KLF6 ALTERNATIVE SPLICE FORMS AND A GERMLINE KLF6 DNA POLYMORPHISM ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED CANCER RISK
Disclosed are methods of identifying and diagnosing certain types of cancers and pre-stages thereof in a patient by identifying alternatively spliced isoforms of wild type KLF6 (KLFwt), in particular anyone of the isoforms selected from the group consisting of: KLF6 splice variant-1 (KLF6SV1), KLF6 splice variant-2 (KLF6SV2), and KLF6 splice variant-3 (KLF6SV3). Also disclosed are methods diagnosing cancer using the polypeptides and polynucleotides identified herein, as well as methods of treating certain types of cancers by inhibiting polynucleotides and polypeptides identified herein.
1 - 35 . (canceled)
36 . A method of determining cancer progression in a subject diagnosed with a tumor by determining the presence of a KLF6 splice variant in a tumor cell.
37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the method comprises determining the presence of a KLF6 splice variant nucleic acid.
38 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the method comprises determining the presence of a KLF6 splice variant polypeptide.
39 . The method of claim 37 wherein the KLF6 splice variant is KLF6 splice variant-1 (KLF6 SV1 ).
40 . A method of determining tumor stage in a subject diagnosed with a tumor by determining the ratio between a wild-type KLF6 and a KLF6 splice variant in a tumor cell, wherein a low ratio of wild-type KLF6 to the KLF6 splice variant, is indicative of an advanced tumor stage.
41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the KLF6 splice variant is KLF6 splice variant-1 (KLF6 SV1 ).
42 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the tumor is a prostate tumor.
43 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the tumor is an ovarian tumor.
44 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the tumor is a liver hepatocellular carcinoma tumor.
45 . A method of determining cancer progression in a subject diagnosed with a tumor by determining the ratio between a wild-type KLF6 and a KLF6 splice variant in a tumor cell, wherein a decrease in the ratio of wild-type KLF6 to the KLF6 splice variant, relative to the ratio between wild-type KLF6 and a KLF6 splice variant measured on a previous occasion, is indicative of cancer progression.
46 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the KLF6 splice variant is KLF6 splice variant-1 (KLF6 SV1 ).
47 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the tumor cell is from a hormone-dependent tumor.
48 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the tumor is a prostate tumor.
49 . The method of claim 47 wherein the tumor is an ovarian tumor.
50 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the tumor is a liver hepatocellular carcinoma tumor.
51 - 69 . (canceled)
70 . A method of determining cancer progression in a subject diagnosed with a tumor determining the presence of wild-type KLF6, or a KLF6 splice variant, from the extracellular medium surrounding the tumor.
71 . The method of claim 70 , wherein the cancer progression is metastasis.
72 - 79 . (canceled)