Patent Application
20110151490
The identification of proteins, polypeptide and other cellular constituent that are made when a cell undergoes a change from one state or condition to another can be important because such molecules are very likely to serve as indicators that the change is or has taken place. In the case where one condition is health and the second condition is a disease state, identification of such “change mediated” proteins, polypeptides or other cellular components should provide excellent targets for the development of new diagnostics, and likewise may provide targets for various types of antibiotherapies (e.g., vaccines) to aid in the treatment of the disease.
In certain instances, change mediated molecules may be shed from the diseased tissue and enter into bodily fluids that are relatively easily recovered. The identification of the presence of cellular constituents shed from diseased (e.g., cancerous) tissue in bodily fluids can be important because such shed proteins are very likely candidates to serve as ideal diagnostic targets that are pathogenomonic of active disease. For example, polypeptides that are differentially expressed in cancerous cells, such as colorectal cancer cells, and polypeptides that specifically expressed in cancerous cells and that are shed from cancerous cells into bodily fluids can be used to provide a precise and accurate diagnosis of cancer, for screening of anti-cancer compounds, for the development of therapeutic compositions, and other uses.
One embodiment of the invention provides a method of detecting cancer or a predisposition to developing cancer in a subject. The method comprises determining an expression level of a cancer-associated polynucleotide, protein, or polypeptide selected from the group consisting of Titin; HBA1; Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R); Isoform 3 of zonadhesin precursor; latent transforming growth factor beta binding protein 4 (LTBP4); ASXL1 (additional sex combs like 1); beta globin (HBB); BMP15-bone morphogenetic protein; TRIM49; DNAJ homolog subfamily B member 11 precursor; uncharacterized hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells protein MDS027; uncharacterized protein ALB; isoform 3 of sushi, nidogen and EGF-like domain-containing protein 1 precursor; isoform 2 of peripherin; mitochondrial 28S ribosomal protein S22; translation initiation factor EIF-2B subunit epsilon; estradiol 17-beta-dehydrogenase 1; XRCC6BP1; brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 precursor; isoform 2 of ring finger and CCCH-type zinc finger domain-containing protein 2; hemoglobin subunit beta; isoform 1 of far upstream element-binding protein 1; GALECTIN-3; lysozyme C precursor; actin, alpha skeletal muscle; isoform M2 of pyruvate kinase isozymes M1/M2; AGR2; neutrophil defensin 1 precursor; myeloblastin precursor; uncharacterized protein PSME2; tubulin beta-2C chain; thiosulfate sulfurtransferase; heat shock 70 kDa protein 1; Ig kappa chain V-III region sie; macrophage migration inhibitory factor; isoform 1 of ATP synthase subunit D, mitochondrial; uncharacterized protein ENSP00000374051; isocitrate dehydrogenase [NADP] cytoplasmic; hemoglobin subunit delta; isoform 1 of splicing factor, arginine/serine-rich 7; isoform 1 of mRNA-capping enzyme; LON protease homolog, mitochondrial precursor; signal recognition particle 54 kDa protein; isoform long of galectin-9; integrin-linked protein kinase; bifunctional aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase; isoform 1 of zinc finger protein 207; inorganic pyrophosphatase; calponin-2; isoform 1 of muscleblind-like protein 3; cathepsin G precursor; zinc finger and BTB domain-containing protein 34; adenine phosphoribosyltransferase; 40S ribosomal protein S9; TALIN-1; leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 59; ATP synthase subunit alpha, mitochondrial precursor; isoform 7 of protein transport protein SEC31A; dihydroxyacetone kinase; protein similar to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins C1/C2 (HNRNP C1/HNRNP C2) isoform 4; 18 kDa protein (e.g., UNIPARC Accession Number IP100796554; cold agglutinin FS-1 L-chain; isoform 1 of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein d0; DAZAP1/MEF2D fusion protein; POTE2; Keratin 18 (KRT18); PSME4 Isoform 1 of Proteasome activator complex subunit; Mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase (MAPKAPK33); Complement component 1, s subcomponent (C1S); Lysozyme C precursor (LYZ); Keritin Type Cytoskeletal 20 (KRT20); RNASE3; Aldehyde dehydrogenase X, mitochondrial precursor (ALDH1B1); CDNA FLJ25506 fis, clone CBR05185; Isoform B of fibulin-1 precursor (FBLN1); Nucleobindin 1 (NUCB1); Histone cluster 2, H2ba (HIST2H2BA); Tripartite motif-containing 28 (TRIM28); Peroxisomal D3, D2 enoyl-CoA isomerase (PECI); Peptidylprolyl isomerase B (PPIB); Similar to 40S ribosomal protein S17; Eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 gamma (EEF1G); Keratin 8 (KRT8); Fibulin 2 (FBLN2); VIM; Fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA); Annexin A2 (ANXA2); H2A histone family, member J (H2AFJ); Actin alpha, cardiac muscle 1 (ACTC1); Keratin 19 (KRT19); Immunoglobin lambda locus (IGL@protein); Immunoglobulin heavy constant mu (IGHM); EGF-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1 (EFEMP1); Tripartite motif-containing protein 34; Isoform 3 of AP1-subunit Gamma Binding Protein 1; Proflin-1; Histone H4; Hemoglobin subunit alpha; Transgelin); Lumican precursor; Hemoglobin Beta; Fibrinogen Beta Chain Precursor; Immunoglobulin kappa constant (IGKC); Uncharacterized Protein ALB; ApoA1; C4A; C3 187 kDa protein; Actin, Cytoplasmic 1 (actin beta); Hemoglobin beta; Hemoglobin subunit alpha; POTE-2 alpha actin; SLC4A10; Ribonuclease P Protein Subunit P20 (POP7); Nuclear RNA export factor 1 (NXF1); UVEAL Autoantigen With Coiled-Coil Domains And Ankyrin Repeats, UACA; Uncharacterized Protein C13ORF27; Isoform 3 of Sushi, Nidogen And EGF-Like Domain-Containing Protein 1 Precursor; Isoform 1 Of Dynein Heavy Chain 10, Axonemal (DNAH10); Gap junction alpha-1 protein (GJA1/Connexion 43); Isoform 1 Of Kinesin-Like Protein KIF25 (KIF25); GAPDH-Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase; Uncharacterized Protein ALB; Galectin-3, LGALS3; Similar to NAC-Alpha Domain-Containing Protein 1 (NACAD); Acetyl-CoA Acetyltransferase, Mitochondrial, ACAT1; KH-Type Splicing Regulatory Protein, FUBP2; Profilin 1 (PFN1); Chloride Intracellular Channel Protein 1, CLIC1; Zinc Finger Protein 831; Endoplasmin; Ribosomal Protein S10 (RPS10); Splicing Factor, Arginine/Serine-Rich 3; ACTA2 Protein (alpha actin, smooth muscle); Isoform 1 of Sodium Channel Protein Type 8 Subunit Alpha, SCN8A; Isoform Long of Galectin-9; T-Complcx Protein 1 Subunit Epsilon, CCT5; Alpha-Enolase, Lung Specific; Proto-Oncogene Serine/Threonine-Protein Kinase MOS; Isoform 1 Of Beta-Adducin (ADD2); Apolipoprotein E (APOE); Ubiquilin-4 (UBQLN4) (ataxin-1 ubiquitin-like interacting protein); Sumo-Conjugating Enzyme UB21 (UBC9 homolog in yeast); Myosin-15 (MYH15); FLJ93091, Homo Sapiens UMP-CMP Kinase (UMP-CMPK); Intelectin-1 (ITLN1); Apolipoprotein A-IV (APOA4); Mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (lipoamide) alpha 1 (PDHA1); Leucine-Rich Repeat-Containing Protein 59 (LRRC59); 60S Ribosomal Protein L37A (RPL37A); Uridine-Cytidine Kinase 1-like 1 (UCKL1); Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 9A1 (ALDH9A1); Isoform 3 of Thioredoxin Reductase 1, Cytoplasmic (TXNRD1); Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 2 Group E Member 1 (NR2E1); Cation Channel Sperm-Associated Protein 3 (CATSPER3); Transmembrane EMP24 Domain-Containing Protein 1 (TMED1); Protein FAM154A (FAM154A); Sand Isoform 1 of Transcriptional Repressor NF-X1 (NFX1); or any combinations thereof (“the polypeptides of the invention”) in a biological sample from the subject. An increase of the expression level of the cancer-associated polynucleotide in the biological sample, such as a bodily fluid, as compared to a control sample indicates that the subject has cancer or has a predisposition to developing cancer. The protein or polypeptide can comprise an amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1-157. The cancer can be colorectal cancer. The method can further comprise determining the expression level of one or more or two or more of the cancer-associated proteins or polypeptides. The expression level of the cancer-associated proteins or polypeptides can be determined by a method selected from group consisting of: (a) detecting the presence of the protein or polypeptide (b) detecting the biological activity of the protein or polypeptide encoded by the cancer-associated polynucleotide, and (c) detecting mRNA of the cancer-associated polynucleotide. The biological sample can comprise cells, cell extracts, tissue, bodily fluid, and bodily fluid substantially lacking cells (e.g., less than about 1, 5, or 10% cells) such as serum, urine, tears, milk, seminal fluid, prostatic fluid, lung lavage fluid, and saliva. The level of the cancer-associated protein or polypeptide can be determined by detecting its level in the biological sample using an antibody that binds to epitopes of the protein or polypeptide specific to the change mediated protein or polypeptide or by other means known in the art.
Another embodiment of the invention provides an isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to a protein or polypeptide of the invention or any combinations thereof. A protein or polypeptide of the invention can comprise an amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1-157. The antibody can be a monoclonal antibody, a polyclonal antibody, a single-chain antibody, a monospecific single-chain antibody, a bispecific single-chain antibody, a bivalent single-chain antibody, a tetravalent single-chain antibody, a chimeric antibody, an antigen-binding fragment of an antibody, or a humanized antibody.
Even another embodiment of the invention provides a method of screening for anti-cancer compounds. The method comprises comparing the level of a change mediated protein or polypeptide expression product in a first biological sample in the presence of a test compound to the level of the change mediated protein or polypeptide expression product in a second biological sample in the absence of the test compound. The change mediated expression product comprises a protein or polypeptide of the invention or mRNA encoding the polypeptide of the invention or any combinations thereof. A test compound that decreases the level of the expression product in the first biological sample as compared to the second biological sample is identified as an anti-cancer agent. The protein or polypeptide can comprise an amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1-157.
Yet another embodiment of the invention provides a method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing cancer. The method comprises (a) contacting a candidate compound with a cell expressing a protein or polypeptide of the invention or any combinations thereof and (b) selecting a compound that reduces the expression level of the protein or polypeptide. The protein or polypeptide can comprise an amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1-157.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a kit for the detection of cancer in a mammal. The kit comprises (a) an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, wherein in the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof specifically binds an epitope of the protein or polypeptide of the invention and (b) one or more reagents for detecting a binding reaction between the antibody and the protein or polypeptide. The protein or polypeptide can comprise an amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1-157 or any combinations thereof.
Still another embodiment of the invention provides a kit for detecting cancer cells in a biological sample comprising at least one polynucleotide primer or probe wherein the polynucleotide primer or probe is specific for a polynucleotide that encodes a protein or polypeptide of the invention. The protein or polypeptide can comprise an amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1-157 or any combinations thereof. The kit can comprise at least two polynucleotide primers specific for the polynucleotide that encodes a protein or polypeptide of the invention.
Yet another embodiment of the invention provides a fusion protein comprising at least two proteins or polypeptides of the invention or any combinations thereof. At least two proteins or polypeptides can he selected from the group consisting of an amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1-157.
Even another embodiment of the invention provides a composition comprising a first component selected from the group consisting of physiologically acceptable carriers and immunostimulants, and a second component selected from the group consisting of a protein or polypeptide of the invention or any combinations thereof; a polynucleotide that encodes the protein or polypeptide of the invention or any combinations thereof; an antibody according of the invention or any combinations thereof; and a fusion protein of the invention or any combinations thereof. The protein or polypeptide can comprise an amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1-157 or any combinations thereof.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a colorectal cancer reference expression profile, comprising a pattern of protein or polypeptide expression of two or more proteins or polypeptides of the invention set forth as SEQ ID NO:1-157 or any combinations thereof.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a colorectal cancer reference expression profile, comprising a pattern of polynucleotide expression of two or more polynucleotides that encode proteins or polypeptides of the invention or any combinations thereof. The polypeptides of the invention can comprise amino acid sequences set forth as SEQ ID NO:1-157.
Yet another embodiment of the invention provides an array comprising two or more polynucleotides that specifically hybridize to two or more polynucleotides that encode a protein or polypeptide of the invention or two or more polypeptides of the invention or any combinations thereof. The polypeptides of the invention can comprise amino acid sequences set forth as SEQ ID NO:1-157.
