Detection and treatment of cancer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing, evaluating the prognosis of a cancer patient and evaluating the aggressiveness of a cancer. The methods comprise detecting the phosphorylation status of a Scribble protein, a fragment or variant thereof, wherein the phosphorylation status is indicative of cancer, prognosis and the aggressiveness of a cancer. In one embodiment the cancer is breast cancer.

1 . A method of diagnosing cancer in a patient, the method comprising detecting the phosphorylation status of a Scribble protein, a fragment or variant thereof, wherein said phosphorylation status is indicative of cancer. 
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , comprising detecting the phosphorylation status of one or more residues of a Scribble protein or fragment or variant thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising detecting the phosphorylation status of at least one of the following residues S1306, S1309, S1348 and S1448 or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient is a cancer patient or is at risk of developing cancer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the patient's cancer is an epithelial cancer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the patient's cancer is breast, pancreas, bone, liver, stomach, lung, colorectal, bladder, prostate or ovarian cancer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cancer is breast cancer and wherein the breast cancer tumour does not express at least one marker selected from the group consisting of oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR) and the ErbB2 receptor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the phosphorylation status comprises obtaining a sample from said patient and contacting the sample with at least one antibody that is capable of specifically binding phosphorylated or unphosphorylated residues of a Scribble protein, fragment or variant thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the phosphorylation status comprises obtaining a sample from said patient and detecting the phosphorylation status by mass spectrometry. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting the expression of one or more other biomarkers. 
     
     
         11 . A method for evaluating the prognosis of cancer, the method comprising detecting the phosphorylation status of a Scribble protein, a fragment or variant thereof, wherein the phosphorylation status is indicative of prognosis. 
     
     
         12 . A method for detecting the phosphorylation status of a Scribble protein with SEQ ID NO: 1, a fragment or variant thereof, the method comprising:
 obtaining a sample from a patient and contacting the sample with at least one antibody that is capable of specifically binding phosphorylated or unphosphorylated residues S1306, S1309, S1348 and S1448 or a combination thereof in the Scribble protein, fragment or variant thereof.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method is performed in conjunction with at least one of the following: evaluating cancer prognosis, developing a cancer treatment plan, assessing the efficiency of cancer treatment and the likelihood of metastases. 
     
     
         14 . An antibody capable of selectively binding to at least one phosphorylated or unphosphorylated residue in a Scribble protein with SEQ ID NO: 1, or fragment or variant thereof, selected from residues S1306, S1309, S1348 and S1448 or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A kit for use in the method of  claim 1  comprising at least one antibody capable of selectively binding to at least one phosphorylated or unphosphorylated residue in a Scribble protein with SEQ ID NO: 1, or fragment or variant thereof, selected from residues S1306, S1309, S1348 and S1448 or a combination thereof, wherein said kit further comprises agents for the detection of the at least one antibody binding to said phosphorylated residues in Scribble. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein said kit further comprises instructions for use. 
     
     
         17 . A kit for use in the method of  claim 11  comprising at least one antibody capable of selectively binding to at least one phosphorylated or unphosphorylated residue in a Scribble protein with SEQ ID NO: 1, or fragment or variant thereof, selected from residues S1306, S1309, S1348 and S1448 or a combination thereof, wherein said kit further comprises agents for the detection of the at least one antibody binding to said phosphorylated residues in Scribble. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein said kit further comprises instructions for use. 
     
     
         19 . A kit for use in the method of  claim 12  comprising at least one antibody capable of selectively binding to at least one phosphorylated or unphosphorylated residue in a Scribble protein with SEQ ID NO: 1, or fragment or variant thereof, selected from residues S1306, S1309, S1348 and S1448 or a combination thereof, wherein said kit further comprises agents for the detection of the at least one antibody binding to said phosphorylated residues in Scribble. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 19 , wherein said kit further comprises instructions for use.