Methods for the treatment, the prognostic assessment and the staging of non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for the treatment, the prognosis and the diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer.

1 . A method of determining the prognosis of a subject suffering from non-small cell lung cancer, comprising the step of detecting the expression of neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) in non-small cell lung cancer cells obtained from said subject, wherein the presence of expression of NTSR1 indicates that the subject has a poor prognosis, and wherein said subject is a subject with stage I or stage II non-small cell lung cancer. 
     
     
         2 . The method of determining the prognosis of a subject suffering from non-small cell lung cancer according to  claim 1  wherein the step of detecting the expression of neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) in non-small cell lung cancer cells obtained from said subject is carried out by immunohistochemistry by treating a tumor sample obtained from said subject as follows:
 fixing said tumor sample with formalin, 
 embedding said tumor sample in paraffin. 
 cutting said tumor sample into sections for staining 
 incubating said sections with an antibody specifc for NTSR1 
 rinsing said sections 
 incubating said section with a biotinylated secondary antibody, and 
 revealing the antigen-antibody complex with avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex. 
 
     
     
         3 . A method of detecting and localizing non-small cell lung cancer cells and their metastases in the body of a subject, to which a quantity sufficient for imaging of a labelled agent which binds to NTSR1 has been previously administered, wherein said method comprises the step of subjecting said body to imaging. 
     
     
         4 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A method for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprising the step of administering an effective amount of an inhibitor of the neurotensin activation of NTSR1 or of a cytotoxic agent which binds to NTSR1 to a subject in need thereof, wherein said inhibitor of the neurotensin activation of NTSR1 is selected from the group consisting of an antibody against the neurotensin receptor 1, a fragment thereof which binds to the neurotensin receptor 1, an antagonist of NTSR1 and a protease that can degrade neurotensin. 
     
     
         7 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) according to  claim 6  wherein said inhibitor is used in combination with an anti-cancer agent. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method for predicting the response to treatment with an anti-cancer agent in a subject suffering from non-small cell lung cancer, comprising the step of detecting the expression of NTRS1 in non-small cell lung cancer cells obtained from said subject.