Tusc2 therapies

Abstract

A method for predicting a subject's response to a TUSC2 therapy is provided. In particular, a subject's response is predicted based on the proportion of cancers cells that are apoptotic. Also provided is a method of treating a subject previously predicted to have a favorable response with a TUSC2 therapy. Methods for treating cancer by administration of a TUSC2 therapeutic in conjunction with an EGFR inhibitor and/or a protein kinase inhibitor are also disclosed. Kits and reagents for use in TUSC2 therapy are provided.

1 - 78 . (canceled) 
     
     
         79 . A method for treating a subject having a cancer, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a TUSC2 therapy, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor and an anti-inflammatory agent to treat the cancer. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the TUSC2 therapy is administered after the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor or the anti-inflammatory agent. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the TUSC2 therapy is administered before or essentially simultaneously with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor or the anti-inflammatory agent. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the cancer was determined to express an EGFR. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the TUSC2 therapy comprises administration of a TUSC2 expression vector. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the TUSC2 expression vector is plasmid DNA. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the TUSC2 expression vector is provided in a liposome. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the liposome is a DOTAP:cholesterol liposome. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the TUSC2 therapy comprises administration of a TUSC2 polypeptide. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein the TUSC2 polypeptide is myristoylated. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein the TUSC2 polypeptide is comprised in a nanoparticle. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the EGFR inhibitor is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the EGFR inhibitor is an EGFR binding antibody. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the EGFR inhibitor is erlotinib, gefitinib, cetuximab, matuzumab, panitumumab, AEE788; CI-1033, HKI-272, HKI-357 or EKB-569. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein the EGFR inhibitor is erlotinib. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the anti-inflammatory agent is an anti-rheumatic agent, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent or a gold salt. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the gold salt is auranofin, gold sodium thiomalate or aurothioglucose. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein the anti-inflammatory agent is auranofin. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 79 , further comprising administering a further anti-cancer therapy to the subject. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 97 , wherein the second anti-cancer therapy is chemotherapy, radiotherapy, gene therapy, surgery, hormonal therapy, anti-angiogenic therapy or cytokine therapy. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the cancer is lung cancer. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein the lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein the lung cancer is a metastatic lung cancer. 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the cancer is EGFR inhibitor or chemotherapy resistant. 
     
     
         103 . A method for treating a subject having a cancer, comprising administering to the subject a TUSC2 therapy, erlotinib and auranofin in a therapeutically effective amount to treat the cancer. 
     
     
         104 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a TUSC2 therapeutic, erlotinib, and auranofin in pharmaceutically acceptable formulation.