Methods and compositions for inhibiting the growth and/or proliferation of MYC-driven tumor cells
The invention generally relates to methods for identifying and using anticancer therapeutic agents and, more particularly, to methods for identifying and using inhibitors of genes for inhibiting the growth and/or proliferation of MYC-driven tumor cells relative to normal cells.
1. A method for inhibiting the growth and/or proliferation of a neuroblastoma tumor cell having increased expression of a Myc transcription factor as compared to a non-tumor cell of the same cell type, comprising the step of contacting the tumor cell with at least one inhibitor that inhibits the gene product of at least one of the following genes: PES1, TIE1, or CECR2, wherein the inhibitor interferes with production or expression of the gene product of the gene.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tumor cell is a metastatic neuroblastoma tumor.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tumor cell is contacted in vitro.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tumor cell is contacted in vivo in a mammalian subject.
5. A method of treating a subject suffering from a neuroblastoma tumor having increased expression of a Myc transcription factor as compared to a non-tumor cell of the same cell type, comprising administering to the subject an amount of a composition comprising an inhibitor that inhibits the gene function of at least one of the following genes: PES1, TIE1, or CECR2, and is effective to inhibit the growth and/or proliferation of the tumor, wherein the inhibitor interferes with production or expression of the gene product of the gene.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the gene is CECR2.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the gene is PES1.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the gene is TIE1.
9. The method of claim 5 wherein the gene is CECR2.
10. The method of claim 5 wherein the gene is PES1.
11. The method of claim 5 wherein the gene is TIE1.
12. The method of claim 5 wherein the tumor is a metastatic neuroblastoma tumor.
13. A method for inhibiting the growth and/or proliferation of an ovarian tumor cell having increased expression of a Myc transcription factor as compared to a non-tumor cell of the same cell type, comprising the step of contacting the tumor cell with at least one inhibitor that inhibits the gene product of at least one of the following genes: PES1, TIE1, CRKRS or CECR2, wherein the inhibitor interferes with production or expression of the gene product of the gene.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the tumor cell is contacted in vitro.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the tumor cell is contacted in vivo in a mammalian subject.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the gene is CRKRS.
17. The method of claim 13 wherein the gene is CECR2.
18. The method of claim 13 wherein the gene is PES1.
19. The method of claim 13 wherein the gene is TIE1.
20. A method of treating a subject suffering from an ovarian tumor having increased expression of a Myc transcription factor as compared to a non-tumor cell of the same cell type, comprising administering to the subject an amount of a composition comprising an inhibitor that inhibits the gene function of at least one of the following genes: PES1, TIE1, CRKRS or CECR2, and is effective to inhibit the growth and/or proliferation of the tumor, wherein the inhibitor interferes with production or expression of the gene product of the gene.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the gene is CRKRS.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein the gene is CECR2.
23. The method of claim 20 wherein the gene is PES1.
24. The method of claim 20 wherein the gene is TIE1.