Functional immunohistochemical cell cycle analysis as a prognostic indicator for cancer

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of determining the presence of a retinoblastoma protein (Rb)-mediated cancerous or pre-cancerous condition in a sample of fixed cells that involves exposing the sample to an antibody that recognizes phosphorylation of serine on the retinoblastoma protein (pS-Rb), and identifying cells in the sample that are recognized by the antibody to pS-Rb, where the recognition of pS-Rb in the sample determines the presence of an Rb-mediated cancerous or pre-cancerous condition. The method also involves identifying the presence of specific cell cycle markers and positive and negative cell cycle regulators to assess the stage of disease progression in a cancer patient having an (Rb)-mediated cancer. The present invention also relates to methods of assessing the efficacy of cancer therapy for an Rb-mediated cancer, determining the mechanism of cell cycle progression in an Rb-mediated cancer, and identifying cells predisposed to developing an Rb-mediated cancerous condition.

主权项

1. A method of determining the presence of a retinoblastoma protein (Rb)-mediated hematopoietic cancerous or pre-cancerous condition, said method comprising:
providing a patient biopsy sample as a histologic section comprising fixed hematopoietic cells; exposing the patient sample to (i) a first antibody that recognizes phosphorylation of serine on the retinoblastoma protein (pS-Rb) and indicates that the cell bound by said first antibody has entered mid-G1 phase of cell cycle progression, and (ii) a second antibody that recognizes a cell surface or cytoplasmic marker for neoplastic hematopoietic cells; and identifying hematopoietic cells of the patient sample that are recognized by both the first and second antibodies, wherein recognition of hematopoietic cells of the patient biopsy sample by both first and second antibodies determines the presence of an Rb-mediated hematopoietic cancerous or pre-cancerous condition.