Theraupeutic and diagonistic applications based on the role of the CXCR-4 gene in tumorigenesis

摘要

An agent which inhibits CXCR-4 function in a tumor cell or precancerous cell is used in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment or prevention of tumorigenesis. Preferably the agent is nucleic acid, an antibody specific for the extracellular domain of CXCR-4 or a small organic molecule that prevents CXCR-4 expressed on the cell from binding to its ligand. Also described are methods of diagnosing a disease or disorder characterized by an aberrant level of CXCR-4 RNA or protein in a subject by measuring the level of CXCR-4 RNA or protein in a sample derived from a subject.