Tumor suppressor designated ts10q23.3

Abstract

A specific region of chromosome 10 (10q23.3) has been implicated by series of studies to contain a tumor suppressor gene involved in gliomas, as well as a number of other human cancers. One gene within this region was identified, and the corresponding coding region of the gene represents a novel 47 kD protein. A domain of this product has an exact match to the conserved catalytic domain of protein tyrosine phosphatases, indicating a possible functional role in phosphorylation events. Sequence analyses demonstrated the a number of exons of the gene were deleted in tumor cell lines used to define the 10q23.3 region, leading to the classification of this gene as a tumor suppressor. Further analyses have demonstrated the presence of a number of mutations in the gene in both glioma and prostate carcinoma cells. Methods for diagnosing and treating cancers related to this tumor suppressor, designated as TS10q23.3, also are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of determining the stage of cancer comprising the steps of (i) obtaining a sample from a subject; and (ii) determining in cells of the sample the amount of a polypeptide whose amino acid sequence comprises at least 30 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         2 . A method of predicting tumor metastasis comprising the steps of (i) obtaining a sample from a subject; and (ii) determining in cells of the sample the amount of a polypeptide whose amino acid sequence comprises at least 30 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancer is chosen from the group consisting of brain, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, lymph node, small intestine, pancreas, blood cells, colon, stomach, breast, endometrium, prostate, testicle, ovary, skin, head and neck, esophagus, bone marrow and blood cancer. In preferred embodiments, the cancer is prostate cancer or breast cancer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said cancer is chosen from the group consisting of brain, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, lymph node, small intestine, pancreas, blood cells, colon, stomach, breast, endometrium, prostate, testicle, ovary, skin, head and neck, esophagus, bone marrow and blood cancer. In preferred embodiments, the cancer is prostate cancer or breast cancer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancer is a brain cancer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the stage is distinguished between low grade and glioma. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said cancer is a glioma. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said cancer is a brain cancer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said cancer is a glioma. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancer is prostate cancer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said cancer is prostate cancer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said sample is a solid tissue sample. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said sample is a solid tissue sample. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said sample is a fluid sample. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said sample is a fluid sample. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said determining step comprises contacting said sample with an antibody that binds immunologically to said protein. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said determining step comprises contacting said sample with an antibody that binds immunologically to said protein. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said determining step comprises an ELISA. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said determining step comprises an ELISA. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said cancer is distinguished as metastatic or non-metastatic.