摘要:
A method for selecting combinations of drugs for treatment of diseases that arise from deranged signaling pathways is disclosed. The method involves measuring the activity states for signaling proteins in a diseased cell and determining whether the activity states are different from the activity states observed for a reference cell such as a normal cell. Based on the observed differences, combinations of two or more drugs are selected to reduce these differences. Treatment of a subject with the combinations restores the activity states of the signaling proteins of the deranged disease-associated signaling pathways toward the activity states observed in the reference cell. Since the diseased cell and the reference cell can both be obtained from the same subject, combinations of drugs that specifically target patient-specific signaling derangements is possible.
摘要:
The present invention relates to a system and method for real-time delivery of medical tests and related data from laboratories or similar sources to portable communication devices such as mobile phones, text-enabled pagers and web-enabled personal digital assistance (PDA's) and other WAP devices. The subject system enables physicians to access test results remotely as soon as they become available. Also, the system allows the physician to develop an electronic prescription and submit the electronic prescription to a pharmacy using the portable communications device.
摘要:
The present invention relates to the identification and diagnostic use of biomarkers in primary colorectal cancer tumors whose activation level are predictive of the likelihood of the onset of metastatic disease. These biomarkers may be used to determine the suitability of a patient for aggressive and/or targeted treatments. Kits and compositions of the invention are also provided.
摘要:
This invention relates, e.g., to a composition that, at room temperature, when contacted with a sample comprising phosphoproteins, can fix and stabilize cellular phosphoproteins, preserve cellular morphology, and allow the sample to be frozen to generate a cryostat frozen section suitable for molecular analysis. The composition comprises (1) a fixative that is effective to fix the phosphoproteins, and that has a sufficient water content to be soluble for a stabilizer and/or a permeability enhancing agent); (2) a stabilizer, comprising (a) a kinase inhibitor and (b) a phosphatase inhibitor and, optionally, (c) a protease (e.g., proteinase) inhibitor; and (3) a permeability enhancing agent (e.g. PEG). Methods are described for preserving phosphoproteins, using such a composition. Also described are endogenous surrogate markers for monitoring protein degradation, including the loss of posttranslational modifications (such as phosphorylation), e.g. the following removal of a cell or tissue from a subject; and exogenous molecular sentinels (e.g. phosphoproteins attached to magnetic nanoparticles) that allow one to evaluate the processing history of a cellular or tissue population sample.
摘要:
This invention relates, e.g., to a method for predicting the response of a subject having estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer to an inhibitor of the estrogen signaling pathway (e.g. tamoxifen), comprising measuring in a cancer sample from the subject the level of phosphorylation, compared to a baseline value, of one or more of the following members of an interconnected intracellular signaling pathway: (a) 4EBP1, and/or (b) p70S6, and/or (c) STAT3, and/or (d) FAK, wherein a significantly elevated level of phosphorylation of 4EBP1, and/or p70S6 and/or STAT3, and/or a significantly decreased level of phosphorylation of FAK, compared to the baseline value, indicates that the subject is likely to be a non-responder to the inhibitor and/or has a poor prognosis. Additional members of the intracellular signaling pathway whose phosphorylation can be measured are also described. Also described is a method for treating breast cancer in a subject in need thereof, wherein the subject exhibits an elevated level of phosphorylation of these markers, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of one or more inhibitors of members of the interconnected intracellular signaling pathway.
摘要:
The present invention describes devices and methods for performing protein analysis on laser capture microdissected cells, which permits proteomic analysis on cells of different populations. Particular disclosed examples are analysis of normal versus malignant cells, or a comparison of differential protein expression in cells that are progressing from normal to malignant. The protein content of the microdissected cells may be analyzed using techniques such as immunoassays, 1D and 2D gel electrophoresis characterization, Western blotting, liquid chromatography quadrapole ion trap electrospray (LCQ-MS), Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization/Time of Flight (MALDI/TOF), and Surface Enhanced Laser Desorption Ionization Spectroscopy (SELDI). In addition to permitting direct comparison of qualitative and quantitative protein content of tumor cells and normal cells from the same tissue sample, the methods also allow for investigation of protein characteristics of tumor cells, such as binding ability and amino acid sequence, and differential expression of proteins in particular cell populations in response to drug treatment. The present methods also provide, through the use of protein fingerprinting, a rapid and reliable way to identify the source tissue of a tumor metastasis.
摘要:
Human nm23 DNA and protein is disclosed as well as antiodies which recognize human nm23 protein. The DNA and antibodies may be used to detect nm23 in human tumors to predict the malignancy potential of such tumors.
摘要:
Human nm23 DNA and protein is disclosed as well as antibodies which recognize human nm23 protein. The DNA and antibodies may be used to detect nm23 in human tumors to predict the malignancy potential of such tumors.
摘要:
A method of microdissection which involves: forming an image field of cells of the tissue sample utilizing a microscope, identifying at least one zone of cells of interest from the image field of cells which at least one zone of cells of interest includes different types of cells than adjacent zones of cells, and extracting the at least one zone of cells of interest from the tissue sample. The extraction is achieved by contacting the tissue sample with a transfer surface that can be selectively activated so that regions thereof adhere to the zone of cells of interest to be extracted. The transfer surface includes an activatable adhesive layer which provides chemical or electrostatic adherence to the selected regions of the tissue sample. After the transfer surface is activated the transfer surface and tissue sample are separated. During separation the zone of cells of interest remains adhered to the transfer surface and is thus separated from the tissue sample.