초록 ▼

The invention relates to detection of MAP-2 (microtubule associated protein-2) as a marker to determine the metastatic potential of a tumor, including tumors derived from the neural crest such as melanomas, gliomas, Schwanomas, chromocytomas and small cell lung cancer. In one aspect, the invention c

The invention relates to detection of MAP-2 (microtubule associated protein-2) as a marker to determine the metastatic potential of a tumor, including tumors derived from the neural crest such as melanomas, gliomas, Schwanomas, chromocytomas and small cell lung cancer. In one aspect, the invention comprises a method for determining the metastatic potential of a tumor sample, wherein decreased levels of MAP-2 expression in a test sample relative to controls indicates that the sample has increased metastatic potential as compared to the control. In another aspect, the invention comprises a method to prevent tumor progression in metastatic melanoma by increasing levels of MAP-2 protein in cells.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for detecting MAP-2 protein in a sample comprising tumor cells comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a test sample comprising tumor cells, wherein said tumor cells comprise melanoma cells; (b) incubating said cells with an antibody that forms a complex with MAP-2 protein or fragment

1. A method for detecting MAP-2 protein in a sample comprising tumor cells comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a test sample comprising tumor cells, wherein said tumor cells comprise melanoma cells; (b) incubating said cells with an antibody that forms a complex with MAP-2 protein or fragments thereof; and (c) determining the presence of the complex. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the levels of MAP-2 protein in said sample relative to at least one control comprising known amounts of MAP-2. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising assessing the risk of whether the tumor sample comprises increased metastatic potential based on the level of MAP-2 in the tumor relative to the control. 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising: (a) obtaining a control sample comprising non-metastatic melanoma cells; (b) determining whether MAP-2 protein or fragments thereof are present in the control sample; and (c) comparing the amount of MAP-2 in the test sample relative to the control sample; wherein the presence of decreased levels of MAP-2 protein in the test sample relative to the level of MAP-2 in non-metastatic control cells indicates that the test sample has increased metastatic potential as compared to the control. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said test sample comprises invasive melanoma. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein said test sample is from a patient. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein reduced MAP-2 protein in the test sample as compared to a non-metastatic control indicates the test subject is at risk of developing metastatic disease. 8. A method for determining the metastatic potential of a tumor sample comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a test tumor sample of unknown metastatic potential from a subject; (b) determining the level of MAP-2 expression in said test sample; and (c) assessing the metastatic potential of the sample based on the level of MAP-2 expression in the test sample relative to a non-metastatic control. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the presence of decreased levels of MAP-2 expression in the test sample relative to the level of MAP-2 expression in non-metastatic controls indicates that the sample has increased metastatic potential as compared to the control. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the levels of MAP-2 expression is assessed in comparison to controls comprising known amounts of MAP-2. 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the level of MAP-2 expression in said cells from said sample and said control is assessed by measuring the level of MAP-2 protein, or fragments thereof, in said cells. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: (a) disrupting the cellular membrane of said cells to allow access to intracellular proteins; (b) incubating said cell proteins with a detection agent which recognizes and complexes with MAP-2 protein or fragments thereof; and (c) detecting the presence of said complex. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said detection agent comprises antibody which recognizes MAP-2 protein or a fragment thereof. 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the sample comprises tumor cells. 15. The method of claim 8, wherein the sample comprises tumor cells derived from the neural crest. 16. The method of claim 8, wherein the sample comprises melanoma cells. 17. The method of claim 8, wherein the sample comprises invasive melanoma. 18. The method of claim 8, wherein said test sample is from a test subject. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein reduced MAP-2 expression in the test sample as compared to a non-metastatic control indicates that the test subject is at risk of developing metastatic disease.