Knockout mouse for the tumor suppressor gene ANX7

Abstract

A knockout transgenic mouse containing a nonfunctional allele of the tumor suppressing gene, annexin VII. This mouse is used as a screening model for potential therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of tumors resulting from an annexin tumor suppressor disease.

1 - 26 . (canceled)  
     
     
         27 . A method of identifying a probability that a patient with prostate cancer has a severe form of prostate cancer, comprising assaying ANX7 protein expression in a tissue sample from the patient's prostate; 
 wherein, if ANX7 protein is not expressed above a negligible level in the patient's prostate, the patient is identified as having a high probability of having a severe form of prostate cancer; and    wherein, if ANX7 protein is expressed above a negligible level in the patient's prostate, the patient is identified as having a low probability of having a severe form of prostate cancer.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein ANX7 protein is not expressed above a negligible level in the patient's prostate and the patient is identified as having a high probability of having a severe form of prostate cancer.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein ANX7 protein is expressed above a negligible level in the patient's prostate and the patient is identified as having a low probability of having a severe form of prostate cancer.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the assaying ANX7 protein expression in the tissue sample comprises introducing at least one antibody that can specifically bind to ANX7 protein to the tissue sample.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is labeled.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the severe prostate cancer is a metastasized prostate cancer.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the severe prostate cancer is a locally recurrent hormone refractory prostate cancer.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising assaying the proportion of proliferating cells in the tissue sample from the patient's prostate.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein assaying the proportion of proliferating cells in the tissue sample from the patient's prostate comprises introducing a Ki67 antibody to the tissue sample.  
     
     
         37 . An assay complex comprising at least one prostate tissue sample or tissue sample extract, at least one antibody that can specifically bind ANX7, and at least one label.  
     
     
         38 . The assay complex of  claim 37 , in which the prostate tissue sample or tissue sample extract is bound to a substrate.  
     
     
         39 . The assay complex of  claim 37 , in which the assay complex comprises an array or microarray of tissue samples or tissue sample extracts.  
     
     
         40 . The assay complex of  claim 39 , wherein the tissue samples or tissue sample extracts are bound to a substrate.