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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . 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. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the TUSC2 therapy is administered after the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor or the anti-inflammatory agent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the TUSC2 therapy is administered before or essentially simultaneously with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor or the anti-inflammatory agent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer was determined to express an EGFR. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the TUSC2 therapy comprises administration of a TUSC2 expression vector. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the TUSC2 expression vector is plasmid DNA. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the TUSC2 expression vector is provided in a liposome. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the liposome is a DOTAP:cholesterol liposome. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the TUSC2 therapy comprises administration of a TUSC2 polypeptide. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the TUSC2 polypeptide is myristoylated. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the TUSC2 polypeptide is comprised in a nanoparticle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EGFR inhibitor is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EGFR inhibitor is an EGFR binding antibody. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EGFR inhibitor is erlotinib, gefitinib, cetuximab, matuzumab, panitumumab, AEE788; CI-1033, HKI-272, HKI-357 or EKB-569. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the EGFR inhibitor is erlotinib. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-inflammatory agent is an anti-rheumatic agent, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent or a gold salt. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the gold salt is auranofin, gold sodium thiomalate or aurothioglucose. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the anti-inflammatory agent is auranofin. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering a further anti-cancer therapy to the subject. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second anti-cancer therapy is chemotherapy, radiotherapy, gene therapy, surgery, hormonal therapy, anti-angiogenic therapy or cytokine therapy. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is lung cancer. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the lung cancer is a metastatic lung cancer. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is EGFR inhibitor or chemotherapy resistant. 
     
     
         25 . 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. 
     
     
         26 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a TUSC2 therapeutic, erlotinib, and auranofin in pharmaceutically acceptable formulation.