Abstract: Objective methods for detecting and diagnosing bladder cancer (BLC) are described herein. In one embodiment, the diagnostic method involves determining the expression level of a BLC-associated gene that discriminates between BLC cells and normal cells. The present invention further provides means for predicting and preventing bladder cancer metastasis using BLC-associated genes having unique altered expression patterns in bladder cancer cells with lymph-node metastasis. Finally, the present invention provides methods of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of bladder cancer, methods of treating bladder cancer and method for vaccinating a subject against bladder cancer. In particular, the present application provides novel human genes C2093, B5860Ns and C6055s whose expression is markedly elevated in bladder cancers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the roles played by the TBC1D7 genes in cancer, in particular, lung cancer or esophageal cancer, or carcinogenesis and features a method for treating and/or preventing cancer, in particular, lung cancer or esophageal cancer by administering a double-stranded molecule against one or more of the TBC1D7 genes or a composition, vector or cell containing such a double stranded molecule. The present invention also features methods for diagnosing lung or assessing/determining the prognosis of a patient with lung, especially NSCLC or SCLC, or esophageal cancer, using one or more over-expressed genes selected from among TBC1D7. To that end, TBC1D7 may serve as a novel biomarker for lung cancer or esophageal cancer. Also, disclosed are methods of identifying compounds for treating and preventing lung or esophageal cancer, using as an index for their effect on the over-expression of one or more of TBC1D7 in the lung cancer or esophageal cancer.

Abstract: Objective methods for detecting and diagnosing breast cancer (BRC) are described herein. In one embodiment, the diagnostic method involves determining the expression level of a BRC-associated gene that discriminates between BRC cells and normal cells. In another embodiment, the diagnostic method involves determining the expression level of a BRC-associated gene that discriminates among BRC cells, between DCIS and IDC cells. The present invention further provides means for predicting and preventing breast cancer metastasis using BRC-associated genes having unique altered expression patterns in breast cancer cells with lymph-node metastasis. Finally, the present invention provides methods of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of breast cancer, methods of treating breast cancer and method for vaccinating a subject against breast cancer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for determining a kinase activity of ERK for CDCA5 and methods of screening for modulators of this kinase activity. Also disclosed are methods and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and/or treating lung cancer or esophageal cancer that use or include such modulators.

Abstract: The invention features methods for detecting lung cancer or esophageal cancer, by detecting over-expression of ECT2 compared the normal organs. Also disclosed are methods of identifying compounds for treating and preventing lung cancer or esophageal cancer, based on the over-expression of ECT2 in the lung cancer or esophageal cancer, the cell proliferation function of ECT2. Also, provided are a method for treating lung cancer or esophageal cancer by administering a double-stranded molecule against the ECT2 gene or an antibody against ECT2 protein. The invention also provides products, including the double-stranded molecules and vectors encoding them, as well as compositions comprising the molecules or vectors, useful in the provided methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting and diagnosing cancer, which method involves the determination of the expression level of the LGN/GPSM2 gene. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment or prevention of cancer and methods for treating breast cancer. Moreover, the present invention provides siRNAs targeting the LGN/GPSM2 gene, which are useful in the treatment or prevention of cancer.

Abstract: The present invention features methods for diagnosing cancer or assessing or determining the prognosis of a patient with lung cancer, by detecting the expression level of Nectin-4. The present invention also features double-stranded molecules against the Nectin-4 gene, vectors encoding them, compositions comprising them and methods comprising the step of administering them into a subject, which are useful for treating or preventing cancer. Also, disclosed are methods of identifying candidate compounds for treating and preventing cancer, using the Nectin-4 polypeptide or cells expressing the Nectin-4 gene.

Abstract: GSK-3beta inhibitors comprising 7-Hydroxy-benzoimidazole-4-yl-methanone Derivatives are provided. For example, the inhibitors have following general formula (I).

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides containing the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 30, 31, 34, 36, 37, 40, 41, 45, 49, 55, 57 and 61, as well as peptides containing the above-mentioned amino acid sequences in which 1, 2, or several amino acid(s) are substituted, deleted, inserted or added, but still have cytotoxic T cell inducibility. The present invention also provides drugs for treating or preventing tumors, which drugs containing these peptides. The peptides of the present invention can also be used as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting and/or diagnosing cancer through the determination of the expression level of the STC2 gene. The gene was discovered to discriminate cancer cells from normal cells. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of cancer, methods for treating cancer. Moreover, the present invention provides double-stranded molecules targeting the STC2 gene, which are suggested to be useful in the treatment of cancer. The compositions and methods of the present invention find particular applicability to prostate cancer, more specifically, castration-resistant prostate cancer and aggressive prostate cancer.

