EMX2 in cancer diagnosis and prognosis

摘要

The present invention provides methods for determining a prognosis of disease free or overall survival in a patient suffering from cancer. The methods generally involve determining a normalized expression level of an EMX2 gene product, which correlates with prognosis and likelihood of survival.

主权项

1. A method of predicting the likelihood of overall survival and recurrence-free survival for a patient having cancer, the method comprising:
(a) assaying an expression level of an EMX2 RNA transcript in a biological sample comprising a cancer cell obtained from said patient, wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of lung, colon, and esophageal cancer, wherein said assaying comprises using a reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay, wherein the RT-PCR assay comprises the use of a primer comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, and wherein the expression level of the EMX2 RNA transcript directly correlates with a likelihood of overall survival or recurrence-free survival of the patient; and (b) providing information comprising an estimate of the likelihood of overall survival or recurrence-free survival, wherein the estimate of a low likelihood of overall survival or recurrence-free survival is solely based on a decrease in the expression level of the EMX2 RNA transcript observed in the biological sample as compared to the expression level from a control sample from a subject that does not have cancer.