growth, wherein inhibition of expression of at least one of said genes or inhibition of protein activity of its gene product inhibits growth of the tumor cell, wherein said genes are selected from the group consisting of the genes set forth in Table 3.  
   
   
       2 . A plurality of target genes according to  claim 1 , comprising genes encoding L1CAM, ICAM2, Zinedin, or von Willebrand factor.  
   
   
       3 . A pattern of gene expression inhibition or inhibition of protein activity of the gene product of a plurality of said genes as set forth in Table 3 wherein detecting said pattern in a tumor cell in response to contacting the cell with the compound is used to identify said compound as an inhibitor of tumor cell growth.  
   
   
       4 . A pattern according to  claim 3 , wherein the pattern comprises genes encoding L1CAM, ICAM2, Zinedin, or von Willebrand factor.  
   
   
       5 . A panel of oligonucleotides comprising sequences specific for a plurality of target genes for identifying compounds that inhibit tumor cell growth according to  claim 1 , wherein said genes are selected from the group consisting of the genes set forth in Table 3.  
   
   
       6 . The panel of  claim 5 , wherein said oligonucleotides comprising sequences specific for the genes of said panel are immobilized on a solid substrate.  
   
   
       7 . The panel of  claim 6 , wherein said solid substrate is a microchip or forms a microarray.  
   
   
       8 . The panel of  claim 5 , comprising oligonucleotides specific for genes encoding L1CAM, ICAM2, Zinedin, or von Willebrand factor.