Still another embodiment of the invention provides a composition for treating cancer. The composition comprises a pharmaceutically effective amount of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to a protein or polypeptide of the invention or any combinations thereof. The protein or polypeptide of invention can comprise an amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1-157.
Even another embodiment of the invention provides a composition for treating cancer. The composition comprises a pharmaceutically effective amount of a polypeptide of the invention or a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of the invention. The polypeptide of the invention can comprise an amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1-157.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a method for treating cancer in a subject or stimulating an immune response, such as an anti-tumor immune response or any other type of immune response in a subject. The method comprises (a) administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of a protein or polypeptide of the invention (b) administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of a polynucleotide, or fragment thereof, that encodes the polypeptide of the invention; or (c) administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to the protein or polypeptide of the invention. The protein or polypeptide of the invention can comprise an amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1-157. The cancer can be colorectal cancer.
Still another embodiment of the invention provides a method of isolating a change mediated protein or polypeptide, and its cognate gene or polynucleotide, expressed by a first host under a first environmental condition and not under a second environmental condition. The method comprises the steps of:
Also provided is a method of confirming and validating the specifically expressed nature of the isolated protein/polypeptide as expressed by the host in response to the disease or change mediated condition. The method comprises:
As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural references unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
Identification of Proteins that are Differentially Regulated in Cancer Cells
Proteomics-based Change Mediated Antigen Technology (PCMAT) is a method for identifying proteins and polypeptides and their cognate genes or polynucleotides that are specifically expressed when a cell undergoes a change (e.g., change from a normal, healthy cell to a diseased cell) or is exposed to a change in environmental conditions (e.g., change of a plant cell going from moist to arid conditions). PCMAT can be used to identify proteins and polypeptides and their cognate genes or polynucleotides that are up-regulated or are specifically expressed in cells when the cells become diseased or cancerous.
By “specifically expressed” is meant that the protein or polypeptide is expressed to a greater or lesser extent under a first environmental condition as compared to a second environmental condition. For example, the protein or polypeptide might be expressed under a first environmental condition but not expressed under a second environmental condition. Alternatively, the protein or polypeptide might be expressed to a greater extent, for example 10%, 20%, 50%, 100%, 200%, or more, in the first environmental condition as compared to the second environmental condition.
First environmental conditions include, but are not limited to, a disease condition (such as, for example, a viral disease, a bacterial disease, a fungal disease, a disease caused by a prion, a disease caused by a protozoan, a parasitic disease, cancer, an autoimmune disease (e.g., arthritis, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, or diabetes), heat, cold, exposure to toxic chemicals, exposure to drugs, exposure to chemotherapy drugs or regimens, exposure to stress, exposure to toxic metals, exposure to radiation, exposure to toxins, exposure to antibiotics, exposure to chemicals meant to kill or slow the growth of the microbe such as bactericides, viricides, and bacteriostatic or viristatic agents, low oxygen conditions, high oxygen conditions, low pH conditions, high pH conditions, exposure to iron, exposure to low levels of nutrients, and exposure to high levels of nutrients.
A second environmental condition can be, for example, normal conditions, healthy conditions, non-diseased conditions, and/or the absence of the first environmental conditions. In one embodiment of the invention, a first environmental condition can be one stage or phase of a disease (e.g., early, middle, late, chronic, treated, untreated, treatment for a certain amount of time, remission) and the second environmental condition can be a second, different stage of a disease (e.g., early, middle, late, chronic, treated, untreated, treatment for a certain amount of time, remission).
One embodiment of the invention provides a method for isolating a protein, polypeptide or other component of a cell (e.g., lipid, carbohydrate, or glycoprotein) that is expressed under a first environmental condition (e.g., a diseased condition) and not under a second environmental condition (e.g., a healthy or non-diseased condition). In general, the method comprises obtaining a first sample from a host in a first condition (e.g., a diseased condition) and immunizing a second animal with the host sample. Antibodies from the immunized animal are collected and adsorbed with host samples collected from a second host under a second environment condition (e.g., healthy conditions). The second host can be the same individual first host under the second conditions (e.g. healthy tissues or cells from the first host) or a different host of the same or different species as the first host. Unadsorbed antibodies are collected and used to collect differentially expressed proteins, polypeptides or other components directly from diseased tissue or fluid of the first host or from an expression or display library of the host's DNA or RNA or similar DNA or RNA.
The host exposed to the first environmental condition can be any type of organism, for example, a mammal, such as a human, baboon, chimpanzee, macaque, cattle, sheep, pig, horse, goat, dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig, rat, or mouse. An animal can also be, for example, a chicken, duck, insect, or fish. The host can also be a member of the plant or microbial kingdom.
In the case where the host is from the animal kingdom, the sample collected from a host in the first environmental condition can be, for example, cells, cell extracts, tissue, bodily fluid, bodily fluid substantially lacking cells (e.g., less than about 1, 5, or 10% cells), serum, urine, tears, milk, seminal fluid, prostatic fluid, lung lavage fluid, saliva, mucosal cells, tumor cells, cancer cells, a biopsy sample, a lavage sample, sputum, plasma, blood, a fecal sample, a lymph node sample, bone marrow, colon tissue, rectal tissue, or a pleural effusion sample. Where the host is a plant, the sample can be from, e.g., cells, tissues, cell extracts, fluid extracted from phloem, fluid extracted from xylum. Wherein the host is a microbe, bacterium, virus or prion the sample can be cells or cell extracts, or cells or tissues of a host infected or colonized by the microbe.
Samples from animal host in a first environmental condition can be collected and processed immediately for immunization or are quickly frozen for later processing to preserve as closely as possible all of the potential epitopes that were present in the host animal sample at the moment the sample was taken. Individual samples or pooled samples collected at different time intervals or from different sampling sites or from different animals exposed to the same first environmental condition or similar environmental conditions can be used to immunize an animal to obtain an antibody response.
Antibodies from the immunized animal are collected. The immunized animal can be any type of animal capable of mounting a humoral immune response, for example, a mammal, such as a human, baboon, chimpanzee, macaque, cattle, sheep, pig, horse, goat, dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig, rat, or mouse. An animal can also be, for example, a chicken, duck, insect, or fish. In one embodiment, the immunized animal is the same species as the first host animal. In another embodiment, the immunized animal is a different species from the first host animal. In another embodiment, the immunized animal is a different species from the first host animal wherein the immunized animal is distantly related to the first host animal (e.g., the first host animal is a human and the immunized animal is a chicken).
In the case where a bodily fluid is used as the immunogen, the fluid sample does not need to come from the site of the first environmental condition. That is, the bodily fluid does not need to be collected from the direct site of the diseased tissue or cancerous lesion, but instead can be, e.g., scrum drawn from a site away from the diseased tissue or cancerous lesion.
The immunization of animals with an antigen sample for the production of antibodies is well known in the art. See e.g., Antibody Techniques, Malik &Lillehoj, eds., Academic Press (1994); Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Harlow & Lane, eds., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories (1988). A sample can be homogenized before administration to an animal. Administration can be by, for example, intramuscular, interperitoneal, subcutaneous, intradermal, intravenous, or nasal/inhalation, or combinations thereof.
The administration of the sample to the animal can be combined with an adjuvant. Alternatively, an adjuvant can be administered to the animal separately. An adjuvant can enhance an immune response to an antigen. An adjuvant can be, for example, complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (IFA), montanide ISA (incomplete Seppic adjuvant), Ribi Adjuvant System (RAS), TiterMax®, Syntex Adjuvant Formulation (SAF), aluminum salt adjuvants, nitrocellulose-adsorbed antigen, encapsulated or entrapped antigens, immune-stimulating complexes (ISCOMs), for example Quil A or QS-21, and Gerbu® adjuvant. One of skill in the art can choose an appropriate adjuvant for a particular sample.
Booster administrations of the host samples from a first environmental condition can be given to the animal at, for example, 2 weeks, 1 month, two months, or three months after the immunization.
After an immune response occurs in the animal, an antibody sample is collected from the immunized animal. The sample can comprise, for example, the serum of an immunized animal. The animal's serum will contain antibodies, including antibodies specific for antigens expressed under the first environmental condition by the host animal (e.g., a diseased condition). Antibodies collected from an individual immunized animal can be used or antibodies pooled from two or more animals can be used. For example, antibodies collected from about 2, 5, 25, 100, 500, or 1,000 animals can be pooled.
Antibodies that bind to antigens that are produced under a second environmental condition, e.g., a healthy or non-disease condition are subtracted from the sample of antibodies. The result is an “unadsorbed antibody” sample. The antibodies are collected from the immunized animal and adsorbed with an animal host sample comparable to the one used to produce the antibodies, except that this sample is obtained from a host animal that is in the second environmental condition (e.g., healthy, normal or a condition that differs from the first environmental condition). The animal host sample (i.e., a host sample collected from a host animal in the second environmental condition) can be, for example, cells, cell extracts, tissue, bodily fluid, bodily fluid substantially lacking cells (e.g., less than about 1, 5, or 10% cells), serum, urine, tears, milk, seminal fluid, prostatic fluid, lung lavage fluid, saliva, mucosal cells, tumor cells, cancer cells, a biopsy sample, a lavage sample, sputum, plasma, blood, a fecal sample, a lymph node sample, bone marrow, colon tissue, rectal tissue, a pleural effusion sample, microbial or plant cells, tissues, or cell extracts. The adsorption removes antibodies that are reactive with proteins and other cell components made by the host in the second environmental condition (e.g., in the absence of disease). Unadsorbed antibodies that are reactive with antigens expressed by the animal host under the first environmental condition are recovered and used to capture proteins, polypeptides and other components specifically expressed by the host under the first environmental condition. The source of the proteins and polypeptides can be extracts of the tissues or bodily fluids from the animal in the first environmental condition. Alternatively, an expression or display library of the host's DNA or RNA can be used as the source of proteins. Proteins specifically captured by the adsorbed antibodies are eluted, concentrated and identified by proteomic methods known to persons skilled in the art (e.g., GeLC-MS/MS). In the case where surface display libraries are used, the cloned genetic fragment encoding the displayed protein is sequenced and the protein expressed by this fragment is deduced.
The adsorption step can be performed by, for example, contacting the antibody sample with host samples from the second environmental condition that are immobilized on a solid support, such as a nitrocellulose membrane or latex beads. See, Brady & Daphtary, J. Infect. Dis. 158:965-972 (1988). Optionally, the host sample from the second environmental condition can be denatured (e.g., by heating) before use to expose additional immunoreactive epitopes. Two or more successive adsorptions can be performed using the same or different adsorption methodologies.
All or substantially all of the antibodies in the antibody sample whose corresponding antigens are derived from a host under a second environmental condition will bind to these antigens to form immune complexes. However, antibodies directed against antigens that are specifically expressed under the first environmental condition will remain uncomplexed since their corresponding antigens are not present in the host sample under the second environmental condition. The uncomplexed antibodies comprise the unadsorbed antibody sample.
Polypeptides can be expressed from polynucleotides of the invention. The polypeptides can then be used to generate antibodies that specifically bind to an immunological epitope present in the polypeptides of the invention. Antibodies of the invention are antibody molecules that specifically bind to a polypeptide of the invention or fragment thereof. An antibody of the invention can be a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a single chain antibody (scFv), or an antigen-binding fragment of an antibody.
Antigens induced under a first environmental condition can be directly verified as actually expressed by the animal host in response to a first environmental condition by directly probing biological samples taken from, e.g., disease sites or from bodily fluid samples by any method known in the art. For example, monoclonal antibodies generated against a change mediated protein can be raised and tested for their specificity and cross reactivity to other proteins or polypeptides that are known to be or may be present in the test sample. Monoclonal antibodies that show appropriate specificity for epitopes on change mediated proteins or polypeptides can be labeled by various methods and tested for their reactivity with appropriate biological samples including tissues or bodily fluids from the host in both environmental conditions one and two. The labeled antibodies will react with the biological sample from the host in condition one (i.e., diseased), but will not react with the biological sample from the host in condition two (i.e., healthy or non-diseased). These results provide direct evidence that the host specifically expresses the antigen of interest under a first environmental condition, and that the change mediated protein or polypeptide so identified has potential for use in diagnosis, prevention, and therapy of the disease condition.
Samples taken at regular intervals throughout the course of disease will assure the presence of proteins and other potentially important cell components that can be transiently expressed. The more samples that are taken, the better the likelihood that the entire array of specifically expressed components will be obtained. The samples obtained in different time stages of disease or first conditions can be combined for immunization. Alternatively, they can be used to separately immunize animals to determine the approximate time during the disease that a particular protein or other cell component is expressed.
