Genetic alterations associated with cancer

Abstract

The present invention provides new probes for the detection of chromosomal alterations associated with cancer, particularly ovarian cancer. The probes bind selectively with target nucleic acid sequences at 3q26.

1 . A method of screening for the presence of chromosomal alterations associated with cancer in a sample, the method comprising:
 contacting a nucleic acid sample from a human patient with a probe which binds selectively to a target nucleic acid sequence at 3q26.3, wherein the probe is contacted with the sample under conditions in which the probe binds selectively with the target nucleic acid sequence to faun a stable hybridization complex; and   detecting the formation of a hybridization complex.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target nucleic acid sequence is in a PIK3CA gene. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid sample is from a ovarian sample from the patient. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the probe selectively hybridizes to a region between markers D3S1275 and D3S1548. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the probe selectively hybridizes to the same nucleic acid sequence as a YAC clone having coordinates 806D8 or 945H6 in the Genethon/CEPH mega YAC library. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the probe is a member of an array. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising contacting the sample with a reference probe which binds selectively to a centromeric DNA. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting the hybridization complex comprises determining the copy number of the target sequence. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of contacting the sample with a probe which binds selectively to a target nucleic acid sequence at 19q13.1-19q13.2. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the target nucleic acid sequence is in an AKT2 gene. 
   
   
       11 . A kit for the detection of a chromosome alterations correlated with cancer, the kit comprising a compartment which contains a nucleic acid probe which binds selectively to a target nucleic acid sequence in 3q26, wherein the probe binds selectively with the target nucleic acid sequence. 
   
   
       12 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the probe selectively hybridizes to a region between markers D3S1275 and D3S1548. 
   
   
       13 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the probe selectively hybridizes to the same nucleic acid sequence as a YAC clone having coordinates 806D8 or 945H6 in the Genethon/CEPH mega YAC library. 
   
   
       14 . A method of screening for the presence of chromosomal alterations associated with cancer in a sample, the method comprising:
 contacting the sample with an antibody specifically immunoreactive with a protein antigen encoded by a nucleic acid sequence at 3q26.3; and   detecting the formation of an antigen/antibody complex.   
   
   
       15 . A method of inhibiting the pathological proliferation of cancer cells, the method comprising inhibiting the activity of a gene product of an endogenous gene at 3q26.3. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the endogenous gene maps to a region between markers D3S1275 and D3S1548. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the endogenous gene maps to a region defined by YACs having coordinates 806D8 and 945H6 in the Genethon/CEPH mega YAC library. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the endogenous gene is PIK3CA. 
   
   
       19 . A method of inhibiting the pathological proliferation of ovarian cancer cells in a patient, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective dose of an inhibitor of PI kinase to the patient.