Prognosis and treatment of breast cancer
The present invention relates to an antibody which specifically binds a Spot 14 (S14 or THRSP) protein in human breast cancer cells and a method for using the same to predict disease-free survival and select treatment modalities for breast cancer. The present invention is also a method for inducing apoptosis in breast cancer cells by inhibiting the expression or activity of Spot 14. Compositions and methods for treating breast cancer are also provided.
1. A method for selecting a therapeutic modality for the treatment of breast cancer comprising detecting the expression level of S14 in a sample obtained from a subject with breast cancer, wherein S14 comprises SEQ ID NO:1 and wherein S14 expression levels are detected by immunohistochemical analysis using an S14-specific monoclonal antibody or reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction using S14 primers 5′-cca tct gtg tgg atg tgg acc-3′ (SEQ ID NO:8) and 5′-agc atc ccg gag aac tga gcc-3′ (SEQ ID NO:9), comparing the level in the sample with a control, and selecting an aggressive treatment modality to be administered to a subject overexpressing S14 in the sample at a level comparable to S14 levels in breast cancer samples graded +2 and a less aggressive treatment modality to be administered to a subject lacking overexpression of S14 in the sample.