N-cadherin: target for cancer diagnosis and therapy

摘要

The present invention provides methods of diagnosis, providing a prognosis and a therapeutic target for the treatment of cancers that express N-cadherin, including prostrate and bladder cancers.

主权项

1. A method of treating a cancer patient, comprising the steps of:
(a) obtaining a test tissue sample from an individual at risk of having a cancer that expresses a N-cadherin protein wherein the N-cadherin comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein the test tissue sample comprises cancer cells; (b) detecting an increased expression of N-cadherin of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3 in a cancer cell in the test tissue sample in comparison to a control tissue sample from an individual known to be negative for the cancer; thereby diagnosing said cancer that expresses a N-cadherin protein; and (c) administering an effective amount of an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds domain IV of N-cadherin protein, where the N-cadherin comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3 to the individual.