Abstract: Described herein is a method for diagnosing cancer in a subject, the method comprising determining methylation status at a plurality of CpG sites within a region of a RAD9 gene in DNA present in a urine sample from the subject, wherein an amount of methylation of the plurality of CpG sites that exceeds a threshold indicates that the subject has cancer. Also described are methods of treatment, methods of assessing a methylation status of DNA present in a urine sample obtained from a human subject, methods of detecting methylation or unmethylation of a RAD9 DNA molecule of a human subject, kits, nucleic acid primers, and compositions.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method of treating a human subject having a cancer which comprises administering to the subject a nucleic acid so as to inhibit expression of human RAD9 protein in a cell of the cancer so as to thereby treat the human subject. This disclosure also provides methods of assessing gains in prostate cancer therapy and detecting prostate cancer.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method of treating a human subject having a cancer which comprises administering to the subject a nucleic acid so as to inhibit expression of human RAD9 protein in a cell of the cancer so as to thereby treat the human subject. This disclosure also provides methods of assessing gains in prostate cancer therapy and detecting prostate cancer.

Abstract: This invention provides isolated nucleic acids which encode a wildtype and a mutant human homolog of RAD9. This invention also provides purified and mutant wildtype human homologs of RAD9. This invention also provides methods for determining whether a subject has radiosensitivity; for predicting the effect of radiation therapy or chemotherapy on a subject; for detecting whether a subject has a predisposition to cancer; for treating a subject who is radiosensitive and for preventing or treating cancer in a subject who is radiosensitive.