Method for the detection of cancer cells by localization of peptides in nucleus as compared to cytoplasm

Abstract

The human LIV21 protein as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for various cancers and neurodegenerative diseases is provided. Methods for diagnosing and/or prognosing cancer utilizing the LIV21 protein and various derivatives and peptide fragments of the LIV21 protein are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for the detection of cancer cells in a biological sample from a patient, comprising:
 detecting an expression product of the LIV21 gene in at least one of the nucleus and cytoplasm of cells in a sample of cells in the biological sample from the patient, the expression product of the LIV21 gene comprising a peptide sequence having 90% identity to SEQ ID NO: 4,   wherein localization of the expression product in the cytoplasm is indicative of the presence of cancer cells in the biological sample.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expression product of the LIV21 gene further comprises a peptide sequence having 90% identity to SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein localization of the expression product of the LIV21 gene in the cytoplasm is indicative of the presence of invasive and/or metastatic cancer cells. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting an expression product of a gene selected from a group comprising protein kinase C epsilon (PKC Σ ) gene, E2F1 gene, E2F4 gene, and the HDAC1 gene,
 wherein localization of at least three expression products selected from the group in the cytoplasm is indicative of the presence of cancer cells in the biological sample.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting an expression product of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of the NFkB gene, cdc2A gene, mdm2 gene, p21 gene, p53 gene, p65 gene, Ki67 gene, erk gene, CD53 gene, and CAF1 gene to determine the presence of cancer cells in the biological sample. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , where the expression product is the peptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expression product is detected using a specific antibody. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expression product is detected by a method selected from the group consisting of Western blotting analysis, immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, immunoradiography and peroxidase labeling. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expression product is detected using a protein array. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting, in the cytoplasm of the cell, an association of the expression product of LIV21 with the expression product of E2F4, and comparing the detected association with a threshold,
 wherein a decrease in the association from the threshold is indicative of the presence of cancer cells in the biological sample.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is used for detecting at least one of metastasized cancer, therapeutic monitoring and/or recurrences following treatment for cancer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is selected from breast cancer, bladder cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, asarcoma, a leukemia and glioblastoma. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sequence SEQ ID NO: 4 is detected in serum as a diagnostic marker or prognostic marker for cancer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expression product of the LIV21 gene further comprises a peptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
         15 . A prognostic marker or diagnostic marker for cancer comprising a peptide having 90% identity to SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         16 . The prognostic marker or diagnostic marker of  claim 15  comprising SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         17 . The prognostic marker or diagnostic marker of  claim 15  consisting of SEQ ID NO: 4.