Cancer markers

Abstract

Provided are previously uncharacterized markers of cancers, for example colorectal cancers, and uses of these as diagnostic and prognostic markers of cancers, and in particular colorectal cancers. The markers are SEQ ID NO:1—hnRNP-K; SEQ ID NO:2—HMG-1; SEQ ID NO:3—proteasome subunit alpha type 1; SEQ ID NO:4—bifunctional purine biosynthesis protein; SEQ ID NO:5—STI1; SEQ ID NO:6—annex in IV; SEQ ID NO:7—60 kDa heat shock protein; SEQ ID NO:8—T complex protein 1 beta subunit; SEQ ID NO:9—T complex protein 1 epsilon subunit; SEQ ID NO:10—mortalin; and SEQ ID NO:11—TER-ATPase. The invention further provides related methods and materials for the use of the markers in therapeutic intervention in colorectal and other cancers e.g. to specifically target neoplastic cells without causing significant toxicity in healthy tissues, and to provide methods for the evaluation of the ability of candidate therapeutic compounds to modulate the biological activity of cancerous cells from the colon, rectum and other tissues.

1 . A method of discriminating cancer cells from normal cells, which method comprises determining whether a target protein is over-expressed in said cells,
 said target protein being the 60 kDa heat shock protein of SEQ ID NO:7, or a variant having at least 95% homology therewith.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said method is performed on an individual in whom said cells are present or from whom said cells have been derived, and the determination of protein over-expression is used in diagnosing or predicting the onset of cancer. 
     
     
         3 . A method for diagnosing or predicting the onset of a cancer in a tissue of an individual, which method comprises the steps of:
 (a) determining the expression of a target protein in a sample of the tissue from the individual, said target protein being the 60 kDa heat shock protein of SEQ ID NO: 7, or a variant having at least 95% homology therewith, and   (b) comparing the pattern or level of expression observed with the pattern or level of expression of the same protein in a second clinically normal tissue sample from the same individual or a second healthy individual,
 wherein a difference in the expression patterns or levels observed is correlated with the presence of cancer cells in the sample. 
   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the target protein is detected using a recognition compound which is a binding moiety capable of specifically binding the target protein, which binding moiety is optionally linked to a detectable label. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the method comprises the steps of
 (a) obtaining from a patient a tissue sample to be tested for the presence of cancer cells;   (b) producing a prepared sample in a sample preparation process;   (c) contacting the prepared sample with the recognition compound that binds to the target protein; and   (d) detecting binding of the recognition compound to the target protein, if present, in the prepared sample.   
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the recognition compound is an antibody. 
     
     
         8 .- 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cancer is colorectal cancer. 
     
     
         41 . A method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the sample is derived from tissues of the colon and/or rectum. 
     
     
         42 . (canceled)