Prostate carcinogenesis predictor
A method of detecting prostate tumorigenesis in a subject, the method including the steps of (a) obtaining a sample from the prostate of the human subject, (b) detecting quantitatively or semi-quantitatively in the sample a level of expression for PKC-ι and (c) comparing the expression level in (b) to a level of expression in a normal control, wherein overexpression of PKC-ι, with respect to the control, indicates the presence of prostate cancer in the subject. The present invention is based upon the discovery that PKC-ι levels are elevated during prostate tumorigenesis. Furthermore, the proliferation rate of the tumor correlates with the level of PKC-ι. The invention also provides methods of treating prostate cancer by administering to the subject a compound that inhibits the expression of PKC-ι. The compound can be a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule.
1. A method of diagnosing prostate cancer in a subject comprising:
(a) obtaining a tissue sample from the prostate of a human subject;
(b) determining in the sample a level of expression for PKC-ι, wherein said determining step comprises:
contacting the sample with an antibody that recognizes PKC-ι protein in an immunoassay selected from western blot assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunohistochemical assay, and
detecting the complex between the antibody and the PKC-ι protein;
(c) comparing the expression level determined in (b) to a control, wherein the control is a level of expression of PKC-ι in a benign human prostate tissue; and
(d) informing the human subject as having prostate cancer if the PKC-ι expression level determined in (b) is higher than the control or informing the human subject as not having prostate cancer if the PKC-ι expression level determined in (b) is lower than the control.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the determining determines the quantitative level of expression of PKC-ι in a prostate sample tissue.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said antibody is a polyclonal antibody.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said protein is contacted with said antibody in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said immunoassay is a western blot assay.
7. A method of providing treatment of prostate cancer to a human subject, comprising:
(a) obtaining a tissue sample from the prostate of a human subject;
(b) determining in the sample a level of expression for PKC-ι,wherein said determining: step comprises:
contacting the sample with an antibody which recognizes PKC-ι protein; and
detecting the complex between the antibody and the PKC-ι protein;
(c) comparing the expression level determined in (b) to a control, wherein the control is a level of expression of PKC-ι in a benign human prostate tissue; and
(d) providing treatment of prostate cancer to the human subject if the PKC-ι expression level determined in (b) is higher than the control.
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
9. The method according to claim 7 wherein said antibody is a polyclonal antibody.
10. The method according to claim 7 wherein said protein is contacted with said antibody in an immunoassay selected from the group consisting of radioimmunoassay, western blot assay, immunofluorescent assay, enzyme immunoassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunoprecipitation, chemiluminescent assay, immunohistochemical assay, dot blot assay and slot blot assay.
11. The method according to claim 10 wherein said immunoassay is a western blot assay.
12. The method according to claim 10 wherein said immunoassay is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).