Methylthioadenosine Phosphorylase Compositions and Methods of Use in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Proliferative Disorders

Abstract

Disclosed are novel nucleic acid and peptide compositions comprising methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) and methods of use for MTAP amino acid sequences and DNA segments comprising MTAP in the diagnosis of human cancers and development of MTAP-specific antibodies. Also disclosed are methods for the diagnosis and treatment of tumors and other proliferative cell disorders, and identification of tumor suppressor genes and gene products from the human 9p21-p22 chromosome region. Such methods are useful in the diagnosis of multiple tumor types such as bladder cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, brain tumors, lymphomas, gliomas, melanomas, and leukemias.

1 - 39 . (canceled)  
     
     
         40 . A purified antibody that binds to a MTAP protein or peptide.  
     
     
         41 . The antibody of  claim 40 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         42 . The antibody of  claim 41 , wherein the antibody is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         43 . The antibody of  claim 40 , wherein the antibody binds to SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         44 . The antibody of  claim 40 , wherein the antibody binds to an MTAP peptide of from about 15 to about 150 amino acids in length.  
     
     
         45 . The antibody of  claim 40 , further defined as labeled with a detectable label.  
     
     
         46 . The antibody of  claim 41 , wherein the detectable label is a radioactive label, a fluorogenic label, a nuclear magnetic spin resonance label, biotin or an enzyme that generates a colored product upon contact with a chromogenic substrate.  
     
     
         47 . The antibody of  claim 46 , wherein the detectable label is a radioactive label.  
     
     
         48 . The antibody of  claim 46 , wherein the detectable label is a fluorogenic label.  
     
     
         49 . The antibody of  claim 46 , wherein the detectable label is a nuclear magnetic spin resonance label.  
     
     
         50 . The antibody of  claim 46 , wherein the detectable label is biotin.  
     
     
         51 . The antibody of  claim 46 , wherein the detectable label is an enzyme that generates a colored product upon contact with a chromogenic substrate.  
     
     
         52 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody that binds to an MTAP protein or peptide and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         53 . The composition of  claim 52 , wherein the antibody is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         54 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         55 . The composition of  claim 52 , wherein the antibody is labeled with a detectable label.  
     
     
         56 . The composition of  claim 52 , wherein the detectable label is a radioactive label, a fluorogenic label, a nuclear magnetic spin resonance label, biotin or an enzyme that generates a colored product upon contact with a chromogenic substrate.  
     
     
         57 . The composition of  claim 52 , wherein the carrier is water, ethanol, polyol, a vegetable oil, or a mixture thereof.