Diagnostic tumor markers, drug screening for tumorigenesis inhibition, and compositions and methods for treatment of cancer

Abstract

The invention provides a series of compositions, methods, kits, articles and species associated primarily with the diagnosis and/or treatment of cell proliferation, specifically cancer. Cell proliferation associated with aberrant expression of MUC1 is particularly focused upon. Mechanisms associated with MUC1 cell proliferation are discussed.

We claim: 
     
         1 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A method comprising:
 providing a peptide including a portion of a cell surface receptor that interacts with an activating ligand such as a growth factor to promote cell proliferation, the portion including enough of the cell surface receptor to interact with the activating ligand and the portion free of interchain binding region to the extent necessary to prevent spontaneous binding between portions;   exposing the peptide to a candidate drug for affecting the ability of the activating ligand to interact with the peptide, and to the activating ligand; and   determining the ability of the candidate drug to prevent interaction of the activating ligand with the peptide.   
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 4 , comprising determining the ability of the candidate drug to prevent interaction of the peptide with other proteins or peptides. 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 4 , comprising providing a first article having a surface and a plurality of the peptides immobilized relative to or adapted to be immobilized relative to the surface;
 exposing the peptides and the surface of the first article to the candidate drug and at least one activating ligand; and   determining the ability of the candidate drug to prevent interaction of the activating ligand with the peptide.   
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 4 , comprising providing a first article having a surface, a second article having a surface, and a plurality of the peptides immobilized relative to or adapted to be immobilized relative to the surfaces of the first and second articles;
 exposing the peptides and the surfaces of the first and second articles to the candidate drug and at least one activating ligand; and   determining immobilization of the first and second articles relative to each other.   
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 4 , wherein the step of exposing the peptides to the candidate drug and at least one activating ligand comprises exposing the peptide and the candidate drug to one or both of cell lysate and cell supernatant containing the activating ligand. 
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 4 , wherein the peptide sequence is PSMGFR. 
     
     
         10 - 208 . (canceled)