| 摘要 |
<p>The present invention is in the fields of cell biology, immunology and on cology. The invention relates to the discovery that there is a relationship between the expression levels of the tumor suppressor gene smad4 (also known as dpc4) and integrin .alpha.v.beta.6, and the responsiveness of patient po pulations to .alpha.v.beta.6-active compounds and compositions (e.g., antibo dies and other ligands that bind .alpha.v.beta.6), particularly in cancer ce lls from such patient populations, more particularly on carcinomas such as p ancreatic carcinomas. The invention thus provides methods for determining th e responsiveness of tumor cells (particularly those from pancreatic tumors) to such .alpha.v.beta.6-active compounds and compositions by examining the e xpression of .alpha.v.beta.6 and smad4 by the tumor cells, as well as method s of diagnosis and treatment/prevention of tumor progression using ligands, including antibodies and small molecule drugs, that bind to integrin .alpha. v.beta.6 on the surfaces of tumor cells and/or that block one or more compon ents of the TGF-.beta. pathway, particularly in 5/<=.alpha.rf4-deficient tumor cells.</p> |
