Methods of evaluating patients using E-cadherin or vimentin
Methods and kits for the selection, evaluation, and/or treatment of a patient having cancer with an inhibitor of a glutamine-utilizing enzyme or a glutamine-depleting agent, by evaluating E-cadherin or vimentin expression are disclosed.
1. A method of treating a patient having cancer, the method comprising:
acquiring an evaluation of or evaluating a patient sample, wherein the sample is evaluated for i) a level of E-cadherin expression or ii) a level of vimentin expression; and
if the level of E-cadherin expression is low, or the level of vimentin expression is high, as compared to a reference standard, then
administering to the patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of a glutamine-utilizing enzyme or a glutamine-depleting agent.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the level of E-cadherin expression is evaluated by the level of E-cadherin protein expression.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the level of vimentin expression is evaluated by the level of vimentin protein expression.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is administered a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of a glutamine-utilizing enzyme.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the inhibitor of a glutamine-utilizing enzyme inhibits a glutaminase.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the inhibitor is bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide (BPTES).
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is administered a therapeutically effective amount of a glutamine depleting agent.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cancer is lung cancer.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer.
10. A method of evaluating a patient having cancer for treatment with an inhibitor of glutamine-utilizing enzyme or a glutamine-depleting agent, the method comprising:
evaluating a patient sample, wherein the sample is evaluated for i) a level of E-cadherin expression or ii) a level of vimentin expression; and
if the level of E-cadherin expression is low, or the level of vimentin expression is high, as compared to a reference standard, then
determining to treat the patient with the inhibitor of glutamine-utilizing enzyme or the glutamine-depleting agent.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sample is evaluated for i) a level of E-cadherin expression and ii) a level of vimentin expression.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sample is evaluated for low or decreased pyruvate carboxylase expression compared to a reference standard.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the level of E-cadherin expression is evaluated by the level of E-cadherin protein expression.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the level of vimentin expression is evaluated by the level of vimentin protein expression.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the patient is evaluated for treatment with an inhibitor of a glutamine-utilizing enzyme.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the inhibitor of a glutamine-utilizing enzyme inhibits a glutaminase.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the inhibitor is bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide (BPTES).
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the patient is evaluated for treatment with a glutamine depleting agent.
19. The method of claim 10 , wherein the cancer is lung cancer.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer.