Genetic Lesion Associated With Cancer

Abstract

The invention comprises methods for identifying mutations within the 3′UTR of genes that lead to increased risk or probability of developing cancer.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method of identifying a human subject at increased risk of developing cancer, the method comprising
 (1) amplifying a polynucleotide comprising position 4 of LCS6 of KRAS in a biological sample from the subject; and   (2) assaying for the presence of a uracil or thymine to guanine transition at position 4 of LCS6 of KRAS in the amplification products,   wherein the subject is identified as being at increased risk of developing cancer if there is a transition of uracil or thymine to guanine at position 4 of LCS6 of KRAS in the amplification products.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the assaying step comprises digesting the amplification products with one or more restriction enzymes and separating the resulting fragments by gel electrophoresis in the presence of a control sample comprising a polynucleotide consisting of SEQ ID NO:15. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the amplifying step comprises a polymerase chain reaction. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the assaying step comprises a 5′ nuclease assay. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the assaying step comprises an oligonucleotide ligation assay. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the assaying step comprises primer extension and mass spectrophotometry. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the cancer is non-small cell lung cancer. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the subject is a smoker with less than a 41 pack-year smoking history. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the cancer is radon-associated. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the cancer is selected from ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma.