DIAGNOSTIC, PROGNOSTIC, AND THERAPEUTIC FACTOR SMAC/DIABLO IN HUMAN CANCER

摘要

The present invention provides, for the first time, the finding that Smac/DIABLO is underexpressed in cancers such as renal cell carcinoma. In particular, the present invention provides methods of diagnosing and providing a prognosis for cancers that underexpress Smac/DIABLO, as well as methods of drug discovery to identify therapeutics useful when used alone or in combination with other cancer therapeutics. The present invention also provides methods of treating or inhibiting cancers that underexpresses Smac/DIABLO, in which potentiation of Smac/DIABLO expression and/or activity sensitizes resistant tumor cells to cytotoxic treatments including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and immunotherapy. Compositions, kits, and integrated systems for carrying out the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic methods of the present invention are also provided.