Abstract: A human prostatic specific reductase polypeptide and polynucleotides encoding such polypeptide and a procedure for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such polynucleotides as a diagnostic marker for prostate cancer and as an agent to determine if the prostate cancer has metastasized. Also disclosed are antibodies specific to the prostatic specific reductase polypeptide which may be used to target prostate cancer cells and be used as part of a prostate cancer vaccine. Methods of screening for agonists and antagonists for the polypeptide and therapeutic uses of the antagonists are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Alp polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides, cells, tissues and animals containing such nucleic acids, antibodies to such polypeptides, assays utilizing such polypeptides, and methods relating to all of the foregoing. Methods for treatment, diagnosis, and screening are provided for Alp related diseases or conditions characterized by an abnormal interaction between an Alp polypeptide and an Alp binding partner.

Abstract: The invention relates to members of the SSX family of genes, as well as their uses.

Abstract: This invention relates to double-stranded RNA dependent protein kinase (PKR) peptide antagonists. More specifically, the invention relates to compositions and methods for antagonizing activation of double-stranded RNA dependent protein kinase (PKR) to stimulate eukaryotic cell proliferation. The invention relates to compositions and methods to inhibit activation of double-stranded RNA dependent protein kinase (PKR) to stimulate cell proliferation under conditions of cell cycle arrest, quiescence, reduced growth or cell death. The invention also relates to methods of protecting cells from HIV-1 pathogenesis using inhibitors of PKR.

Abstract: Green fluorescent protein (GFP) is widely used as a reporter in determining gene expression and protein localization. The present invention provides fusion proteins with a half life of ten hours or less with several embodiments having half lives of 4 hours or less. Such proteins may be constructed by fusing C-terminal amino acids of the degradation domain of mouse ornithine decarboxylase (MODC), which contains a PEST sequence, to the C-terminal end of an enhanced variant of GFP (EGFP). Fluorescence intensity of the fusion protein in transfected cells is similar to that of EGFP, but the fusion protein, unlike EGFP, is unstable in the presence of cycloheximide. Specific mutations in the MODC region have resulted in mutants with varying half lives, useful for a variety of purposes.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for prognosis, diagnosis, staging and disease progression in human cancer patients related to expression levels of a variety of immunohistochemical and genetic markers associated with poor cancer prognosis, and in particular those markers related to tumor invasiveness, metastasis and spread. The invention also provides methods using a predictive index for prognosis of cancer patients for metastasis, recurrence and relapse of neoplastic disease. The methods of the invention are useful for making clinical decisions on cancer treatment, surveillance and surgical intervention.

Abstract: Dectection of secreted Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) by detecting the presence of an N-terminal activation peptide of PSA in a biological sample is described. The method may be used in screening for or diagnosing disease states associated with increased levels of secreted prostate specific antigen.

Abstract: A panel of biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer was examined in the saliva of a cohort of 1) healthy women, 2) women with benign lesions of the breast and 3) women with diagnosed breast cancer. Recognized tumor markers c-erbB-2 (erb), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), and tumor suppresser oncogene protein 53 (p53) were found in the saliva of all three groups of women. The levels of erb and CA 15-3 in the cancer patients evaluated, however, were significantly higher than the salivary levels of healthy controls and benign tumor patients. Conversely, pantropic p53 levels were higher in controls as compared to those women with breast cancer and those with benign tumors.

Abstract: The invention relates to members of the SSX family of genes, as well as their uses.

Abstract: The invention relates to members of the SSX family of genes, as well as to their uses.

Abstract: The localization of nuclear apparatus proteins (NUMA) is used to identify tumor cells and different stages in the tumor progression and differentiation processes. There is a characteristic organization of NuMA in tumor cells and in phenotypically normal cells. NuMA distribution patterns are significantly less diffuse in proliferating non-malignant cells compared to malignant cells. The technique encompasses cell immunostaining using a NuMA specific antibody, and microscopic analysis of NuMA distribution within each nucleus.

Abstract: The present invention is to a method of treating cancer in patients in need thereof with an effective amount of cimetidine. Cimetidine has been found to inhibit the expression of E-selectin, the ligands of sialyl Lewis X and sialyl Lewis A antigen-bearing cancer cells are incapable of attaching to a vascular wall. The present invention has found that cimetidine inhibits metastasis in patients whose specimens stained strongly for sialyl Lewis X and sialyl Lewis A antigens.

Abstract: The invention provides a polypeptide consisting essentially of a sequence corresponding to residues 163 to 199 of DP-1 as shown in the Figure, and fragments and variants thereof capable of antagonising the heterodimerization of a DP protein with an E2F protein. Such peptides may be used to induce apoptosis in a cell by introducing into the cell an effective amount of said peptide. Such cells include cardiovascular cells, and the peptide may be delivered in a stent to treat or prevent restinosis.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel intracellular recycling free cholesterol pathway whose activity is required for cell division. The pathway provides the cholesterol needed for cell division prior to separation of daughter cells (mitosis). The new pathway offers several targets from pharmaceutical intervention, either via small molecules (such as sterol analogs) or by molecular engineering (preventing the cell from accumulating cholesterol by promoting free cholesterol efflux by transfection of caveolin cDNA).

Abstract: Immortalized malignant human prostatic epithelial and fibroblast cell lines containing DNA of a human papillomavirus (HPV) and similar cell lines containing DNA of a human papillomavirus and an activated viral ras oncogene, such as v-Ki-ras. The cell lines are useful for research on drugs for treatment of prostatic cancer and other diseases. The cell lines are useful for research on causes, treatment and prevention of prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, male infertility, birth defects, aging and assessment of environmental toxic agents.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing the presence or absence of cancer in a human patient is disclosed. In one embodiment, this method comprises the steps of examining patient tissue for the CRD-BP expression levels and comparing that expression level with control levels. The present invention is also a method of inhibiting cancer cell growth comprising the step of eliminating or lowering the level of functional CRD-BP in the cancerous tissues.

Abstract: The invention involves the recognition of a previously identified protein, SCP-1, as a marker for cell transformation. Diagnostic and therapeutic uses of this protein and related molecules are taught. Also disclosed is a method for identifying substances which are immunoreactive and indicative of pathological conditions, using normal cells as source material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for early prediction of a prostate cancer patient's response to hormonal treatment. In one embodiment, the method of the present invention involves assaying a body fluid, such as plasma or serum, from a prostate cancer patient for the presence of elevated levels of chromogranin A (CgA). Elevated levels of CgA may indicate neuroendocrine differentiation of cells within the prostate tumor, and may require altering the patient's treatment. In a further embodiment of the method of the present invention, periodic assays for CgA are conducted for a patient undergoing hormonal treatment for prostate cancer. The results of these assays are correlated to determine if the patient's levels of CgA are high (greater than 100 ng/mL) or increasing. Such assays may also be carried out in conjunction with assays for total prostate specific antigen (tPSA).