Met Proto-Oncogene and a Method for Predicting Breast Cancer Progression
Description of Invention:
The invention described and claimed in this patent is generally applicable to assessing the prognosis of cancer. In particular, the invention is useful in assessing the whether or not breast cancer is likely undergoing metastasis. The met proto-oncogene is located on the long arm of chromosome 7 at 7q31. Its activity has been linked to the invasive/metastatic phenotype of several cancers in addition to breast cancer, e.g. prostate, stomach.
According to this invention the likelihood of metastasis of breast cancer is assessed by measuring the amount of (a) protein produced by the met proto-oncogene, (b) levels of the met proto-oncogene itself, or (c) levels of mRNA produced by the met proto-oncogene in breast tumor tissue and comparing it with the amount present in normal ductal tissue of the breast. The methodology of this invention may be carried out, for example, using antibody-based assays (ELISA or Western Blot), PCR, or Northern Blots.
Inventors:
Ilan Tsarfaty (NCI) James H. Resau (NCI) Iafa Keydar (NCI) Donna Faletto (NCI) George F. Vande Woude (NCI)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-046-1991/3 --
U.S. Patent 6,673,559 issued 06 Jan 2004
Foreign patent protection is not available
Relevant Publication:
I Tsarfaty et al. The met proto-oncogene receptor and lumen formation. Science 1992 Aug 28;257(5074):1258-1261. [PubMed abs]
I Tsarfaty et al. Alteration of Met protooncogene product expression and prognosis in breast carcinomas. Anal Quant Cytol Histol. 1999 Oct;21(5):397-408. [PubMed abs]
R Hay et al. Grappling with metastatic risk: bringing molecular imaging of Met expression toward clinical use. J Cell Biochem Suppl. 2002;39:184-193. [PubMed abs]
Portfolios: Cancer
Cancer -Diagnostics-In Vitro-DNA Based Cancer -Diagnostics-In Vitro-MAb Based Cancer -Diagnostics
For Additional Information Please Contact: Jasbir (Jesse) S. Kindra J.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5559
Email: kindraj@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
