Methods and compositions for the treatment of cancer

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and compositions for treating cancer. More embodiments include methods and compositions for modulating the activity of the Hedgehog pathway.

1 .- 139 . (canceled) 
     
     
         140 . A method of diminishing the levels of osteolysis in a subject having a cancer comprising: reducing the activity of Hedgehog (Hh) in a cancer cell of the subject. 
     
     
         141 . The method of  claim 140 , wherein reducing the activity of Hedgehog (Hh) comprises reducing the level of a nucleic acid encoding OPN or the level of OPN protein in the cancer cell. 
     
     
         142 . The method of  claim 141 , wherein reducing the level of a nucleic acid encoding OPN or the level of OPN protein comprises administering to the subject an isolated nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of a small hairpin RNA (shRNA), a small interfering RNA (siRNA), an artificial micro RNA (miRNA), an antisense polynucleotide, and a ribozyme. 
     
     
         143 . The method of  claim 140 , wherein reducing the activity of Hedgehog (Hh) comprises reducing the level of a nucleic acid encoding GLI1 or the level of GLI1 protein in a cancer cell of the subject. 
     
     
         144 . The method of  claim 143 , wherein reducing the level of a nucleic acid encoding GLI1 or the level of GLI1 protein comprises administering to the subject an isolated nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of a small hairpin RNA (shRNA), a small interfering RNA (siRNA), an artificial micro RNA (miRNA), an antisense polynucleotide, and a ribozyme. 
     
     
         145 . The method of  claim 144 , wherein the isolated nucleic acid comprises a sequence encoding GLI1 or a fragment thereof, a sequence encoding antisense GLI1 or a fragment thereof, or an antisense nucleic acid complementary to a sequence encoding GLI1 or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         146 . The method of  claim 145 , wherein the isolated nucleic acid comprises a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO.s:1-10. 
     
     
         147 . The method of  claim 140 , wherein the Hedgehog (Hh) comprises Sonic Hedgehog (SHh). 
     
     
         148 . The method of  claim 140 , wherein the cancer is breast cancer. 
     
     
         149 . The method of  claim 148 , wherein the breast cancer is an infiltrating ductal carcinoma or a metaplastic carcinoma. 
     
     
         150 . A method of regulating osteoclast differentiation in a subject, comprising reducing the activity of Hedgehog (Hh) in a cancer cell of the subject. 
     
     
         151 . The method of  claim 150 , wherein reducing the activity of Hedgehog (Hh) comprises reducing the level of a nucleic acid encoding OPN or the level of OPN protein in the cancer cell. 
     
     
         152 . The method of  claim 151 , wherein reducing the level of a nucleic acid encoding OPN or the level of OPN protein comprises administering to the subject an isolated nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of a small hairpin RNA (shRNA), a small interfering RNA (siRNA), an artificial micro RNA (miRNA), an antisense polynucleotide, and a ribozyme. 
     
     
         153 . The method of  claim 152 , wherein reducing the activity of Hedgehog (Hh) comprises the level of a nucleic acid encoding GLI1 or the level of GLI1 protein in the cancer cell of the subject. 
     
     
         154 . The method of  claim 153 , wherein reducing the level of a nucleic acid encoding GLI1 or the level of GLI1 protein comprises administering to the subject an isolated nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of a small hairpin RNA (shRNA), a small interfering RNA (siRNA), an artificial micro RNA (miRNA), an antisense polynucleotide, and a ribozyme. 
     
     
         155 . The method of  claim 154 , wherein the isolated nucleic acid comprises a sequence encoding GLI1 or a fragment thereof, a sequence encoding antisense GLI1 or a fragment thereof, or an antisense nucleic acid complementary to a sequence encoding GLI1 or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         156 . The method of  claim 155 , wherein the isolated nucleic acid comprises a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO.s:1-10. 
     
     
         157 . The method of  claim 150 , wherein the Hedgehog (Hh) comprises Sonic Hedgehog (SHh). 
     
     
         158 . The method of  claim 150 , wherein the cancer is breast cancer. 
     
     
         159 . The method of  claim 158 , wherein the breast cancer is an infiltrating ductal carcinoma or a metaplastic carcinoma.