Compositions comprising semaphorins for the treatment of cancer and methods of selection thereof

Abstract

A method of selecting a semaphorin for treating cancer in a subject is disclosed. The method comprises determining an expression of a semaphorin receptor on tumor cells of a tumor sample of the subject wherein an amount of the semaphorin receptor is indicative of the semaphorin suitable for treating the cancer in the subject. Kits for treating cancer and pharmaceutical compositions comprising semaphorins are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an amino acid sequence at least 70% identical to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 32, thereby treating the cancer. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancer is melanoma. 
     
     
         3 . The method  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence is at least 95% identical to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 32 
     
     
         4 . The method  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence is semaphorin Sema3G. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering comprises systemic administration. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering comprises local administration. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said amino acid sequence is attached to sustained-release enhancing agent. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said sustained-release enhancing agent is selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid (HA), alginic acid (AA), polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (Poly-HEMA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), glyme and polyisopropylacrylamide. 
     
     
         9 . A method of treating cancer by inhibiting angiogenesis to a tumor in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an amino acid sequence at least 70% identical to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 32, thereby treating the cancer. 
     
     
         10 . The method  claim 9 , wherein the amino acid sequence is at least 95% identical to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 32 
     
     
         11 . The method  claim 9 , wherein the amino acid sequence is semaphorin Sema3G.