For example, comparing proteins and polypeptides of a animal host that are expressed under a first environmental condition at different stages of disease can comprise immunizing an animal with a first sample comprising one or more animal host samples under a first environmental condition, wherein each of the one or more host samples is in about the same stage of disease progression or treatment phase (e.g., early, middle, late, chronic, treated, untreated, treatment for a certain amount of time, remission). The stage or treatment phase of the first condition can be ascertained by, for example, by a medical professional. Antibodies from the immunized animal are collected and adsorbed with a host sample under a second environmental condition (e.g., a healthy or normal condition). Unadsorbed antibodies are collected and used as described above to identify change mediated proteins and polypeptides that are expressed throughout the entire timecourse of the disease, with and without remission, and with and without treatment).
An animal is immunized with a second host sample comprising one or more host samples under the first environmental condition, wherein each of host samples is in about the same stage of disease progression or same treatment phase, wherein the stage or phase is different from the stage or phase a described above. Antibodies from the immunized animal are collected and adsorbed with host samples under a second environmental condition. Unadsorbed antibodies are collected and used as described above to identify change mediated proteins and polypeptides that are specifically expressed at particular stages of the disease or those that are specifically expressed in response to remission or treatment.
PCMAT and variations of PCMAT were used herein to identify polynucleotides that are expressed when healthy colorectal cells become cancerous colorectal cells. Adenocarcinoma tissues were obtained from Asterand XpressBank (Detroit, Mich.). The samples were harvested and quick frozen to preserve intact any potential antigen that was present at the time of harvest. The identity of the diseased tissue and staging were performed by clinical and histopathological examination. Integrity of the tissue sample was confirmed by RNA profile. From a potential list of approximately 200 available tissue samples, 4 samples were selected based on the following criteria: adenocarcinoma was the principal diagnosis; stages 1, 2, 3 and 4 were represented based on the AJCC/UICC classification scheme; the RNA profile indicated that minimal degradation of the tissue had occurred during the period following harvesting and quick freezing; the diseased tissue was from the large bowel; paired (homologous), healthy tissue (confirmed by clinical and histopathological examination) was available; and the samples represented both males and females.
Each of the 4 cancerous tissue samples (stage 1, 2, 3 and 4) was processed independently and subjected to PCMAT, which identified proteins and polypeptides that are specifically expressed in the adenocarcinoma samples relative to the proteins that are expressed in healthy bowel tissue.
Briefly, the adenocarcinoma samples were homogenized in PBS and samples from each cancer stage were individually used to immunize appropriate animals. Chickens, which are phylogenetically distant from humans, were chosen for this step to optimize the strength and breadth of the immune response. A strong adjuvant (Complete Freund's Adjuvant) was also used for this purpose. Colorectal cancer stage-specific polyclonal immunoglobulin (PAbs) was obtained from egg yolks of immunized animals. To selectively enrich for immunoglobulin directed against protein antigens unique to colon carcinoma tissues and concomitantly deplete immunoglobulin directed against protein antigens expressed by cells comprising both healthy and cancerous tissues, homogenates of healthy, autologous bowel tissue were prepared as for the diseased tissue. Antibodies reactive with proteins expressed by healthy bowel tissue were depleted from the immunoglobulin by adsorption using the UltraBind affinity membranes with covalently coupled proteins from healthy tissues. The procedure was repeated until essentially no reactivity was observed in ELISA or western blots between the adsorbed immunoglobulin and the paired healthy tissue homogenates. Immunoglobulin depleted of antibodies reactive with constitutively expressed protein antigens from healthy tissues were subjected to another round of adsorption with whole cells and lysates of the Escherichia coli host strain/pET30 grown with inducer (1 mM IPTG) to remove any antibodies reactive or cross-reactive with contaminants in the cDNA libraries.
Change mediated proteins were captured using the unadsorbed antibodies remaining after the adsorption steps using two different sources. The first source was the homogenates of diseased tissue (stages 1, 2, 3, and 4) used to immunize the animals. The second source was a normalized cDNA library, NCI_CGAP_Col4, which was obtained from the I.M.A.G.E. consortium. This library reportedly was constructed using cDNA generated by reverse transcription of mRNA isolated from moderately differentiated colon adenocarcinoma, and cloning into the shuttle vector, pCMV-SPORT6.
Adsorbed immunoglobulin preparations were covalently bound to M-280 Tosyl-activated Dynabeads according to the manufacturer's (Dynal Biotech) directions to create “charged” magnetic beads. For immunocapture, 5 ml of previously prepared diseased tissue homogenates or cDNA expression library fractions containing recombinant proteins at a concentration of 1 mg/ml were incubated with 0.5 ml of charged beads for 2 h at 4° C. with tilt rotation. Following immunocapture, charged beads were washed with 10 bead volumes of wash buffer (PBS-0.2% NOG).
Specifically bound proteins were eluted three times with 1M acetic acid. All wash and elution fractions were collected for analysis. Following elution, the specifically bound proteins were immediately neutralized by addition of 10 volumes of 0.2 M Na2PO4 (pH 7.4) and stored at 4° C. in the presence of 0.02% sodium azide until further use. A negative control consisted of an identical volume of beads charged with preimmune immunoglobulin and treated as above to capture non-specifically bound proteins. Eluates from charged columns treated with soluble lysates from the cDNA library, and homogenates of the tumors clearly demonstrated the presence of proteins that were absent in the negative controls.
Proteins specifically bound by columns charged with adsorbed immunoglobulin were identified by GeLC-MS/MS at the University of Florida Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research (ICBR). Specifically bound recombinant proteins eluted from charged columns above were concentrated, fractionated on 1D SDS-PAGE, and digested in-gel with trypsin prior to tandem MS/MS. Fractions of the 1D-lane were reduced, alkylated, and digested with trypsin (Promega). The enzymatically-digested samples were separated using a C18 Pep Map HPLC column with elution using a formic acid gradient. GeLC-MS/MS analysis was carried out on a hybrid quadrupole-TOF mass spectrometer (QSTAR, Applied Biosystems, Framingham, Mass.). All MS/MS samples were analyzed using Mascot version 2.0.01 (Matrix Science, London, UK) and Scaffold (version Scaffold-01-06-03, Proteome Software Inc., Portland, Oreg.). Change mediated antigens identified were analyzed via bioinformatics by querying the human genomic sequence database.
Proteins and their cognate polynucleotides that are upregulated in stage 1 cancerous cells were identified. The identified polypeptides and proteins are as follows: Titin (also known as TTN rhabdomyosarcoma antigen MU-RMS 40) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q8WZ42-2 (SEQ ID NO:1)); HBA1 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P69905 (SEQ ID NO:2)); Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P08069 (SEQ ID NO:3)); Isoform 3 or zonadhesin precursor (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q9Y493-1 (SEQ ID NO:4)); latent transforming growth factor beta binding protein 4 (LTBP4) (e.g., UniProt Accession Number A6NCG8 (SEQ ID NO:5)); ASXL1 (additional sex combs like 1) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q8IXJ9-1 (SEQ ID NO:6)); beta globin (HBB) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P68871 (SEQ ID NO:7)); BMP15-bone morphogenetic protein (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NM—005448.1 (see also, UniProt Accession Number O95972) (SEQ ID NO:8)); TRIM49 (also known as RNF18; tripartite motif-containing 49) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q9NS80 (SEQ ID NO:9)); DNAJ homolog subfamily B member 11 precursor (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q9UBS4 (SEQ ID NO:10)); uncharacterized hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells protein MDS027 (also known as MDS027 hHBrk1 HSPC300) GenBank Accession Number Q9NZ47 (SEQ ID NO:11)); uncharacterized protein ALB (e.g., UniProt Accession Number A6NBZ8 (SEQ ID NO:12)); isoform 3 of sushi, nidogen and EGF-like domain-containing protein 1 precursor (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q8TER0-4 (SEQ ID NO:13)); isoform 2 of peripherin (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P41219-2 (SEQ ID NO:14)); mitochondrial 28S ribosomal protein S22 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P82650 (SEQ ID NO:15)); translation initiation factor EIF-2B subunit epsilon (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q13144 (SEQ ID NO:16)); estradiol 17-beta-dehydrogenase 1 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P14061 (SEQ ID NO:17)); XRCC6BP1 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q8N4L5 (SEQ ID NO:18)); brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 precursor (e.g., GenBank Accession Number O14514 (SEQ ID NO:19)); isoform 2 of ring finger and CCCH-type zinc finger domain-containing protein 2 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q91-HBD1-2 (SEQ ID NO:20)); hemoglobin subunit beta (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P68871 (SEQ ID NO:21)); isoform 1 of far upstream element-binding protein 1 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q96AE4-1 (SEQ ID NO:22)); GALECTIN-3 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P17931 (SEQ ID NO:23)); lysozyme C precursor (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P61626 (SEQ ID NO:24)); actin, alpha skeletal muscle (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P68133 (SEQ ID NO:25)); isoform M2 of pyruvate kinase isozymes M1/M2 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P14618-1 (SEQ ID NO:26)); AGR2 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number O95994 (SEQ ID NO:27)); neutrophil defensin 1 precursor (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P59665 (SEQ ID NO:28)); myeloblastin precursor (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P24158 (SEQ ID NO:29)); uncharacterized protein PSME2 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q9UL46 (SEQ ID NO:30)); tubulin beta-2C chain (e.g., UniProt Accession Number P68371 (SEQ ID NO:31)); thiosulfate sulfurtransferase (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q16762 (SEQ ID NO:32)); heat shock 70 kDa protein 1(e.g., GenBank Accession Number P08107 (SEQ ID NO:33)); Ig kappa chain V-III region sie (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P01620 (SEQ ID NO:34)); macrophage migration inhibitory factor (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P14174 (SEQ ID NO:35)); isoform 1 of ATP synthase subunit D, mitochondrial (e.g., GenBank Accession Number O75947-1 (SEQ ID NO:36)); uncharacterized protein ENSP00000374051 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number A6NGM3 (SEQ ID NO:37)); isocitrate dehydrogenase [NADP] cytoplasmic (e.g., UniProt Accession Number O75874 (SEQ ID NO:38)); hemoglobin subunit delta (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P02042 (SEQ ID NO:39)); isoform 1 of splicing factor, arginine/serine-rich 7 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q16629-1 (SEQ ID NO:40)); isoform 1 of mRNA-capping enzyme (e.g., GenBank Accession Number O60942-1 (SEQ ID NO:41)); LON protease homolog, mitochondrial precursor (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P36776 (SEQ ID NO:42)); signal recognition particle 54 kDa protein (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P61011 (SEQ ID NO:43)); isoform long of galectin-9 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number O00182-1 (SEQ ID NO:44)); integrin-linked protein kinase (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q13418 (SEQ ID NO:45)); bifunctional aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P07814 (SEQ ID NO:46)); isoform 1 of zinc finger protein 207 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number O43670-1 (SEQ ID NO:47)); inorganic pyrophosphatase (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q15181 (SEQ ID NO:48)); calponin-2 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q99439 (SEQ ID NO:49)); isoform 1 of muscleblind-like protein 3 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q9NUK0-1 (SEQ ID NO:50)); cathepsin G precursor (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P08311 (SEQ ID NO:51)); zinc finger and BTB domain-containing protein 34 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q8NCN2 (SEQ ID NO:52)); adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P07741 (SEQ ID NO:53)); 40S ribosomal protein S9 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P46781 (SEQ ID NO:54)); TALIN-1 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q9Y490 (SEQ ID NO:55)); leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 59 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q96AG4 (SEQ ID NO:56)); ATP synthase subunit alpha, mitochondrial precursor (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P25705 (SEQ ID NO:57)); isoform 7 of protein transport protein SEC31A (e.g., GenBank Accession Number O94979-7 (SEQ ID NO:58)); dihydroxyacetone kinase (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q3LXA3 (SEQ ID NO:59)); protein similar to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins C1/C2 (HNRNP C1/HNRNP C2) isoform 4 (e.g., ENSEMBL Accession Number ENST0000342709 (see also, GenBank Accession No. NM—004500.3 and UNIPARC Accession Number IP100868835) (SEQ ID NO:60)); 18 kDa protein (e.g., UNIPARC Accession Number IP100796554 (SEQ ID NO:61)); cold agglutinin FS-1 L-chain (e.g., GenBank Accession Number A2NB45 (SEQ ID NO:62)); isoform 1 of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein d0 (e.g., UniProt Accession Number Q14103-1 (SEQ ID NO:63)); DAZAP1/MEF2D fusion protein (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q51RN2 (SEQ ID NO:64)).
