Arid1a and ppp2r1a mutations in cancer

Abstract

Two genes, ARID1A (AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 1A) and PPP2R1A (protein-phosphatase 2, regulatory subunit 1, alpha), can be used in methods which are useful for detecting cancer, diagnosing cancer, contributing to a diagnosis of cancer, confirming a diagnosis of cancer, identifying appropriate treatments for cancer, monitoring treatment of cancer, and evaluating treatment protocols for cancer, including ovarian clear cell carcinoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, medulloblastoma, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer.

1 . A method of detecting cancer cells, comprising:
 (a) testing a biological sample of an individual to detect a mutation in an PPP2R1A GENE; AND   (b) identifying the biological sample as containing cancer cells if the PPP2R1A gene comprises the mutation,   Wherein the mutation is selected from the group consisting of 547C>G, 547C>T, and 544C>T, wherein the nucleotides are numbered by reference to SEQ ID NO:5.