ASSAY FOR METASTATIC COLORECTAL CANCER

摘要

This invention relates, e.g., to a method for predicting the prognosis, t he likelihood of metastasis in, or the desirability of administering an aggr essive therapy to, a subject with colorectal cancer, comprising determining, in a sample from the subject, the level of phosphorylation compared to a po sitive and/or negative reference standard, of one or more of: (a) AKT (S473) ; (b) BAD (S l 12); (c) cABL (T735); (d) ERK (T42/44); (e) MARCKS (S 152- 15 6); (0 p38MAPK (T l 80- 182): (g) STAT l (Y701 ); (h) PTEN (S380); (i) EGFR (Y992); (j) PAK 1 /2 (S l 19/204); or (k) PKC zeta/lambda (T410-403); or the total amount of (1) COX-2 protein; wherein if the level of phosphorylation of one or more of a-i or the total amount of COX-2 protein (1) is elevated c ompared to the negative reference standard, and/or i f the level of phosphor ylation of j or k is decreased compared to the positive reference standard, the subject has poor prognosis, is likely to undergo metastasis, and/or is a good candidate for aggressive therapy. Also described are methods for treat ing subjects likely to develop metastatic colorectal carcinoma, and pharmace utical compositions and kits for implementing methods of the invention.