Proteins and their cognate polynucleotides that are upregulated in stage IV cancerous cells were also identified. The polynucleotides encode the following polypeptides: POTE2 (also known as ANKRD26-like family C, member 1A) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—001077007 (SEQ ID NO: 65)); keratin 18 (KRT18) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—000215 (SEQ ID NO: 66)); PSME4 Isoform 1 of Proteasome activator complex subunit (also known as prosome macropain, activator subunit 4) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—055429 (SEQ ID NO: 67)); Mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase (MAPKAPK33) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—004626 (SEQ ID NO: 68)); Complement component 1, s subcomponent (C1S) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—001725 (SEQ ID NO: 69)); Lysozyme C precursor (LYZ) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—000230 (SEQ ID NO: 70)); Keritin Type Cytoskeletal 20 (KRT20) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—061883 (SEQ ID NO: 71)); RNASE3 (also known as ECP RNS3, ribonuclease, RNase A family 3) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—002926 (SEQ ID NO: 72)); Aldehyde dehydrogenase X, mitochondrial precursor (ALDH1B1) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—000683 (SEQ ID NO: 73)); CDNA FLJ25506 fis, clone CBR05185 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q8N716 (SEQ ID NO: 74)); Isoform B of fibulin-1 precursor (FBLN1) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P23142-2 (SEQ ID NO: 75)); Nucleobindin 1 (NUCB1) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—006175 (SEQ ID NO: 76)); Historic cluster 2, H2ba (HIST2H2BA) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—001019770 (SEQ ID NO: 77)); Tripartite motif-containing 28 (TRIM28) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—005753 (SEQ ID NO: 78)); Peroxisomal D3, D2 enoyl-CoA isomerase (PECI) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—006108 (SEQ ID NO: 79)); Peptidylprolyl isomerase B (PPIB) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—000933 (SEQ ID NO: 80)); Similar to 40S ribosomal protein S17 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number IP00743305 (SEQ ID NO: 81)); Eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 gamma (EEF1G) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number IP100747497 (SEQ ID NO: 82)); Keratin 8 (KRT8) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—002264 (SEQ ID NO: 83)); Fibulin 2 (FBLN2) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—001989 (SEQ ID NO: 84)); VIM (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—003371 (SEQ ID NO: 85)); Fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—000499 (SEQ ID NO: 86)); Annexin A2 (ANXA2) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—001002858 (SEQ ID NO: 87)); H2A histone family, member J (H2AFJ) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—808760 (SEQ ID NO: 88)); Actin alpha, cardiac muscle 1 (ACTC1) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—005150 (SEQ ID NO: 89)); Keratin 19 (KRT19) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—002267 (SEQ ID NO: 90)); Immunoglobin lambda locus (IGL@protein) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q6PIQ7 (SEQ ID NO: 91)); immunoglobulin heavy constant mu (IGHM) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q8WUK1 (SEQ ID NO: 92)); EGF-containing Fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1 (EFEMP1) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q12805-3 (SEQ ID NO: 93)); Tripartite motif-containing protein 34 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—067629 (SEQ ID NO: 94)); Isoform 3 of AP1-subunit Gamma Binding Protein 1 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—542117 (SEQ ID NO: 95)); Proflin-1 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—005013 (SEQ ID NO:96)); Histone H4 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—001029249 (SEQ ID NO: 97)); Hemoglobin subunit alpha (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—000549 (SEQ ID NO: 98)); Transgelin (also known as TAGLN) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—001001522 (SEQ ID NO: 99)); Lumican precursor (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—002336 (SEQ ID NO: 100)); Hemoglobin Beta (also known as HBD CD113t) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—000509 (SEQ ID NO: 101)); Fibrinogen Beta Chain Precursor (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—005132 (SEQ ID NO: 102)); immunoglobulin kappa constant (IGKC) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q6GMX8 (SEQ ID NO: 103)); Uncharacterized Protein ALB (also known as albumin) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q56G89 (SEQ ID NO: 104)).
In another example, PCMAT was used to identify proteins that are shed into body fluids during a diseased state, namely stage IV colorectal bowel cancer. See Example 1. This study used the YPAbs (polyclonal IgY antibodies) raised in chickens against adjuvanted homogenates of stage IV human colon cancer tissue. The YPAbs evoked from the stage IV tumor tissue were adsorbed with sera from healthy subjects bound to a solid support. After confirmation using western and dot blots that no remaining antibodies reactive with antigens present in healthy serum was established, the remaining unadsorbed antibodies were bound to a solid support resin to create a charged column as described above. Serum from patients with stage IV colorectal cancer was passed through the column, and non-specifically bound proteins and peptides were removed by washing. Specifically bound proteins were removed using acetic acid, which were identified by GeLC-MS/MS as described above. Stage II tumor tissue was used in the same manner to identify SEQ ID NOs:108-157 and are as follows: Actin, Cytoplasmic 1 (actin beta) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—001092 (SEQ ID NO:108)); Hemoglobin beta (e.g., GenBank Accession Number O95408 (SEQ ID NO:109)); Hemoglobin subunit alpha (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P69905 (SEQ ID NO:110)); POTE-2 alpha actin (e.g., GenBank Accession Number A5A3E0 (SEQ ID NO:111)); SLC4A10 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q6U841 (SEQ ID NO:112)); Ribonuclease P Protein Subunit P20 (POP7) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number O75817 (SEQ ID NO:113)); Nuclear RNA export factor 1 (NXF1) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q59E96 (SEQ ID NO:114)); UVEAL Autoantigen With Coiled-Coil Domains And Ankyrin Repeats, UACA (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q05DB3 (SEQ ID NO:115)); Uncharacterized Protein C13ORF27 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q5JUR7 (SEQ ID NO:116)); Isoform 3 of Sushi, Nidogen And EGF-Like Domain-Containing Protein 1 Precursor (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q8TER0 (SEQ ID NO:117)); Isoform 1 Of Dynein Heavy Chain 10, Axonemal (DNAH10): (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q8IVF4 (SEQ ID NO:118)); Gap junction alpha-1 protein (GJA1/Connexion 43) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P17302 (SEQ ID NO:119)); Isoform 1 Of Kinesin-Like Protein KIF25 (KIF25) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q5SZU8 (SEQ ID NO:120)); GAPDH-Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P04406 (SEQ ID NO:121)); Uncharacterized Protein ALB (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P02768 (SEQ ID NO:122)); Galectin-3, LGALS3 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—002297 (SEQ ID NO:123)); Similar to NAC-Alpha Domain-Containing Protein 1 (NACAD) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number O15069 (SEQ ID NO:124)); Acetyl-CoA Acetyltransferase, Mitochondrial, ACAT1 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—000010 (SEQ ID NO:125)); KH-Type Splicing Regulatory Protein, FUBP2 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—003676 (SEQ ID NO:126)); Profilin 1 (PFN1) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—005013 (SEQ ID NO:127)); Chloride Intracellular Channel Protein 1, CLIC1 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—001279 (SEQ ID NO:128)); Zinc Finger Protein 831 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—848552 (SEQ ID NO:129)); Endoplasmin (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—003290 (SEQ ID NO:130)); Ribosomal Protein S10 (RPS10) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P46783 (SEQ ID NO:131)); Splicing Factor, Arginine/Serine-Rich 3 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—003008 (SEQ ID NO:132)); ACTA2 Protein (alpha actin, smooth muscle) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P62736 (SEQ ID NO:133)); Isoform 1 of Sodium Channel Protein Type 8 Subunit Alpha, SCN8A (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—055006 SEQ ID NO:134)); Isoform Long of Galectin-9 GenBank Accession Number NP—033665 SEQ ID NO:135)); T-Complex Protein 1 Subunit Epsilon, CCT5 (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—036205 (SEQ ID NO:136)); Alpha-Enolase, Lung Specific (e.g., GenBank Accession Number CAA47179 (SEQ ID NO:137)); Proto-Oncogene Serine/Threonine-Protein Kinase MOS (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—005363 (SEQ ID NO:138)); Isoform 1 Of Beta-Adducin (ADD2) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—001608 (SEQ ID NO:139)); Apolipoprotein E (APOE) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—000032 SEQ ID NO:140)); Ubiquitin-4 (UBQLN4) (ataxin-1 ubiquitin-like interacting protein) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—064516 (SEQ ID NO:141)); Sumo-Conjugating Enzyme UB21 (UBC9 homolog in yeast) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—003336 (SEQ ID NO:142)); Myosin-15 (MYH15) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—055796 (SEQ ID NO:143)); FLJ93091, Homo Sapiens UMP-CMP Kinase (UMP-CMPK) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—057392 (SEQ ID NO:144)); Intelectin-1 (ITLN1) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—060095 (SEQ ID NO:145)); Apolipoprotein A-IV (APOA4) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q13784 (SEQ ID NO:146)); Mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (lipoamide) alpha 1 (PDHA1) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P08559 (SEQ ID NO:147)); Leucine-Rich Repeat-Containing Protein 59 (LRRC59) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—060979 (SEQ ID NO:148)); 60S Ribosomal Protein L37A (RPL37A) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—000989 (SEQ ID NO:149)); Uridine-Cytidine Kinase 1-like 1 (UCKL1) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q53HM1 (SEQ ID NO:150)); Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 9A1 (ALDH9A1) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—000687 (SEQ ID NO:151)); Isoform 3 Of Thioredoxin Reductase 1, Cytoplasmic (TXNRD1) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number Q16881 (SEQ ID NO:152)); Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 2 Group E Member 1 (NR2E1) (e.g., GenBank. Accession Number NP—003260 (SEQ ID NO:153)); Cation Channel Sperm-Associated Protein 3 (CATSPER3) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—821138 (SEQ ID NO:154)); Transmembrane EMP24 Domain-Containing Protein 1 (TMED1) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—006849 (SEQ ID NO:155)); Protein FAM154A (FAM154A) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—714918 (SEQ ID NO:156)); Isoform 1 of Transcriptional Repressor NF-X1 (NFX1) (e.g., GenBank Accession Number NP—002495 (SEQ ID NO:157)).
Shed change mediated proteins and their cognate polynucleotides that are upregulated in stage IV cancerous cells were identified. The polynucleotides encode the polypeptides shown in SEQ ID NOs:105-107 (ApoA1 e.g., GenBank Accession Number P02647 (SEQ ID NO:105); C4A (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P0C0L4 (SEQ ID NO:106); and C3 187 kDa protein (e.g., GenBank Accession Number P01024 (SEQ ID NO:107)).
In general, PCMAT has a number of outstanding attributes, including its speed (the entire biomarker discovery portion of the project can be performed in less than 6 months), cost efficiency, and, most importantly, its sensitivity. In general, chickens serve as an excellent host in which to raise high titer, broadly reactive antibodies: they tolerate very strong adjuvants extremely well, they are phylogenetically distant from humans, which makes them more likely to respond to human immunogens in cancer studies, they have a very large immune repertoire, and enormous amounts of purified IgY (essentially identical to IgG) can be readily obtained from their eggs. The use of strong adjuvants helps to assure that even low abundance proteins will elicit an antibody response and will be recovered. Another aspect of PCMAT that promotes sensitivity is that the size of the charged column and the amount of the body fluid that can be passed through it can be substantial. Again, this promotes the likelihood of finding low abundance proteins. Finally, the subtraction step in which fluids from healthy subjects are used to remove antibodies reactive with background proteins results in a tremendously increased signal to noise ratio. The need for sensitivity as provided by PCMAT cannot be overstated. It is highly likely that cancerous proteins that are shed into body fluids are of relatively low-abundance, and therefore missed by strategies that are currently in use. The use of PCMAT to find cancerous shed proteins presents a unique opportunity for the identification of novel target for the development of diagnostics for cancer.
All of these polypeptides are referred to herein as “the polypeptides of the invention” or “cancer-associated antigens or polypeptides.” The polynucleotides that encode the polypeptides of the invention are referred to herein as “the polynucleotides of the invention” or “cancer-associated polynucleotides.”
A polypeptide is a polymer of three or more amino acids covalently linked by amide bonds. A polypeptide can be post-translationally modified. A purified polypeptide is a polypeptide preparation that is substantially free of cellular material, other types of polypeptides, chemical precursors, chemicals used in synthesis of the polypeptide, or combinations thereof. A polypeptide preparation that is substantially free of cellular material, culture medium, chemical precursors, and/or chemicals used in synthesis of the polypeptide has less than about 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, 1% or more of other polypeptides, culture medium, chemical precursors, and/or other chemicals used in synthesis. Therefore, a purified polypeptide is about 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99% or more pure.
A polypeptide of the invention can comprise at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 25, 100, 500, 1,000 or more non-naturally occurring amino acids immediately contiguous with one or both of the amino and carboxy termini of the polypeptide.
