Abstract: The present invention is a method, comprising: obtaining a sample of an esophageal tissue from a subject, wherein the sample of the esophageal tissue comprises or is suspected of comprising a break of chromosome 2 (chr2), a break of chromosome 10 (chr10), a break of chromosome 16 (chr16), or any combination thereof, and detecting in the sample of esophageal tissue whether the break of chr2 is present, whether the break of chr10 is present, whether the break of chr16 is present, or any combination thereof, by contacting the sample of esophageal tissue with a first detectably labeled probe, a second detectably labeled probe, a third detectably labeled probe, or any combination thereof, and detecting binding between: the first detectably labeled probe and the break of chr2, the second detectably labeled probe and the break of chr10, the third detectably labeled probe and the break of chr16, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is a method, comprising: obtaining a sample of an esophageal tissue from a subject, wherein the sample of the esophageal tissue comprises or is suspected of comprising a break of chromosome 2 (chr2), a break of chromosome 10 (chr10), a break of chromosome 16 (chr16), or any combination thereof, and detecting in the sample of esophageal tissue whether the break of chr2 is present, whether the break of chr10 is present, whether the break of chr16 is present, or any combination thereof, by contacting the sample of esophageal tissue with a first detectably labeled probe, a second detectably labeled probe, a third detectably labeled probe, or any combination thereof, and detecting binding between: the first detectably labeled probe and the break of chr2, the second detectably labeled probe and the break of chr10, the third detectably labeled probe and the break of chr16, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel in-vitro model of transformation of a benign Barrett's cell line to a neoplastic cell line following repeated exposure to acid and bile over the course of about 65 wks, and to the process of using the model to study the transformation.

Abstract: A novel isoform of tropomyosin is disclosed. The isoform is closely related to epithelial human tropomyosin (hTM) and more particularly to hTM5 except the last coding exon. The novel isoform, is called TC22. Northern blot analysis with TC22-specific probe revealed that normal culture cell lines and normal epithelial tissues expressed very little, if at all, TC22 message, whereas their transformed counterparts and tumor tissues including dysfunction of the alimentary canal, significantly increased the expression of TC22. Assays directed at determining the level of TC22 are useful in diagnostics and therapeutics of dysfunction of the alimentary canal. Specific antibodies and mimics for TC22 are also disclosed for use in diagnostics and therapeutics of dysfunction of the alimentary canal.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of therapy and diagnostic methods for ulcerative colitis. Specifically, the method comprises administering a compound or recombinant protein that inhibits interaction between CEP and human tropomyosin. Also included in the invention are methods to screen for drugs useful in treating ulcerative colitis and diagnostic methods for detecting diseases associated with an autoanticen response to hTM in affected tissue.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method for treating ulcerative colitis. Specifically, the method comprises orally or rectally administering to a human having ulcerative colitis a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody which binds to a tropomyosin isoform associated with ulcerative colitis. In another embodiment, the invention pertains to a method for treating ulcerative colitis in a human which comprises the steps of (a) obtaining from a human a colon epithelial cell extract containing a tropomyosin isoform associated with ulcerative colitis; (b) purifying the tropomyosin isoform until the tropomyosin isoform is substantially homogeneous; (c) developing an antibody which binds to the tropomyosin isoform; and (d) orally or rectally administering to a human having ulcerative colitis a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody to bind to the tropomyosin isoform associated with ulcerative colitis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of TCP-1 gamma as a protein whose expression is decreased in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. This protein interacts with hTM5, which is involved in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. Compositions and methods for diagnosis and treatment, including methods for following up the efficacy of treatment of ulcerative colitis are provided.