Methods for the treatment and prevention of cancer

Abstract

The present inventions features methods for treating or preventing cancer (e.g., cancer of the central nervous system) by administering a compound that inhibits PAK kinase activity and/or merlin phosphorylation to a mammal (e.g., a human). The invention also provides screening methods for identifying additional inhibitors of PAK kinase activity and/or merlin phosphorylation.

1 . A method of treating or stabilizing, cancer in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal a compound that reduces PAK kinase activity in an amount sufficient to treat or stabilize, cancer in said mammal. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound reduces PAK2 kinase activity. 
     
     
         3 . A method of treating or stabilizing, cancer in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal a compound that reduces the phosphorylation level of merlin in an amount sufficient to treat or stabilize, cancer in said mammal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the amount of merlin phosphorylated at serine 518 is reduced by at least 20%. 
     
     
         5 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  or  3 , wherein said compound comprises an autoinhibitory region of a PAK kinase. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  or  3 , wherein said compound is a PAK kinase antisense nucleic acid or double stranded RNA molecule. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  or  3 , wherein said compound is an antibody that specifically binds a PAK kinase. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  or  3 , wherein said compound is an ATP analog. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  or  3 , wherein said compound reduces the protein level of a PAK kinase or reduced the mRNA level of a PAK kinase. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  or  3 , wherein said cancer is neurofibromatosis type 2. 
     
     
         19 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound that reduces PAK kinase activity or inhibits merlin phosphorylation, and an acceptable vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 19 , that treats or prevents cancer in a mammal. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein said compound is a PAK kinase antisense nucleic acid or double stranded RNA molecule, PAK kinase antibody, merlin antibody, dominant negative PAK kinase protein, or an autoinhibitory region of a PAK kinase activity.