Polypeptides of the invention can either be full-length polypeptides or proteins or fragments of polypeptides or proteins. For example, fragments of polypeptides of the invention can comprise about 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 or more contiguous amino acids of polypeptides of the invention or any value or range between 5 and 5,000. Examples of polypeptides of the invention include those shown in SEQ ID NOs:1-157. Variant polypeptides are at least about 80, or about 85% 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99% or more identical to the polypeptide sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs:1-157. Variant polypeptides have one or more conservative amino acid variations or other minor modifications and retain biological activity, i.e., are biologically functional equivalents. A biologically active equivalent has substantially equivalent function when compared to the corresponding wild-type polypeptide.
Percent sequence identity has an art recognized meaning and there are a number of methods to measure identity between two polypeptide or polynucleotide sequences. See, e.g., Lesk, Ed., Computational Molecular Biology, Oxford University Press, New York, (1988); Smith, Ed., Biocomputing: Informatics And Genuine Projects, Academic Press, New York, (1993); Griffin & Griffin, Eds., Computer Analysis Of Sequence Data, Part I, Humana Press, New Jersey, (1994); von Heinje, Sequence Analysis In Molecular Biology, Academic Press, (1987); and Gribskov & Devereux, Eds., Sequence Analysis Primer, M Stockton Press, New York, (1991). Methods for aligning polynucleotides or polypeptides are codified in computer programs, including the GCG program package (Devereux et al., Nuc. Acids Res. 12:387 (1984)), BLASTP, BLASTN, FASTA (Atschul et al., J. Molec. Biol. 215:403 (1990)); and Bestfit program (Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package, Version 8 for Unix, Genetics Computer Group, University Research Park, 575 Science Drive, Madison, Wis. 53711) which uses the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman (Adv. App. Math., 2:482-489 (1981)). For example, the computer program ALIGN which employs the FASTA algorithm can be used, with an affine gap search with a gap open penalty of −12 and a gap extension penalty of −2.
When using any of the sequence alignment programs to determine whether a particular sequence is, for instance, about 95% identical to a reference sequence, the parameters are set such that the percentage of identity is calculated over the full length of the reference polynucleotide and that gaps in identity of up to 5% of the total number of nucleotides in the reference polynucleotide are allowed.
Variants can generally be identified by modifying one of the polypeptide sequences of the invention, and evaluating the properties of the modified polypeptide to determine if it is a biological equivalent. A variant is a biological equivalent if it reacts substantially the same as a polypeptide of the invention in an assay such as an immunohistochemical assay, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a radioimmunoassay (RIA), immunoenzyme assay or a western blot assay, e.g. has 90-110% of the activity of the original polypeptide. In one embodiment, the assay is a competition assay wherein the biologically equivalent polypeptide is capable of reducing binding of the polypeptide of the invention to a corresponding reactive antigen or antibody by about 80, 95, 99, or 100%. An antibody that specifically binds a corresponding wild-type polypeptide also specifically binds the variant polypeptide. Variant polypeptides of the invention can comprise about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 100, 200 or more conservative amino acid substitutions or any value or range of substitutions between about 1 and about 200.
A conservative substitution is one in which an amino acid is substituted for another amino acid that has similar properties, such that one skilled in the art of peptide chemistry would expect the secondary structure and hydropathic nature of the polypeptide to be substantially unchanged. Conservative substitutions include swaps within groups of amino acids such as replacement of the aliphatic or hydrophobic amino acids Ala, Val, Leu and Ile; replacement of the hydroxyl residues Ser and Thr; replacement of the acidic residues Asp and Glu; replacement of the amide residues Asn and Gln, replacement of the basic residues Lys, Arg, and His; replacement of the aromatic residues Phe, Tyr, and Trp, and replacement of the small-sized amino acids Ala, Ser, Thr, Met, and Gly.
A polypeptide of the invention can further comprise a signal (or leader) sequence that co-translationally or post-translationally directs transfer of the protein. The polypeptide can also comprise a linker or other sequence for case of synthesis, purification or identification of the polypeptide (e.g., poly-His), or to enhance binding of the polypeptide to a solid support. A polypeptide of the invention can further comprise a signal (or leader) sequence that co-translationally or post-translationally directs transfer of the protein. The polypeptide can also comprise a linker or other sequence for ease of synthesis, purification or identification of the polypeptide (e.g., poly-His), or to enhance binding of the polypeptide to a solid support. For example, a polypeptide can be conjugated to an immunoglobulin Fc region or bovine serum albumin.
A polypeptide can be covalently or non-covalently linked to an amino acid sequence to which the polypeptide is not normally associated with in nature. A polypeptide can also be covalently or non-covalently linked to compounds or molecules other than amino acids. For example, a polypeptide can be linked to an indicator reagent, an amino acid spacer, an amino acid linker, a signal sequence, a stop transfer sequence, a transmembrane domain, a protein purification ligand, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment of the invention a protein purification ligand can be one or more amino acid residues at, for example, the amino terminus or carboxy terminus of a polypeptide of the invention. An amino acid spacer is a sequence of amino acids that are not usually associated with a polypeptide of the invention in nature. An amino acid spacer can comprise about 1, 5, 10, 20, 100, 500, 1,000 or more amino acids.
If desired, a polypeptide can be a fusion protein, which can also contain other amino acid sequences, such as amino acid linkers, amino acid spacers, signal sequences, TMR stop transfer sequences, transmembrane domains, as well as ligands useful in protein purification, such as glutathione-S-transferase, histidine tag, and staphylococcal protein A, or combinations thereof. More than one polypeptide of the invention can be present in a fusion protein. Fragments of polypeptides of the invention can be present in a fusion protein of the invention. A fusion protein of the invention can comprise one or more of SEQ ID NOs:1-157, fragments thereof, or combinations thereof.
Polypeptides of the invention can be in a multimeric form. That is, a polypeptide can comprise one or more copies of SEQ ID NOs:1-157 or a combination thereof. A multimeric polypeptide can be a multiple antigen peptide (MAP). See e.g., Tam, J. Immunol. Methods, 196:17-32 (1996).
Polypeptides of the invention can comprise an antigen that is recognized by an antibody. The antigen can comprise one or more epitopes (i.e., antigenic determinants). An epitope can be a linear epitope, sequential epitope or a conformational epitope. Epitopes within a polypeptide of the invention can be identified by several methods. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,101; Jameson & Wolf, CABIOS 4:181-186 (1988). For example, a polypeptide of the invention can be isolated and screened. A series of short peptides, which together span an entire polypeptide sequence, can be prepared by proteolytic cleavage. By starting with, for example, 100-mer polypeptide fragments, each fragment can be tested for the presence of epitopes recognized in an ELISA. For example, in an ELISA assay a polypeptide, such as a 100-mer polypeptide fragment, is attached to a solid support, such as the wells of a plastic multi-well plate. A population of antibodies are labeled, added to the solid support and allowed to bind to the unlabeled antigen, under conditions where non-specific absorption is blocked, and any unbound antibody and other proteins are washed away. Antibody binding is detected by, for example, a reaction that converts a colorless substrate into a colored reaction product. Progressively smaller and overlapping fragments can then be tested from an identified 100-mer to map the epitope of interest.
A polypeptide of the invention can be produced recombinantly. A polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the invention can be introduced into a recombinant expression vector that can be expressed in a suitable expression host cell system using techniques well known in the art. A variety of bacterial, yeast, plant, mammalian, and insect expression systems are available in the art and any such expression system can be used. Optionally, a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide can be translated in a cell-free translation system. A polypeptide can also be chemically synthesized or obtained from cancerous cells.
An immunogenic polypeptide of the invention can comprise an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NOs:1-157. An immunogenic polypeptide can elicit antibodies or other immune responses (e.g., T-cell responses of the immune system) that recognize epitopes of polypeptides having SEQ ID NOs:1-157. An immunogenic polypeptide of the invention can also be a fragment of a polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ NOs:1-157. An immunogenic polypeptide fragment of the invention can be about 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 or more or any value or range between about 5 and about 5,000 amino acids in length.
Polynucleotides of the invention contain less than an entire genome and can be single- or double-stranded nucleic acids. A polynucleotide can be RNA, mRNA, DNA, cDNA, genomic DNA, chemically synthesized RNA or DNA or combinations thereof. The polynucleotides can be purified free of other components, such as proteins, lipids and other polynucleotides. For example, the polynucleotide can be 50%, 75%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% purified. The polynucleotides of the invention encode the polypeptides described above. In one embodiment of the invention the polynucleotides encode polypeptides of the invention and polypeptides shown in SEQ ID NOs:1-157, the complements thereof, or combinations thereof. Polynucleotides of the invention can comprise other nucleotide sequences, such as sequences coding for linkers, signal sequences, TMR stop transfer sequences, transmembrane domains, or ligands useful in protein purification such as glutathione-S-transferase, histidine tag, and staphylococcal protein A.
Polynucleotides of the invention can be isolated. An isolated polynucleotide is a polynucleotide that is not immediately contiguous with one or both of the 5′ and 3′ flanking genomic sequences that it is naturally associated with. An isolated polynucleotide can be, for example, a recombinant DNA molecule of any length, provided that the nucleic acid sequences naturally found immediately flanking the recombinant DNA molecule in a naturally-occurring genome is removed or absent. Isolated polynucleotides also include non-naturally occurring nucleic acid molecules. A nucleic acid molecule existing among hundreds to millions of other nucleic acid molecules within, for example, cDNA or genomic libraries, or gel slices containing a genomic DNA restriction digest are not to be considered an isolated or purified polynucleotide.
Polynucleotides of the invention can also comprise fragments that encode immunogenic polypeptides. Polynucleotides of the invention can encode full-length polypeptides or proteins, polypeptide fragments, and variant or fusion polypeptides.
Degenerate nucleotide sequences encoding polypeptides of the invention, as well as homologous nucleotide sequences that are at least about 80, or about 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99% or more identical to the polynucleotide sequences of the invention and the complements thereof are also polynucleotides of the invention. Percent sequence identity can be calculated as described in the “Polypeptides” section. Degenerate nucleotide sequences are polynucleotides that encode a polypeptide of the invention or fragments thereof, but differ in nucleic acid sequence from the wild-type polynucleotide sequence, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code. Complementary DNA (cDNA) molecules, species homologs, and variants of polynucleotides that encode biologically functional polypeptides of the invention also are polynucleotides of the invention. Polynucleotides of the invention can be isolated from nucleic acid sequences present in, for example, a biological sample, such as blood, serum, saliva, or tissue from an individual patient. Polynucleotides can also he synthesized in the laboratory, for example, using an automatic synthesizer. An amplification method such as PCR can be used to amplify polynucleotides from either genomic DNA or cDNA encoding the polypeptides.
Polynucleotides of the invention can comprise coding sequences for naturally occurring polypeptides or can encode altered sequences that do not occur in nature. If desired, polynucleotides can be cloned into an expression vector comprising expression control elements, including for example, origins of replication, promoters, enhancers, or other regulatory elements that drive expression of the polynucleotides of the invention in host cells. An expression vector can be, for example, a plasmid, such as pBR322, pUC, or ColE1, or an adenovirus vector, such as an adenovirus Type 2 vector or Type 5 vector. Optionally, other vectors can be used, including but not limited to Sindbis virus, simian virus 40, alphavirus vectors, poxvirus vectors, and cytomegalovirus and retroviral vectors, such as murine sarcoma virus, mouse mammary tumor virus, Moloney murine leukemia virus, and Rous sarcoma virus. Minichromosomes such as MC and MC1, bacteriophages, phagemids, yeast artificial chromosomes, bacterial artificial chromosomes, virus particles, virus-like particles, cosmids (plasmids into which phage lambda cos sites have been inserted) and replicons (genetic elements that are capable of replication under their own control in a cell) can also be used.
Methods for preparing polynucleotides operably linked to an expression control sequence and expressing them in a host cell are well-known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,366,246. A polynucleotide of the invention is operably linked when it is positioned adjacent to or close to one or more expression control elements, which direct transcription and/or translation of the polynucleotide.
Polynucleotides of the invention can be used, for example, as probes or primers, for example PCR primers, to detect the presence of polynucleotides in a sample, such as a biological sample. The ability of such probes and primers to specifically hybridize to polynucleotides of the invention will enable them to be of use in detecting the presence of complementary sequences in a given sample. Polynucleotide probes and primers of the invention can hybridize to complementary sequences in a sample such as a biological sample, including saliva, sputum, blood, urine, feces, cerebrospinal fluid, amniotic fluid, wound exudate, or tissue. Polynucleotides from the sample can be, for example, subjected to gel electrophoresis or other size separation techniques or can be immobilized without size separation. The polynucleotide probes or primers can be labeled. Suitable labels and methods for labeling probes and primers are known in the art, and include, for example, radioactive labels incorporated by nick translation or by kinase, biotin labels, fluorescent labels, chemiluminescent labels, bioluminescent labels, metal chelator labels and enzyme labels. Polynucleotides from a sample are contacted with the probes or primers under hybridization conditions of suitable stringencies.
