Flamingo (ant)agonists for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer

摘要

Use of nucleic acid (I) that encodes a flamingo protein or peptide (II), and/or of (II) itself, for detection of cancer, or the risk of developing it, particularly of breast, ovary and/or uterus, where a tissue sample, preferably from the specified organs, is examined for (over)transcription of flamingo RNA (Ia) or (over)expression of flamingo protein. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) use of (Ia) or (II) in screening for specific binding agents (III); (2) use of agents (IIIa) that inhibit, or bind to, flamingo to prepare composition for treatment, diagnosis or assessing risk of developing cancer; and (3) protein or peptide containing or comprising the sequence Gly-Ser-Asn-Glu-Thr-Ser-Ile and nucleic acid containing a sequence that encodes this peptide, as new compounds. ACTIVITY : Cytostatic. No details of tests for cytostatic activity are given. MECHANISM OF ACTION : Inhibiting expression or activity of flamingo. Flamingo is an inhibitor of Jun kinase so suppresses apoptosis.