Ovarian Cancer Methylome

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and kits for identifying a cell that exhibits or is predisposed to exhibiting unregulated growth by detecting hypennethylation of a gene or a regulatory region in at least one gene in the cell. Also provided are methods for diagnosis or prognosis of ovarian cancer in a subject. Also provided are methods of ameliorating ovarian cancer in a subject by administering to the subject an agent that demethylates a hypermethylated gene or regulatory region thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit useful for the detection of a methylated CpG-containing nucleic acid in determining the methylation status of one or more genes or regulatory regions thereof, selected from the group consisting of GULP1, CSGALNACT2, PGP9.5, HIC1, AIM1, APC, PAK3, MCAM, MGMT, KIFIA, CCNA1, ESR1, SSBP2, GSTP1, FKBP4, VGF, and any combination thereof, comprising a carrier element containing one or more containers comprising a first container containing a reagent that modifies unmethylated cytosine and a second container containing primers for amplification of the one or more genes or regulatory regions thereof, wherein the primers distinguish between modified methylated and unmethylated nucleic acid. 
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the modifying regent is bisulfite. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the second container contains primers for amplification of two or more genes or regulatory regions thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a panel of two or more genes selected from the group consisting of GULP1, CSGALNACT2, PGP9.5, HIC1, AIM1, APC, PAK3, MCAM, MGMT, KIFIA CCNA1, ESR1, SSBP2, GSTP1, FKBP4, VGF, and any combination thereof.