Methods for diagnosing pancreatic cancer using miR-103-1, miR-103-2, miR-24-2 and miR-107
The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of solid cancers. The invention also provides methods of identifying inhibitors of tumorigenesis.
1. A method of diagnosing whether a subject has, or is at risk for developing, pancreatic cancer, comprising:
receiving a test sample of pancreas tissue extracted from a subject;
measuring by Northern blot analysis the level of at least miR-103-1 gene product in the test sample, wherein the Northern blot analysis comprises:
extracting nucleic acids from the test sample;
treating the extracted nucleic acids with DNase to remove DNA;
separating RNA molecules in the extracted nucleic acids by gel electrophoresis;
hybridizing the separated RNA molecules to labeled probes; and
detecting and quantifying the hybridization to determine the level of at least miR-103-1 gene product;
comparing the level of at least miR-103-1 gene product in a the test sample to a control level of at least miR-103-1 gene product in normal pancreas tissue; and
diagnosing the subject as having, or being at risk for developing, pancreatic cancer if the level of at least miR-103-1 gene product in the test sample from the subject is greater than the control level of miR-103-1 gene product.
2. A method of diagnosing whether a subject has, or is at risk for developing, pancreatic cancer, comprising:
receiving a test sample of pancreas tissue extracted from a subject;
reverse transcribing at least miR-103-1 from the test sample to provide at least miR-103-1 target oligonucleotides;
hybridizing at least the miR-103-1 target oligodeoxynucleotides to a microarray comprising miRNA-specific probe oligonucleotides covalently attached to a polymeric matrix, wherein the probe oligonucleotides include at least miR-103-1 RNA specific probe oligonucleotides to provide a hybridization profile for the test sample;
comparing the test sample hybridization profile to at least one control hybridization profile from normal pancreas tissue; and
diagnosing the subject as having, or being at risk for developing, pancreatic cancer if the level of at least miR-103-1 gene products in the test sample from the subject is greater than the level of miR-103-1 gene products in the control.