Cancer

Abstract

The invention provides methods of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cancer related to the OBCAM and NTM genes. The methods are particularly suited to ovarian and colorectal cancers.

1 .- 73 . (canceled) 
     
     
         74 . A method of screening for cancer in a patient or a method of predicting the relative prospects of a particular outcome of a cancer in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a sample containing nucleic acid from the patient, and either:
 contacting the patient sample with a nucleic acid molecule which hybridises selectively to the OBCAM gene or cDNA, or their complement, or 
 determining the degree of methylation of the OBCAM gene in the patient sample; or 
   obtaining a sample containing protein derived from the patient, and determining the relative amount of the OBCAM polypeptide in the sample.   
     
     
         75 . A method according to  claim 74  wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of breast cancer, lung cancer, or ovarian cancer. 
     
     
         76 . A method according to  claim 74  wherein the cancer is ovarian cancer. 
     
     
         77 . A method according to  claim 74  wherein the sample is blood. 
     
     
         78 . A method according to  claim 74  wherein the sample is a sample of the tissue in which cancer is suspected or in which cancer may be or has been found. 
     
     
         79 . A method according to  claim 78  wherein the sample is a sample of ovary and the cancer is ovarian cancer. 
     
     
         80 . A method according to  claim 74  further comprising the step of comparing the level of methylation of the OBCAM gene from the patient sample with the level of methylation in a control sample, wherein a higher degree of methylation of the OBCAM gene compared to the control sample is indicative of cancer in the patient or is indicative of a lower chance of a successful outcome of the cancer in the patient. 
     
     
         81 . A method according to  claim 74  wherein methylation of the OBCAM CpG island is analysed. 
     
     
         82 . A method according to  claim 74  wherein the nucleic acid molecule which hybridises selectively to the OBCAM gene or cDNA, or their complement, further comprises a detectable label. 
     
     
         83 . A method according to  claim 74  wherein the nucleic acid molecule which hybridises selectively to the OBCAM gene or cDNA, or their complement, is single-stranded. 
     
     
         84 . A method according to  claim 74  wherein the nucleic acid molecule which hybridises selectively to the OBCAM gene or cDNA, or their complement, has fewer than 10000 base pairs, and preferably fewer than 1000 base pairs, when the nucleic acid molecule is double-stranded or bases when the nucleic acid molecule is single-stranded. 
     
     
         85 . A method according to  claim 84  wherein the nucleic acid molecule has from 10 to 100 base pairs, and preferably from 15 to 30 base pairs, when the nucleic acid molecule is double-stranded or bases when the nucleic acid molecule is single-stranded. 
     
     
         86 . A method according to  claim 74  wherein the nucleic acid molecule which hybridises selectively to the OBCAM gene or cDNA, or their complement, comprises a portion of OBCAM cDNA. 
     
     
         87 . A method according to  claim 74  wherein the acid molecule which hybridises selectively to the OBCAM gene or cDNA, or their complement, is capable of amplifying a portion of the OBCAM gene, OBCAM cDNA, or OBCAM mRNA in a nucleic acid amplification reaction. 
     
     
         88 . A method according to  claim 74  wherein the nucleic acid molecule which selectively binds to the OBCAM gene or cDNA, or their complement, has greater than 95% sequence identity with the OBCAM gene or cDNA, or the complement thereof. 
     
     
         89 . A method according to  claim 74  wherein contacting the patient sample with the nucleic acid molecule which selectively binds to the OBCAM gene or cDNA, or their complement, is carried out on a DNA chip. 
     
     
         90 . A method according to  claim 74  wherein contacting the patient sample with the nucleic acid molecule which selectively binds to the OBCAM gene or cDNA, or their complement, comprises part of a DNA amplification reaction. 
     
     
         91 . A method according to  claim 74  wherein the relevant amount of the OBCAM polypeptide is determined using a molecule which selectively binds to OBCAM polypeptide. 
     
     
         92 . A method according to  claim 91  wherein the molecule which selectively binds the OBCAM polypeptide is an anti-OBCAM antibody. 
     
     
         93 . A method according to  claim 91  wherein the molecule which selectively binds to OBCAM polypeptide also comprises a detectable label.