Depending on the application, varying conditions of hybridization can be used to achieve varying degrees of selectivity of the probe or primer towards the target sequence. For applications requiring high selectivity, relatively stringent conditions can be used, such as low salt and/or high temperature conditions, such as provided by a salt concentration of from about 0.02 M to about 0.15 M salt, or any value or range between about 0.02M to about 0.15 M salt, at temperatures of from about 50° C. to about 70° C., or any value or range between about 50° C. to about 70° C. For applications requiring less selectivity, less stringent hybridization conditions can be used. For example, salt conditions from about 0.14 M to about 0.9M salt or any value or range between about 0.14 M to about 0.9M salt, at temperatures ranging from about 20° C. to about 55° C. or any value or range between about 20° C. to about 55° C. The presence of a hybridized complex comprising the probe or primer and a complementary polynucleotide from the test sample can indicate the presence of cancer in the sample.
Antibodies of the invention are antibody molecules that specifically and stably bind to a polypeptide of the invention or fragment thereof. An antibody of the invention can be a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a single chain antibody (scFv), a monospecific single-chain antibody, a bispecific single-chain antibody, a bivalent single-chain antibody, a tetravalent single-chain antibody, a chimeric antibody, a humanized antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment of an antibody. Antigen-binding fragments of antibodies are a portion of an intact antibody comprising the antigen binding site or variable region of an intact antibody, wherein the portion is free of the constant heavy chain domains of the Fc region of the intact antibody. Examples of antigen-binding antibody fragments include Fab, Fab′, Fab′-SH, F(ab′)2 and Fv fragments.
An isolated antibody is substantially separated from its natural environment. For instance, an isolated antibody is substantially separated from the biological source from which it is derived. A purified antibody is substantially free of other material that associates with the antibody in its natural environment. For instance, a purified antibody is substantially free of cellular material or other proteins or antibodies from the cell or tissue from which it is derived. The term refers to preparations where the isolated antibody is at least about 70% to 80% (w/w) pure, more preferably, at least about 80%-90% (w/w) pure, even more preferably about 90-95% pure; and, most preferably at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% (w/w) pure.
An antibody of the invention can be any antibody class and any subtype, including for example, IgG (IgG1, IgG2, IgG4), IgM, IgA, IgD, IgE, and IgY. An antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof binds to an epitope of a polypeptide of the invention. An antibody can be made in vivo in suitable laboratory animals or in vitro using recombinant DNA techniques. Means for preparing and characterizing antibodies are well know in the art. See, e.g., Dean, Methods Mol. Biol. 80:23-37 (1998); Dean, Methods. Mol. Biol. 32:361-79 (1994); Baileg, Methods Mol. Biol. 32:381-88 (1994); Gullick, Methods Mol. Biol. 32:389-99 (1994); Drenckhahn et al. Methods Cell. Biol. 37:7-56 (1993); Morrison, Ann. Rev. Immunol. 10:239-65 (1992); Wright et al. Crit. Rev. Immunol. 12:125-68 (1992). For example, polyclonal antibodies can be produced by administering a polypeptide of the invention to an animal, such as a human or other primate, mouse, rat, rabbit, guinea pig, goat, pig, dog, cow, sheep, donkey, chicken, or horse. Scrum from the immunized animal is collected and the antibodies are purified from the plasma by, for example, precipitation with ammonium sulfate, followed by chromatography, such as affinity chromatography. Techniques for producing and processing polyclonal antibodies are known in the art.
“Specifically binds” or “specific for” means that a first antigen, e.g., a polypeptide of the invention, recognizes and binds to an antibody of the invention with greater affinity than other, non-specific molecules. A non-specific molecule is an antigen that shares no common epitope with the first antigen. In this case, polypeptides of the invention would not generally be desirable choices for non-specific control molecules. For example, an antibody raised against a first antigen (e.g., a polypeptide) to which it binds more efficiently than to a non-specific antigen can be described as specifically binding to the first antigen. In a preferred embodiment, an antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof specifically binds to a polypeptide of the invention, such as SEQ ID NOs:1-157 or fragments thereof when it binds with a binding affinity Ka of 107 l/mol or more. Specific binding can be tested using, for example, an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), a radioimmunoassay (RIA), or a western blot assay using methodology well known in the art.
Additionally, monoclonal antibodies directed against epitopes present on a polypeptide of the invention can also be readily produced. For example, normal B cells from a mammal, such as a mouse, which was immunized with a polypeptide of the invention can be fused with, for example, HAT-sensitive mouse myeloma cells to produce hybridomas. Hybridomas producing antibodies can be identified using RIA or ELISA and isolated by cloning in semi-solid agar or by limiting dilution. Clones producing polypeptide-specific antibodies are isolated by another round of screening. Monoclonal antibodies can be screened for specificity using standard techniques, for example, by binding a polypeptide of the invention to a microtiter plate and measuring binding of the monoclonal antibody by an ELISA assay. Techniques for producing and processing monoclonal antibodies are known in the art. See e.g., Kohler & Milstein, Nature, 256:495 (1975). Particular isotypes of a monoclonal antibody can be prepared directly, by selecting from the initial fusion, or prepared secondarily, from a parental hybridoma secreting a monoclonal antibody of a different isotype by using a sib selection technique to isolate class-switch variants. See Steplewski et al., P.N.A.S. U.S.A. 82:8653 1985; Spria et al., J. Immunolog. Meth. 74:307, 1984. Monoclonal antibodies of the invention can also be recombinant monoclonal antibodies. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,893; U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567. Antibodies of the invention can also be chemically constructed. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,980.
Antibodies of the invention can be chimeric (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,856), humanized (see, e.g., Jones et al., Nature 321:522 (1986); Reichmann et al., Nature 332:323 (1988); Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 2:593 (1992)), or human antibodies. Human antibodies can be made by, for example, direct immortilization, phage display, transgenic mice, or a Trimera methodology, see e.g., Reisener et al., Trends Biotechnol. 16:242-246 (1998).
Antibodies that specifically bind antigens (e.g., polypeptides of the invention), are particularly useful for detecting the presence of cancer-associated antigens in a sample, such as a serum, blood, urine, tissue, or saliva sample from an animal suspected of having cancer, such as a human. An immunoassay for cancer-associated antigens can utilize one antibody or several antibodies. An immunoassay for cancer-associated antigens can use, for example, a monoclonal antibody directed towards one epitope of a polypeptide of the invention, a combination of monoclonal antibodies directed towards epitopes of one polypeptide of the invention, monoclonal antibodies directed towards epitopes of different polypeptides of the invention, polyclonal antibodies directed towards the same antigen from a polypeptide of the invention, polyclonal antibodies directed towards different antigens, or a combination of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Immunoassay protocols can be based upon, for example, competition, direct reaction, or sandwich type assays using, for example, labeled antibody. Antibodies of the invention can be labeled with any type of label known in the art, including, for example, fluorescent, chemiluminescent, radioactive, enzyme, colloidal metal, radioisotope and bioluminescent labels.
Antibodies of the invention include antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof that (a) compete with a reference antibody for binding to polypeptides of the invention, such as SEQ ID NOs:1-157 or antigen binding fragments thereof; (b) binds to the same epitope of polypeptides of the invention, such as SEQ ID NOs:1-157 or antigen binding fragments thereof as a reference antibody; (c) binds to polypeptides of the invention, such as SEQ ID NOs:1-157 or antigen binding fragments thereof with substantially the same Kd as a reference antibody; and/or (d) binds to polypeptides of the invention such as SEQ ID NOs:1-157 or fragments thereof with substantially the same off rate as a reference antibody, wherein the reference antibody is an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to a polypeptide of the invention, such as SEQ ID NOs:1-157 or antigen-binding fragments thereof with a binding affinity Ka of 107 l/mol or more.
Antibodies of the invention or antigen-binding fragments thereof can be bound to a support and used to detect the presence of cancer-associated antigens. Supports include, for example, glass, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, dextran, nylon, amylases, natural and modified celluloses, polyacrylamides, agaroses and magletite.
Antibodies of the invention can further be used to isolate cancer-associated antigens by immunoaffinity columns. The antibodies can be affixed to a solid support by, for example, adsorbtion or by covalent linkage so that the antibodies retain their immunoselective activity. Optionally, spacer groups can be included so that the antigen binding site of the antibody remains accessible. The immobilized antibodies can then be used to bind cancer-associated antigens from a sample, such as a biological sample including saliva, serum, sputum, blood, urine, feces, cerebrospinal fluid, amniotic fluid, wound exudate, or tissue. The bound cancer-associated antigens are recovered from the column matrix by, for example, a change in pH.
Antibodies of the invention can also be used in immunolocalization studies to analyze the presence and distribution of a polypeptide of the invention during various cellular events or physiological conditions. Antibodies can also be used to identify molecules involved in passive immunization and to identify molecules involved in the biosynthesis of non-protein antigens. Identification of such molecules can be useful in vaccine development. Antibodies of the invention, including, for example, monoclonal antibodies and single chain antibodies, can be used to monitor the course of amelioration of a cancer. Stage IV polynucleotide of the invention (i.e., polynucleotides that encode SEQ ID NOs:65-107) are particularly useful in this method, however, Stage I (i.e., polynucleotides that encode SEQ ID NOs:1-64) and Stage II (i.e., polynucleotides that encode SEQ ID NOs:108-157) can be used in this method. By measuring the increase or decrease of antibodies to cancer-associated antigens in a test sample from an animal, it can be determined whether a particular therapeutic regiment aimed at ameliorating the cancer is effective. Antibodies can be detected and/or quantified using for example, direct binding assays such as RIA, ELISA, or western blot assays.
Methods of detecting cancer, a predisposition to developing cancer, or a susceptibility to developing cancer in a subject are provided herein. A predisposition to cancer means that a subject is susceptible to cancer, such as colorectal cancer, or is more likely to develop cancer than a normal individual or a normal population of individuals. A subject can be a mammal such as a human, non-human primate, mouse, rat, dog, cat, sheep, pig, horse, or cow. One hundred seven polypeptides that were specifically expressed (i.e., the polypeptides are expressed in cancerous tissues, but are not expressed or are expressed at low levels in healthy tissues) in colon cancer tissues were identified. These polypeptides are cancer-associated polypeptides and are encoded by cancer-associated polynucleotides. The stage I polypeptides and polynucleotides are especially useful for early diagnosis. An expression level of one or more of the cancer-associated polynucleotides that encode polypeptides of the invention can be determined in a biological sample from a subject, wherein an increase of the expression level of the cancer-associated polynucleotides compared to a normal control expression level of the polynucleotide indicates that the subject has cancer or is at risk of developing cancer. A comparison to a normal control expression level is not necessary since the polynucleotides of the invention are not expressed or are expressed at low levels in healthy cells and tissues.
In general, PCMAT can be applied to a wide variety of cancers. The cancer can be colon cancer (also known as, and referred to herein also as colorectal or large bowel cancer), adenocarcinoma, carcinoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, leukemia, prostrate cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, melanoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, anal cancer, skin cancer, osteosarcoma, brain tumor, gastrointestinal cancer, esophageal cancer, bile duct cancer, eye cancer, gall bladder cancer, glioma, head and neck cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, laryngeal cancer, lip and oral cancer, mesothelioma, small intestinal cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, urethral cancer, uterine cancer, vaginal cancer, vulvar cancer, penile cancer, or any combination or subset thereof. The biological sample can be, for example, mucosal cells, tumor cells, cancer cells, a biopsy sample, a lavage sample, a sputum sample, a serum sample, a gastric secretion sample, a plasma sample, a blood sample, a fecal sample, a lymph node sample, a bone marrow sample, a urine sample, a tissue sample, a colorectal tissue sample, a pleural effusion sample, cells, cell extracts, bodily fluid, bodily fluids that are substantially lacking cells (e.g., less than about 1, 5, or 10% cells, tears, milk, seminal fluid, prostatic fluid, lung lavage fluid, or saliva.
The expression level of cancer-associated protein or polypeptide can be determined by detecting the polypeptide encoded by the cancer-associated polynucleotide. The level of the polypeptide expression can be detected using an immunoassay such as an ELISA, an immunohistochemical assay, an immunocytochemical assay, and a flow cytometry assay of antibody-labeled cells. The level of the polypeptide expression can be detected by, e.g., using an antibody that specifically binds to the polypeptide. The expression level of cancer-associated proteins and polypeptides can also be determined by detecting the biological activity of the polypeptides encoded by the cancer-associated polynucleotides. Methods of detecting the biological activity of polypeptides are well known in the art.
