ANALYZING SEMAPHORIN7A (Sema7A) LEVELS FOR ASSESSING CANCER METASTATIC POTENTIAL

Abstract

Methods, assays, and kits for determining a cancer's (e.g., breast cancer) metastatic potential and tumor aggressiveness in a subject (e.g., a human patient) and for measuring a subject's response to cancer therapy involve analyzing expression of Sema7A in a biological sample from the subject, and correlating increased expression of Sema7A in the biological sample compared to a control sample with metastatic potential of the cancer, wherein the expression of Sema7A is linearly proportional to the metastatic potential of the cancer in the subject. These methods, kits and assays provide for individualized diagnosis and treatment options for cancer (e.g., breast cancer) patients. They can be used independently, or can be combined with additional diagnostic tests and/or prognostic methods. Compositions, kits and methods for treating a subject having cancer (e.g., breast cancer) include administering a composition for inhibiting Sema7A expression or activity to the subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . An assay for determining metastatic potential of a breast cancer in a subject, the assay comprising:
 (a) analyzing expression of Sema7A in a biological sample from the subject; and   (b) correlating increased expression of Sema7A in the biological sample compared to a control sample with metastatic potential of the breast cancer,   wherein the expression of Sema7A is linearly proportional to the metastatic potential of the breast cancer in the subject.   
     
     
         26 . The assay of  claim 25 , wherein the biological sample is a needle biopsy sample. 
     
     
         27 . The assay of  claim 25 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         28 . The assay of  claim 25 , wherein expression of Sema7A is analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a pair of Sema7A-specific primers. 
     
     
         29 . The assay of  claim 25 , wherein expression of Sema7A is analyzed using reverse-transcriptase PCR and a pair of Sema7A-specific primers. 
     
     
         30 . The assay of  claim 25 , wherein expression of Sema7A is analyzed using a Sema7A-specific antibody and a protein assay. 
     
     
         31 . The assay of  claim 25 , further comprising analyzing expression of one or more breast cancer markers selected from the group consisting of: vimentin, osteopontin, MMP-3 and MMP-13. 
     
     
         32 . The assay of  claim 25 , wherein the breast cancer is selected from the group consisting of: ER-negative breast cancer, ductal carcinomas, lobular carcinoma and male breast cancer. 
     
     
         33 . The assay of  claim 25 , wherein cancer stem cells (CSCs) are isolated from the biological sample and analyzed for Sema7A expression, and expression of Sema7A in the CSCs is linearly proportional to the metastatic potential of the breast cancer in the subject. 
     
     
         34 . The assay of  claim 33 , wherein the CSCs are breast CSCs.