USE OF RUNX3 AND MIR-532-5P AS CANCER MARKERS AND THERAPEUTIC TARGETS

1 . A method of detecting melanoma, comprising:

providing a test biological sample from a subject; and

determining the RUNX3 (Runt-related transcription factor 3) gene expression or protein activity level in the test sample,

wherein the RUNX3 gene expression or protein activity level in the test sample, if lower than that in a normal sample, indicates that the subject is likely to be suffering from melanoma.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the melanoma is primary or metastatic.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the RUNX3 gene expression level is determined at the mRNA or protein level.

4 . A method of detecting melanoma, comprising:

providing a first sample containing melanoma cells; and

determining the RUNX3 gene expression or protein activity level in the first sample,

wherein the RUNX3 gene expression or protein activity level in the first sample, if lower than that in a second sample containing melanoma cells, indicates that the melanoma in the first sample is likely to be at a more advanced stage than that in the second sample.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the RUNX3 gene expression level is determined at the mRNA or protein level.

6 . A method of predicting the outcome of melanoma, comprising:

providing a first sample containing melanoma cells from a first subject; and

determining the RUNX3 gene expression or protein activity level in the first sample,

wherein the RUNX3 gene expression or protein activity level in the first sample, if higher than that in a second sample containing melanoma cells from a second subject, indicates that the overall survival of the first subject is likely to be longer than that of the second subject.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the RUNX3 gene expression or protein activity level is determined at the mRNA or protein level.

8 . A method of detecting cancer, comprising:

providing a test biological sample from a subject; and

determining the expression level of miR-532-5p in the test sample,

wherein the expression level of miR-532-5p in the test sample, if higher than that in a normal sample, indicates that the subject is likely to be suffering from cancer.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the cancer is melanoma, breast cancer, gastric cancer, pancreas cancer, colon cancer, or esophagus cancer.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the cancer is primary or metastatic.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the RUNX3 gene expression or protein activity level in the test sample is lower than that in the normal sample.

12 . A method of detecting cancer, comprising:

providing a first sample containing cancer cells; and

determining the expression level of miR-532-5p in the first sample,

wherein the expression level of miR-532-5p in the first sample, if higher than that in a second sample containing cancer cells, indicates that the cancer in the first sample is likely to be at a more advanced stage than that in the second sample.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the cancer is melanoma, breast cancer, gastric cancer, pancreas cancer, colon cancer, or esophagus cancer.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the cancer is primary or metastatic.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the RUNX3 gene expression or protein activity level in the first sample is lower than that in the second sample.

16 . A method of reducing the inhibition of RUNX3 by miR-532-5p, comprising:

providing a cell expressing a RUNX3 gene and an miR-532-5p gene; and

contacting the cell with an agent that interferes with the interaction between RUNX3 and miR-532-5p transcripts.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the cell is a cancer cell.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the cancer is melanoma, breast cancer, gastric cancer, pancreas cancer, colon cancer, or esophagus cancer.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the agent is an anti-miR-532-5p miRNA.