The expression level of a polynucleotide of the invention (i.e., “cancer-associated polynucleotide”) can be determined by detecting mRNA expression levels of the cancer-associated polynucleotide. The expression level of a cancer-associated polynucleotide can be determined by detecting hybridization of a cancer-associated polynucleotide probe to a polynucleotide transcript of a patient-derived biological sample. Hybridization can be detected using, for example a polynucleotide array. For example, probes for detecting RNA sequences corresponding to the cancer-associated polynucleotides of the invention can be used in, e.g., northern blot hybridization assays. Alternatively, polynucleotides of the invention can be used to construct primers that specifically amplify polynucleotide sequences in, e.g., amplification-based detection methods such as reverse-transcription based polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), polymerase chain reaction amplification (PCR), ligase chain reaction amplification (LCR), strand displacement amplification (SDA), and nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA).
The expression level of one or more of the cancer-associated polynucleotides of the invention in the test sample can be compared to expression levels of the cancer-associated polynucleotides in a control sample. The control sample can be, e.g., a cancerous sample or non-cancerous sample (e.g., healthy tissue, such as healthy colorectal tissue).
Where the control sample is non-cancerous, a similar protein or polynucleotide expression level in the test sample and control sample indicates the test sample is non-cancerous. A test sample can be compared to multiple control samples. Thus, a test sample can be compared to a second control sample that contains, e.g., cancerous cells, as well as a second control that contains, e.g., non-cancerous cells.
Proteins, polypeptides and polynucleotides of the invention can be used to test a putative therapeutic or prophylactic anti-cancer agent, such as an anti-colorectal cancer agent, in a test sample from a specific subject to determine if the agent is a suitable anti-cancer agent in the specific subject. To identify an anti-cancer agent that is appropriate for a specific subject, a test sample, such as a cancerous cell or tumor sample is obtained from the subject and is exposed to the anti-cancer agent. The expression of one or more of polynucleotides of the invention is determined. The pattern of cancer-associated polynucleotide expression of the test sample can be measured and compared to one or more control profiles, e.g. a colorectal cancer reference expression profile or a non-colorectal cancer reference expression profile. Preferably, the cell population is contacted ex vivo with the agent or activated form of the anti-cancer agent.
Expression of the cancer-associated polypeptide or polynucleotides in the test sample is then compared to the expression of the cancer-associated polypeptide or polynucleotide in a control sample. The control sample can be cells whose cancer state is known. If the control sample is non-cancerous, a similar gene expression profile between the test sample and the control sample indicates the anti-cancer agent is suitable for treating cancer in the subject. A difference in expression between polypeptide or polynucleotide expression in the test sample and those in the control sample indicates that the anti-cancer agent is not suitable for treating cancer in the subject. A decrease in expression of one or more of the cancer-associated polypeptide or polynucleotides in a test sample relative to a control sample from cancerous tissues is indicative that the agent is therapeutic.
Polypeptides or polynucleotides of the invention can also be used to identify candidate therapeutic agents for treating a cancer, such as colorectal cancer. A candidate therapeutic agent is screened to determine if it converts an expression profile of cancer-associated polypeptide or polynucleotides characteristic of a cancer state, such as a colorectal cancer state, to a pattern indicative of a non-cancerous state.
A cancerous sample is exposed to a test agent or a combination of test agents (sequentially or simultaneously) and the expression of one or more cancer-associated polypeptide or polynucleotides in the sample is measured. The expression of the cancer-associated polypeptide or polynucleotides in the test sample is compared to expression level of the cancer-associated polypeptide or polynucleotides in a control sample that is not exposed to the test agent. Therapeutic test agents will decrease the expression of cancer-associated polypeptide or polynucleotides that are up-regulated in cancer cells.
The control sample can be cancerous cells, such as cancerous colorectal cancer cells. A decrease in expression of the cancer-associated polypeptide or polynucleotides in the presence of the test agent from the expression profile of the control sample in the absence of the test agent indicates the test agent is a candidate therapeutic agent for treating cancer, such as colorectal cancer.
Also provided is a method of assessing the prognosis of a subject with cancer, such as colorectal cancer, by comparing the expression of one or more polypeptide or polynucleotides of the invention in a test sample to the expression of the polypeptide or polynucleotides in a control sample derived from patients over a spectrum of disease stages. By comparing polypeptide or polynucleotide expression of one or more polypeptide or polynucleotides of the invention in the test sample and the control samples, or by comparing the pattern of polypeptide or polynucleotide expression over time in test samples derived from the subject, the prognosis of the subject can be assessed. The expression of one or more stage IV polypeptide or polynucleotides (i.e., polypeptide or polynucleotides that encode SEQ ID NOs:65-107) would be indicative of poorer prognosis. The expression of one or more stage I polypeptide or polynucleotides (i.e., polypeptide or polynucleotides that encode SEQ ID NOs:1-64) to the exclusion of expression of one or more stage IV polynucleotides would be indicative of a better prognosis.
The control sample can be a healthy sample or a cancerous sample, such as a colorectal cancer sample. Alternatively, the control sample is a cancer expression profile, such as a colorectal cancer expression profile. When the control sample is cancerous an increase of expression of one or more of the polypeptides of the invention, indicates less favorable prognosis. A decrease in expression of polypeptides or polypeptides of the invention indicates a more favorable prognosis for the subject. Alternatively, when a control sample is a healthy sample, an increase in expression of one or more or the polypeptides or polypeptides of the invention indicates a less favorable prognosis in the subject, while a decrease or similar expression indicates a more favorable prognosis.
The invention also provides a colorectal cancer reference expression profile comprising a pattern of polypeptide or polynucleotide expression levels of two or more of polypeptide or polynucleotides of the invention, optionally, over the course of the disease. The expression profile serves as a control for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer or predisposition for developing the disease, monitoring the course of treatment and assessing prognosis of a subject with the disease.
The invention also provides methods for predicting propensity for high-grade or low-grade metastatic spread of a cancer. The presence and/or level of a polypeptide or polynucleotide expression product in a cancerous sample can be detected and/or quantified and correlated to the propensity of the tumor to metastasize. The expression of one or more stage IV polypeptides or polynucleotides (i.e., polypeptides or polynucleotides that encode SEQ ID NOs:65-107) would be indicative of a higher grade metastatic spread of cancer. The expression of one or more stage I polynucleotides (i.e., polypeptides or polynucleotides that encode SEQ ID NOs:1-64) to the exclusion of expression of one or more stage IV polynucleotides would be indicative of a lower grade metastatic spread of cancer.
The polypeptides and polynucleotides of the invention can also be used to monitor the course of treatment of cancer, such as colorectal cancer. A test sample from a subject undergoing treatment for cancer, such as colorectal cancer is obtained. Test samples can be obtained from the subject at various time points before, during, or after treatment. Expression of one or more of the polypeptides or polynucleotides of the invention in the test sample is determined and compared to a control sample that includes cells having a known cancer state. Preferably, the control sample has not been exposed to the treatment. Stage IV polypeptides or polynucleotides of the invention (i.e., polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs:65-107 or polynucleotides that encode SEQ ID NOs:65-107) are particularly useful in this method, however, stage I (i.e., polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs:1-64 or polynucleotides that encode SEQ ID NOs:1-64) and stage II (i.e., polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs:108-157 or polynucleotides that encode SEQ ID NOs: 108-157) can be used in this method.
Where the control sample contains non-cancerous cells, a similarity in expression between polypeptides or polynucleotides of the invention in the test sample and the control sample indicates that the treatment is efficacious. However, an increase in expression of polypeptides or polynucleotides of the invention in the test sample as compared the control sample indicates the treatment is not efficacious.
Efficacious means that the treatment leads to a decrease in size, prevalence, or metastatic potential of cancer, such as colorectal cancer, in a subject. When treatment is applied prophylactically, efficacious means that the treatment retards, slows, or prevents cancer, such as colorectal cancer, from forming. Efficaciousness can be determined in association with any known method for diagnosing or treating cancer, such as colorectal cancer.
Where the control sample is cancerous, e.g., where the control sample includes cancer cells taken from the subject at the time of diagnosis, but prior to beginning treatment, a similarity in the expression pattern between the test sample and the control sample indicates the treatment is not efficacious. A difference in expression between polypeptide or polynucleotide expression in the test sample (i.e., a decrease in the test sample) and the control sample indicates the treatment is efficacious. Where the control sample contains non-cancerous cells, a decrease in expression of one or more of the polypeptide or polynucleotides of the invention in the test sample as compared to the control sample indicates that the treatment is efficacious.
The invention provides methods for treating cancer, such as colorectal cancer, in a subject or stimulating an immune response in a subject comprising, for example, (a) administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of a polypeptide of the invention; (b) administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of a polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide of the invention; or (c) administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to a polypeptide of the invention.
The invention also provides methods for inducing anti-tumor immunity in a subject comprising, for example, contacting a polypeptide of the invention with antigen presenting cells, or introducing a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide or a vector comprising the polynucleotide to antigen presenting cells, and then administering the antigen presenting cells to the subject.
Administration of a therapeutic agent can be prophylactic or therapeutic to a subject at risk of (or susceptible to) a disorder or having a disorder associated with the differentially expressed polynucleotides of the invention. The expression, function, or both, of one or more expression products of the polynucleotides of the invention can be decreased in order to prophylactically or therapeutically treat a subject. Expression can be inhibited or decreased by administering to the subject a polynucleotide, such as an antisense molecule or siRNA molecule that inhibits or decreases the expression of the polynucleotides of the invention.
Antisense molecules and siRNA that correspond to polynucleotides of the invention are useful for the treatment of cancer, such as colorectal cancer. Antisense molecules and siRNA molecules can be entirely complementary to the target sequence or can have a mismatch of one or more nucleotides, so long as the antisense molecules and siRNA molecules can specifically hybridize to the target sequences. For example, the antisense molecules or siRNA molecules include polynucleotides that have a homology to a polynucleotide of the invention or its complement, of at least 80% or higher, more preferably 90% or higher, even more preferably 95% or higher over a span of at least 15 continuous nucleotides. Algorithms known in the art can be used to determine the homology.
Antisense molecules, siRNA molecules and polynucleotides of the invention can be delivered to a subject by standard vectors and/or gene delivery systems. Suitable gene delivery systems include liposomes, receptor-mediated delivery systems, naked DNA, and viral vectors such as herpes viruses, retroviruses, adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses, among others.
Antisense molecules or siRNA molecules inhibit the expression of a polynucleotide of the invention and is thereby useful for suppressing the biological activity of a polypeptide of the invention. Therefore, a composition comprising an antisense molecule or siRNA molecule targeted to a polynucleotide of the invention is useful in treating a cancer, such as colorectal cancer.
In another embodiment of the invention, the function of one or more expression products of the polynucleotides of the invention can be inhibited by administering a compound that binds to or otherwise inhibits the function of the expression products. The compound can be, e.g., an antibody that specifically binds to an expression product of the polynucleotides of the invention.
Therapeutic compounds that may be utilized include, e.g., (i) a polypeptide or fragments thereof of SEQ ID NOs:1-157; (ii) antibodies or specific binding fragments thereof that specifically bind SEQ ID NOs:1-157; (iii) polynucleotides or fragments thereof that encode SEQ ID NOs:1-157; (iv) antisense molecules specific for polynucleotides (or complements thereof) that encode SEQ ID NOs:1-157 or fragments thereof; (v) siRNA molecules specific for polynucleotides (or complements thereof) that encode SEQ ID NOs:1-157 or fragments thereof; and (vi) modulators (i.e., inhibitors, agonists and antagonists that alter the interaction between a polypeptide of the invention and its binding partner).
Administration of a prophylactic pharmaceutical composition can occur prior to the manifestation of symptoms characteristic of a disease or disorder, such that a disease or disorder is prevented or, alternatively, delayed in its progression.
The present invention also relates to a method of treating or preventing cancer, such as colorectal cancer, in a subject comprising administering to said subject an immunological composition (i.e., a composition that can induce antibodies or other immune responses in a subject) comprising a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide of the invention or an immunologically active fragment of said polypeptide, or a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide or the fragment thereof. Administration of the polypeptide can induce an anti-tumor immunity in a subject. In one embodiment the polypeptides of the invention or fragments thereof may be administered in a form bound to a T cell receptor (TCR) or presented by an antigen presenting cell (APC), such as macrophage, dendritic cell (DC), or B-cell.
In the present invention, an immunological composition against cancer, such as colorectal cancer, can function to induce anti-tumor immunity upon inoculation into a subject. Polypeptides of the invention may induce potent and specific immune response against cancer, such as colorectal cancer. In general, anti-tumor immunity includes immune responses such as induction of cytotoxic lymphocytes against tumors, induction of antibodies that recognize tumors, and induction of anti-tumor cytokine production.
