ROS Kinase in Lung Cancer

Abstract

The invention provides the identification of the presence of polypeptides with ROS kinase activity in mammalian lung cancer. In some embodiments, the polypeptide with ROS kinase activity is the result of a fusion between a ROS-encoding polynucleotide and a polynucleotide encoding a second (non-ROS) polypeptide. Three different fusion partners of ROS are described, namely proteins encoded by the FIG gene, the SLC34A2 gene, and the CD74 gene. The invention enables new methods for determining the presence of a polypeptide with ROS kinase activity in a biological sample, methods for screening for compounds that inhibit the proteins, and methods for inhibiting the progression of a cancer (e.g., an lung cancer).

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 581,126 filed Oct. 17, 2009 (pending) which itself is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 218,834, filed Jul. 18, 2008 (pending), which itself claims priority to and the benefit of PCT Patent Application No. PCT / US2007 / 001360 filed Jan. 19, 2007 (expired) and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 760,634, filed Jan. 20, 2006 (expired). This application also is a continuation-in-part of PCT Patent Application No. PCT / US2010 / 024109 filed Feb. 12, 2010 (pending) which itself claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 207,484 filed Feb. 12, 2009 (expired). This application also is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 738,210 filed Apr. 15, 2010 (pending) which is a US national stage filing of PCT Patent Application No. PCT / US08 / 11968 filed Oct. 20, 2008 which itself claim priority t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0067]The further aspects, advantages, and embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below. The patents, published applications, and scientific literature referred to herein establish the knowledge of those with skill in the art and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Any conflict between any reference cited herein and the specific teachings of this specification shall be resolved in favor of the latter. Likewise, any conflict between an art-understood definition of a word or phrase and a definition of the word or phrase as specifically taught in this specification shall be resolved in favor of the latter. As used herein, the following terms have the meanings indicated. As used in this specification, the singular forms “a,”“an” and “the” specifically also encompass the plural forms of the terms to which they refer, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The term “about” is used herein to mean approximately, in the region of, roughly, or around. When the term “about” is used in conjunction with a numerical range, it modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth. In general, the term “about” is used herein to modify a numerical value above and below the stated value by a variance of 20%.

Problems solved by technology

The development of such drugs represents a significant advance over the conventional therapies for CML and ALL, chemotherapy and radiation, which are plagued by well known side-effects and are often of limited effect since they fail to specifically target the underlying causes of the cancer.

Unfortunately, lung cancer is often not diagnosed at an early stage, and it often does not respond completely to surgery even when combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

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