Methods for detecting and treating propranolol sensitive tumors

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods for detecting and treating propranolol sensitive tumors.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a subject having a tumor, comprising:
 obtaining a biological sample derived from the subject having a tumor;   quantifying an expression level of one or more biomarkers that are associated with responsiveness of the tumor to propranolol treatment in the biological sample derived from the subject relative to a reference control, wherein the biomarker comprises one or more of LIN28B, LIN28A, or let-7;   determining the tumor as responsive to propranolol treatment if the expression level of one or more of the biomarkers LIN28B or LIN28A is higher in the biological sample derived from the subject compared to the reference control, or   determining the tumor as responsive to propranolol treatment if the expression level of let-7 is lower in the biological sample derived from the subject compared to the reference control; and   administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of propranolol.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biomarker comprises LIN28B. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biomarker comprises LIN28A. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biomarker comprises let-7. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological sample comprises one or a combination of biopsy tissue, tumor cells, or a blood sample. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the quantifying is carried out by one or a combination of Polymerase Chain Reaction, Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction, Real Time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction, Real-time quantitative RT-PCR, Northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization, and probe array. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tumor is a cancer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the cancer is selected from a brain cancer, breast cancer, or cervical cancer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the cancer is a brain cancer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         11 . A method for predicting the responsiveness of a tumor to propranolol treatment, comprising:
 obtaining a biological sample derived from a subject having a tumor;   quantifying an expression level of one or more biomarkers that are associated with responsiveness of the tumor to propranolol treatment in the biological sample derived from the subject relative to a reference control, wherein the biomarker comprises one or more of LIN28B, LIN28A, or let-7; and   predicting one of:
 a. the tumor as responsive to propranolol treatment if the expression level of one or more of the biomarkers LIN28B or LIN28A is higher in the biological sample derived from the subject compared to the reference control, or 
 b. the tumor as responsive to propranolol treatment if the expression level of let-7 is lower in the biological sample derived from the subject compared to the reference control. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising administering propranolol to the subject based on the prediction of the subject as having a propranolol responsive tumor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the biomarker comprises LIN28B. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the biomarker comprises LIN28A. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the biomarker comprises let-7. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the biological sample comprises one or a combination of biopsy tissue, tumor cells, or a blood sample. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the quantifying is carried out by one or a combination of Polymerase Chain Reaction, Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction, Real Time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction, Real-time quantitative RT-PCR, Northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization, and probe array. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tumor is a cancer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the cancer is selected from a brain cancer, breast cancer, or cervical cancer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the cancer is a brain cancer.