Abstract: Peptide vaccines against cancer are described herein. In particular, the present invention describes epitope peptides derived from INHBB that elicit CTLs. The present invention also provides established CTLs that specifically recognize HLA-A02 positive target cells pulsed with the peptides. Antigen-presenting cells and exosomes that present any of the peptides, as well as methods for inducing antigen-presenting cells are also provided. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions containing the INHBB polypeptides or polynucleotides encoding thereof, as well as exosomes and antigen-presenting cells as active ingredients.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to identify a glypican-3-derived peptide which can bind to HLA-A2 and activate human killer T cells, so as to provide a means for carrying out an immunotherapy which is able to target approximately 40% of Japanese patients suffering from several types of cancers, which express GPC3 at a high level. The present invention provides a peptide of any of the following (A) or (B): (A) a peptide, which has the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3; or (B) a peptide, which has an amino acid sequence comprising a substitution or addition of one or two amino acids with respect to the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3, and which has ability to induce killer T cells.

Abstract: In order to identify the molecules involved in esophageal carcinogenesis and those to be useful for diagnostic markers as well as targets for new drugs and immunotherapy, a cDNA microarray representing 32,256 genes was constructed to analyze the expression profiles of 19 esophageal squamous-cell carcinomas (ESCCS) purified by laser-capture microdissection. a detailed genome-wide database for sets of genes that are significantly up- or down-regulated in esophageal cancer is disclosed herein. these genes find use in the development of therapeutic drugs or immunotherapy as well as tumor markers. additionally, genes associated with lymph-node metastasis and post-surgery recurrence are disclosed herein. among the candidate molecular target genes, ECT2 and CDC45L and DKK1 are further characterized. treatment of ESCC cells with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) of ECT2 or CDC45L suppressed growth of the cancer cells.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the observation that the co-activation of CDCA1 and KNTC2, and their cognate interactions, play significant roles in lung-cancer progression and that methods of inhibiting the complex can be used to treat non-small-cell lung cancer.

Abstract: Objective methods for diagnosing a predisposition to developing pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer, particularly pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and castration-resistant prostate cancer, are described herein. In one embodiment, the diagnostic method involves the step of determining an expression level of C12ORF48 using siRNAs targeting the C12ORF48 gene. The invention also features products such as siRNAs as well as to compositions containing them. The present invention further provides methods of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of C12ORF48 associated disease, such as a cancer, e.g. pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer, as well as methods of inhibiting the cell growth and treating or alleviating one or more disease symptoms. The invention also features products such as double stranded molecules, as well as vectors and compositions containing them.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the roles played by the SYNGR4 genes in lung cancer carcinogenesis and features a method for treating or preventing lung cancer by administering a double-stranded molecule against one or more of the SYNGR4 genes or a composition, vector or cell containing such a double stranded molecule and antibody. The present invention also features methods for diagnosing lung cancer or assessing/determining the prognosis of a patient with lung cancer, especially NSCLC or SCLC, using one or more over-expressed genes selected from among SYNGR4. To that end, SYNGR4 may serve as a novel serological biomarker for lung cancer. Also, disclosed are methods of identifying compounds for treating and preventing lung cancer, using as an index their effect on the over-expression of one or more of SYNGR4 in the lung cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides oligopeptides comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4 and 5. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition containing the amino acid sequence of selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4 and 5 formulated for the treatment or prevention of cancer in a subject. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of inducing immune response using such oligopeptides and pharmaceutical agents.

Abstract: Objective methods for detecting and diagnosing breast cancer (BRC) are described herein. In one embodiment, the diagnostic method involves determining the expression level of a BRC-associated gene that discriminates between BRC cells and normal cells. In another embodiment, the diagnostic method involves determining the expression level of a BRC-associated gene that discriminates among BRC cells, between DCIS and IDC cells. The present invention further provides means for predicting and preventing breast cancer metastasis using BRC-associated genes having unique altered expression patterns in breast cancer cells with lymph-node metastasis. Finally, the present invention provides methods of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of breast cancer, methods of treating breast cancer and method for vaccinating a subject against breast cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides immunogenic peptides comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 13, 32, and peptides comprising the above-mentioned amino acid sequences in which 1, 2, or several amino acids are substituted or added, and having cytotoxic T cell inducibility, and also provides drugs for treating or preventing tumors comprising these peptides. The peptides of this invention can be used as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the roles played by TTLL4 genes in pancreatic cancer carcinogenesis and features a method for treating or preventing pancreatic cancer by administering a double-stranded molecule against one or more of the TTLL4 genes or a composition, vector or cell containing such a double stranded molecule. Also, disclosed are methods of identifying compounds for treating and preventing pancreatic cancer, using as an index their effect on the over-expression of TTLL4 in the pancreatic cancer cell.