Diagnostic and therapeutic target

Abstract

An in vitro method for assessing the risk that a subject suffers from a cancer, comprising measuring the expression level of Proline/arginine-rich end leucine repeat protein (PRELP) in cells from said subject, wherein an increased expression level of PRELP, as compared to healthy donors, indicates an increased probability of said subject suffering from cancer. The disclosure further relates to antibodies specific for PRELP and their use in diagnosis and therapy as well as a method for indicating a cell as a cancer cell.

1 . A method for assessing the risk that a subject suffers from a cancer selected from breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, or Burkitt's lymphoma, comprising measuring the expression level of Proline/arginine-rich end leucine repeat protein (PRELP) in cells isolated from said subject, by contacting the cells with an antibody, or fragment thereof, which is specific for the polypeptide sequence of MRSPLCWLLPLLILASVAQG (SEQ ID NO: 7) of the N-terminal part of the 38 kDA form of PRELP and measuring the expression level of PRELP by measuring the amount of antibody or fragment thereof bound to the cells, wherein an increased expression level of PRELP, as compared to healthy donors, indicates an increased probability of said subject suffering from said cancer and the lack of increased expression level of PRELP as compared to healthy donors does not indicate an increased probability of said subject suffering from said cancer. 
     
     
         2 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof is bound to a detectable moiety. 
     
     
         29 . A method for treatment of a cancer, selected from breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, or Burkitt's lymphoma, comprising administering an effective amount of an antibody, or fragment thereof, which is specific for the polypeptide sequence of MRSPLCWLLPLLILASVAQG (SEQ ID NO: 7) of the N-terminal part of the 38 kDA form of PRELP to a subject suffering from said cancer. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof is bound to a moiety having anti-cancer activity. 
     
     
         32 . A method for indicating a cell as a cancer cell, comprising detecting a presence or non-presence of PRELP on the surface of said cell by contacting the cell with an antibody, or fragment thereof, which is specific for the polypeptide sequence of MRSPLCWLLPLLILASVAQG (SEQ ID NO: 7) of the N-terminal part of the 38 kDA form of PRELP, wherein the presence of PRELP on said surface of said cell by binding of said antibody or fragment thereof to said polypeptide sequence indicates that said cell is a cancer cell of the group of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, or Burkitt's lymphoma and the non-presence of said binding to said polypeptide sequence indicates that said cell is not a cancer cell of the group of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, or Burkitt's lymphoma. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein presence or non-presence of PRELP binding is measured as presence or non-presence of a 38 kDa form of PRELP. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein said antibody or fragment thereof is bound to a detectable moiety.