Anti-tumor immunity is induced by administering the immunological composition of this invention, and the induction of anti-tumor immunity enables treatment and prevention of cancer, such as colorectal cancer.
A polypeptide of the invention that has immunological activity or a vector encoding the polypeptide may be combined with an adjuvant. An adjuvant can enhance the immune response against the polypeptide when administered together (or successively) with the polypeptide having immunological activity. The immunological composition is administered systemically or locally. Immunological composition administration may be performed by single administration, or boosted by multiple administrations.
In another aspect the invention includes pharmaceutical, or therapeutic, compositions containing one or more therapeutic compounds described herein. Pharmaceutical formulations may include those suitable for oral, rectal, nasal, topical (including buccal and sub-lingual), vaginal or parenteral (including intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intratumor, sub-cutaneous and intravenous) administration, or for administration by inhalation or insufflation. The formulations may, where appropriate, be conveniently presented in discrete dosage units and may be prepared by any of the methods well known in the art of pharmacy. All such pharmacy methods include the steps of bringing into association the active compound with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both as needed and then, if necessary, shaping the product into the desired formulation.
Pharmaceutical formulations suitable for oral administration may conveniently be presented as discrete units, such as capsules, cachets or tablets, each containing a predetermined amount of the active ingredient; as a powder or granules; or as a solution, a suspension or as an emulsion. The tablets or capsules may optionally be formulated so as to provide slow or controlled release of the active ingredient therein. The active ingredient may also be presented as a bolus electuary or paste, and be in a pure form, i.e., without a carrier. Oral fluid preparations may be in the form of, for example, aqueous or oily suspensions, solutions, emulsions, syrups or elixirs, or may be presented as a dry product for constitution with water or other suitable vehicle before use. Such liquid preparations may contain conventional additives such as suspending agents, emulsifying agents, non-aqueous vehicles (which may include edible oils), or preservatives.
Formulations for parenteral administration include aqueous and non-aqueous sterile injection solutions which may contain anti-oxidants, buffers, bacteriostats and solutes which render the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient; and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions which may include suspending agents and thickening agents. The formulations may be presented in unit dose or multi-dose containers, for example sealed ampoules and vials, and may be stored in a freeze-dried (lyophilized) condition requiring only the addition of the sterile liquid carrier, for example, saline, water-for-injection, immediately prior to use. Alternatively, the formulations may be presented for continuous infusion. Extemporaneous injection solutions and suspensions may be prepared from sterile powders, granules and tablets of the kind previously described.
Formulations for rectal administration may be presented as a suppository with the usual carriers such as cocoa butter or polyethylene glycol. Formulations for topical administration in the mouth, for example buccally or sublingually, include lozenges, comprising the active ingredient in a flavored base such as sucrose and acacia or tragacanth, and pastilles comprising the active ingredient in a base such as gelatin and glycerin or sucrose and acacia. For intra-nasal administration the compounds of the invention may be used as a liquid spray or dispersible powder or in the form of drops. Drops may be formulated with an aqueous or non-aqueous base also comprising one or more dispersing agents, solubilizing agents or suspending agents. Liquid sprays are conveniently delivered from pressurized packs.
For administration by inhalation the compounds are conveniently delivered from an insufflator, nebulizer, pressurized packs or other convenient means of delivering an aerosol spray. Pressurized packs may comprise a suitable propellant such as dichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, carbon dioxide or other suitable gas. In the case of a pressurized aerosol, the dosage unit may be determined by providing a valve to deliver a metered amount.
Alternatively, for administration by inhalation or insufflation, the compounds may take the form of a dry powder composition, for example a powder mix of the compound and a suitable powder base such as lactose or starch. The powder composition may be presented in unit dosage form, in for example, capsules, cartridges, gelatin or blister packs from which the powder may be administered with the aid of an inhalator or insufflators.
When desired, the above described formulations, adapted to give sustained release of the active ingredient, may be employed. The pharmaceutical compositions may also contain other active ingredients such as antimicrobial agents, immunosuppressants or preservatives.
For each of the aforementioned conditions, the compositions may be administered orally or via injection at a dose of from about 0.1 to about 250 mg/kg per day. The dose range for adult humans is generally from about 5 mg to about 17.5 g/day, preferably about 5 mg to about 10 g/day, and most preferably about 100 mg to about 3 g/day. Tablets or other unit dosage forms of presentation provided in discrete units may conveniently contain an amount which is effective at such dosage or as a multiple of the same, for instance, units containing about 5 mg to about 500 mg, usually from about 100 mg to about 500 mg. The dose employed will depend upon a number of factors, including the age and sex of the subject, the precise disorder being treated, and its severity. Also the route of administration may vary depending upon the condition and its severity.
The invention provides methods for screening for anti-cancer compounds, e.g. anti-colorectal cancer compounds. For example, anti-cancer compounds can be identified by comparing the level of a polypeptide or polynucleotide expression product in a first biological sample (e.g., a cancerous sample) in the presence of a test compound to the level of the polypeptide or polynucleotide expression product in a second biological sample (e.g., a cancerous sample) in the absence of the test compound; wherein the polypeptide or polynucleotide expression product comprises, for example, a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1-157 or mRNA encoding the polypeptide. A test compound that decreases the level of the polypeptide or polynucleotide expression product in the first biological sample as compared to the second biological sample is identified as an anti-cancer agent. In one embodiment of the invention, the test compound decreases the level of the polypeptide or polynucleotide expression product by at least about 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% (or any value or range between about 10% and about 90%) in the first biological sample as compared to the level of the expression product in the second biological sample.
In one embodiment of the invention, screening for anti-cancer compounds, e.g. anti-colorectal cancer compounds, can comprise comparing the level of biological activity of a polypeptide of the invention in a first biological sample in the presence of a test compound to the level of biological activity in a second biological sample in the absence of the test compound; wherein a test compound that decreases the level of biological activity in the first biological sample as compared to the second biological sample is identified as an anti-cancer agent.
In one embodiment of the invention, screening for anti-cancer compounds, e.g. anti-colorectal cancer compounds can comprise a) contacting a test compound with a polypeptide of the invention; b) detecting the binding activity between the polypeptide and the test compound; and c) selecting a compound that binds to the polypeptide.
In one embodiment of the invention, screening for anti-cancer compounds, e.g. anti-colorectal cancer compounds, can comprise a) contacting a candidate compound with a test cell expressing, one or more of the polypeptides of the invention; and b) selecting a compound that reduces the expression level of one or more polypeptides of the invention. The test cell can comprise a colorectal cancer cell.
In one embodiment of the invention, screening for anti-cancer compounds, e.g. anti-colorectal cancer compounds, can comprise a) contacting a candidate compound with a cell into which a vector comprising the transcriptional regulatory region of one or more marker genes and a reporter gene that is expressed under the control of the transcriptional regulatory region has been introduced, wherein the one or more marker genes are selected from the group consisting of polynucleotides that encode SEQ ID NOs:1-157) measuring the activity of the reporter gene; and c) selecting a compound that reduces the expression level of the reporter gene as compared to a control.
The invention provides kits for use, for example, in diagnostic methods. Components of the kits can include, for example, compounds, reagents, containers and/or equipment. For example, one container within a kit may contain a monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to a polypeptide of the invention. The antibodies or antigen-binding fragments can be, e.g., attached to a support material. One or more additional containers can contain elements, such as reagents or buffers, to be used in an assay. The kits can also, or alternatively, contain a detection reagent that contains a reporter group suitable for direct or indirect detection of specific antibody binding.
Alternatively, a kit can be used to detect, e.g., the level of mRNA encoding a polypeptide of the invention in a biological sample. Such kits can comprise at least one, two, or more polynucleotide probes or primers, that hybridize to a polynucleotide (or the complement thereof) encoding a polypeptide of the invention. Such polynucleotides can be used, for example, within an amplification assay (e.g., RT-PCR) or hybridization assay. Additional components that can be present in such kits include a second polynucleotide and/or a diagnostic reagent or container to facilitate the detection of a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the invention.
The invention illustratively described herein suitably can be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations that are not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, in each instance herein any of the terms “comprising”, “consisting essentially of”, and “consisting of” may be replaced with either of the other two terms, without changing the ordinary meanings of these terms. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention that in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments, optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the description and the appended claims.
In addition, where features or aspects of the invention are described in terms of Markush groups or other grouping of alternatives, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group or other group.
All references cited in this disclosure are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. Furthermore, the content (as of the filing date of this application) of all GenBank, ENSEMBL, UNIPARC, and UniProt Accession Numbers (and data associated therewith) listed herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The invention illustratively described herein suitably can be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations that are not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, in each instance herein any of the terms “comprising”, “consisting essentially of”, and “consisting of” may be replaced with either of the other two terms, while retaining their ordinary meanings. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention that in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by embodiments, optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the description and the appended claims.
In addition, where features or aspects of the invention are described in terms of Markush groups or other grouping of alternatives, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group or other group.
Colon adenocarcinoma stages I-IV and autologous healthy tissue from regions of the large bowel adjacent to the tumors were obtained from the Asterand XpressBank (Detroit, Mich.). The samples provided by Asterand had been harvested and quick frozen to preserve intact any potential antigen that was present at the time of harvest. Minimal degradation of the tissues was confirmed by the RNA profile. The tissues were stored at −80° C. until used.
Approximately 50 mg of the frozen stages I-IV colon cancer tissue specimens were separately shaved, thawed on ice, and homogenized. The protein concentration of the samples were adjusted to 1 mg/ml, mixed with Freund's Complete Adjuvant and used to immunize and boost 2 chickens per sample. Colon cancer stages I-IV-specific immune YPAbs, obtained from the eggs three weeks following the following final boost, were tested for reactivity using western blotting against the corresponding stage-specific tumor tissue homogenate (data not shown). Strong and broadly reactive YPabs were purified from 6 eggs per chicken, aliquoted and stored at 4° C. until used. Only results for Stage IV colon cancer tissues are shown.
Assessment of Reactivity of Stage IV YPAbs with Pooled Sera of Patients Diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer.
Reactivity was assessed using a dot immunoblot assay. The results, shown in
Subtraction of Antibodies Reactive with Proteins Expressed by Healthy Tissue.
The high titer, broadly reactive YPAbs elicited by homogenates of tumor tissue from each of the 4 stages of colon cancer were repeatedly adsorbed using homogenates of healthy bowel tissue obtained from the autologous host. The proteins in the homogenate were bound to a solid support and the YPAbs were allowed to incubate overnight with gentle rocking at 4° C. Unbound antibodies were recovered and the adsorption process was repeated twice more until ELISA and western blots showed essentially no reactivity with proteins present in healthy tissue. Remaining antibodies were recovered and purified for use in the following steps. Alternatively, in one study, antibodies raised against stage IV tumor tissue were subtracted with serum from healthy subjects. The subtraction was performed by binding the serum components to a solid support and treating the antibody preparation as described above.
Unadsorbed antibodies were recovered, purified, and covalently bound to Dynabeads M-280 Tosyl-activated according to the manufacturer's (Dynal Biotech) directions to create “charged” magnetic beads. For immunocapture, homogenates (1 mg/ml) of the staged tumors were matched to their appropriately staged charged beads. Five ml of homogenates were incubated with 0.5 ml of charged beads for 1 h at 4° C. with tilt rotation. Following immunocapture, charged beads were washed with 10 bead volumes of wash buffer (PBS-0.2% NOG). Specifically bound proteins were elated with 1 M acetic acid. Many shed proteins were identified (sec SEQ ID NOs:1-157). The negative control consisted of elutants from an identical volume of uncharged beads used to immunocapture proteins from the homogenates. Proteins specifically bound by charged beads and controls were fractionated on 1D SDS-PAGE, stained with Coomassie blue, and sliced into sections. Protein bands contained in each gel slice were digested in-gel using the enzyme trypsin, eluted from the gel slice, and identified by GeLC-MS/MS and Mascot database searching (IP1 human protein database) at the University of Florida Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research (ICBR).
A similar format was used to pan serum of stage IV cancer patients for shed change mediated proteins. One ml of scrum from five patients (5 ml total) was pooled and incubated with 0.5 ml of charged beads for 1 h at 4° C. with tilt rotation. Following immunocapture, charged beads were washed with 10 bead volumes of wash buffer (PBS-0.2% NOG). Specifically bound proteins were eluted with 1 M acetic acid. Three shed proteins were identified, the details of which are shown in Table 1.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 61/081,926, filed Jul. 18, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
This invention was supported, in part, by NIH/NCI/SBIR grant number 1R43CA124006-01A1. The government of the United States has certain rights to the invention.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US09/50938 | 7/17/2009 | WO | 00 | 3/2/2011 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61081926 | Jul 2008 | US |
