Pancreatic Cancer Genes
The present invention provides the art with the DNA coding sequences of polynucleotides that are up-or-down-regulated in cancer and dysplasia. These polynucleotides and encoded proteins or polypeptides can be used in the diagnosis or identification of cancer and dysplasia. Inhibitors of the up-regulated polynucleotides and proteins can decrease the abnormality of cancer and dysplasia. Enhancing the expression of down-regulated polynucleotides or introducing down-regulated proteins to cells can decrease the growth and/or abnormal characteristics of cancer and dysplasia.
1 . A method of diagnosing dysplasia in a patient comprising comparing the amount of mRNA molecules in a patient sample and in a normal sample, wherein said mRNA molecules are complementary to a polynucleotide comprising at least twelve contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 13, or the full complement of said at least twelve contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 13; and wherein a patient sample which contains more of said mRNA molecules than the normal sample is identified as dysplastic.
2 . A composition comprising an amount of a polynucleotide comprising at least 18 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 13, or complement thereof, operably linked to a promoter sequence; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, said amount effective to reduce the growth rate of contacted dysplastic cells by at least 50% as compared to a control.
3 . A method of diagnosing dysplasia in a patient comprising comparing the amount of mRNA molecules in a patient sample and in a normal sample, wherein said mRNA molecules are complementary to the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13, or a naturally occurring variant of SEQ ID NO: 13, wherein said naturally occurring variant hybridizes to SEQ ID NO: 13 under conditions including a wash in 2×SCC, 0.1% SDS at 50° C. for 20 minutes, or the complement of SEQ ID NO:13 or said naturally occurring variant of SEQ ID NO: 13, wherein a patient sample containing more of said mRNA molecules than the normal sample is identified as dysplastic and wherein the expression profile of the mRNA molecules is the same as for SEQ ID NO: 13.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the dysplasia is pancreatic dysplasia.
5 . The method of claim 1 or 3 , wherein the patient sample and the normal sample comprise pancreatic cells.
6 . A method for treating dysplasia in a patient having said dysplasia, said method comprising administering to said patient a composition comprising an amount of a polynucleotide comprising at least 18 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 13, or complement thereof, operably linked to a promoter sequence; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, said amount effective to reduce the growth rate of contacted dysplastic pancreatic cells by at least 50% as compared to a control.