Methods for identifying and using inhibitors of casein kinase 1 epsilon isoform for inhibiting the growth and/or proliferation of myc-driven tumor cells

Abstract

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for inhibiting the growth and/or proliferation of a myc-driven tumor cell comprising the step of contacting the tumor cells with a CSNK1ε inhibitor. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of treating a subject suffering from a tumor comprising myc-driven tumor cells, comprising administering to the subject an amount of a composition comprising a CSNK1ε inhibitor effective to inhibit the growth and/or proliferation of the tumor cells.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A method for inhibiting the growth and/or proliferation of a my c-driven tumor cell comprising the step of contacting the tumor cells with a CSNK1ε inhibitor. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the myc-driven tumor cell is of neural origin. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the myc-driven tumor cell of neural origin is derived from a primary neuroblastoma tumor, a metastatic neuroblastoma tumor or a brain tumor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the myc-driven tumor cell is an ovarian cancer cell. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the myc-driven tumor cell is selected from the group consisting of rhabdomyosarcoma, liver cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, Burkitt's lymphoma and lung cancer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tumor cell is contacted in vitro. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tumor cell is contacted in vivo in a mammalian subject. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the CSNK1ε inhibitor is a small molecule inhibitor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the CSNK1ε inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of IC261, PF-4800567, and PF-670462. 
     
     
         10 . A method of treating a subject suffering from a tumor comprising myc-driven tumor cells, comprising administering to the subject an amount of a composition comprising a CSNK1ε inhibitor effective to inhibit the growth and/or proliferation of the tumor cells. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the subject is suffering from a tumor comprising myc-driven tumor cells of neural origin. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the myc-driven tumor cell of neural origin is derived from a primary neuroblastoma tumor, a metastatic neuroblastoma tumor or a brain tumor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the myc-driven tumor cell is ovarian cancer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the myc-driven tumor cell is selected from the group consisting of rhabdomyosarcoma, liver cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, Burkitt's lymphoma and lung cancer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the subject is further provided one or more additional anti-cancer therapies. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the additional anti-cancer therapy comprises chemotherapy. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the myc-driven tumor cell is resistant to cisplatin and the CSNK1ε inhibitor renders the cell susceptible to cisplatin. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the CSNK1ε inhibitor is a small molecule inhibitor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the CSNK1ε inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of IC261, PF-4800567, and PF-670462. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of determining whether the tumor in said subject comprises myc-driven tumor cells prior to treatment with said composition comprising a CSNK1ε inhibitor.