Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for characterizing the physiological state of a living system, including cells, tissues, organs, and whole organisms. The methods involve capturing biomarkers from the living system, and correlating their presence or absence to a physiological state. The biomarkers can be captured from the system, and then detected using any suitable analytical system to determine their presence or absence. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method of detecting a polypeptide biomarker in a blood serum or plasma sample obtained from a single subject with an affinity ligand which is capable of binding to a plurality of different polypeptide biomarkers derived from the same parental molecule.

Abstract: This invention relates, e.g., to a set of calibrants for determining the amount in a sample of an analyte (e.g., a protein, such as a protein that has been post-translationally modified), comprising a plurality of calibrants, which contain a range of amounts (e.g., defined amounts and/or serial dilutions) of the analyte, spanning the expected amount of the analyte in the sample. In each of the calibrants, a defined amount of the analyte is present in the same suitable, biological diluent (e.g., a cell or tissue lysate, or a bodily fluid). In one embodiment of the invention, the diluent reflects the same or a similar biological milieu (proteins, lipids, serum proteins, serum matrix proteins, etc.) as that in the sample in which the analyte to be measured is present. In embodiments of the invention, a single calibrant (e.g., a cell lysate) may comprise as many as hundreds of analytes, and can be used for the quantification of those hundreds of analytes in a sample.

Abstract: Low molecular weight (LMW) peptides have been discovered that are indicative of neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), cognitive impairment and brain microhemmorhages. Evaluating patient samples for the presence of such LMW peptides is an effective means of detecting neurological conditions and monitoring the progression of the disease. The LMW peptides are particularly useful in detecting neurological conditions during the early stages without invasive procedures.

Abstract: Low molecular weight (LMW) peptides have been discovered that are indicative of colorectal cancer. Evaluating patient samples for the presence of such LMW peptides is an effective means of detecting colorectal cancer and monitoring the progression of the disease. The LMW peptides are particularly useful in detecting colorectal cancer during its early stages.

Abstract: Low molecular weight (LMW) peptides have been discovered that are indicative of breast cancer. Evaluating patient samples for the presence of such LMW peptides is an effective means of detecting breast cancer and monitoring the progression of the disease, for example during treatment. The LMW peptides are particularly useful in detecting breast cancer during its early stages.

Abstract: Methods are provided for treating cancer metastasis by administering a therapeutic composition targeting a kinase substrate cascade.

Abstract: This invention relates, e.g., to a composition that, at room temperature, when contacted with a sample comprising phosphoproteins, can fix and stabilize cellular phosphoproteins, preserve cellular morphology, and allow the sample to be frozen to generate a cryostat frozen section suitable for molecular analysis. The composition comprises (1) a fixative that is effective to fix the phosphoproteins, and that has a sufficient water content to be soluble for a stabilizer and/or a permeability enhancing agent); (2) a stabilizer, comprising (a) a kinase inhibitor and (b) a phosphatase inhibitor and, optionally, (c) a protease (e.g., proteinase) inhibitor; and (3) a permeability enhancing agent (e.g. PEG). Methods are described for preserving phosphoproteins, using such a composition. Also described are endogenous surrogate markers for monitoring protein degradation, including the loss of posttranslational modifications (such as phosphorylation), e.g.

Abstract: A method of treating or inhibiting progress of dementia and/or macular degeneration in a mammal involves administering compositions containing siRNA to heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) or heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2), a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, a caspase inhibitor, or a metalloporphyrin in a manner that permits access to brain sites and/or the macula of the patient.

Abstract: This invention relates, e.g., to a method for predicting the prognosis, the likelihood of metastasis in, or the desirability of administering an aggressive therapy to, a subject with colorectal cancer, comprising determining, in a sample from the subject, the level of phosphorylation compared to a positive and/or negative reference standard, of one or more of: (a) AKT (S473); (b) BAD (S112); (c) cABL (T735); (d) ERK (T42/44); (e) MARCKS (S152-156); (0 p38MAPK (T180-182): (g) STAT 1 (Y701 ); (h) PTEN (S380); (i) EGFR (Y992); (j) PAK 1/2 (S 1 19/204); or (k) PKC zeta/lambda (T410-403); or the total amount of (1) COX-2 protein; wherein if the level of phosphorylation of one or more of a-i or the total amount of COX-2 protein (1) is elevated compared to the negative reference standard, and/or if the level of phosphorylation of j or k is decreased compared to the positive reference standard, the subject has poor prognosis, is likely to undergo metastasis, and/or is a good candidate for aggressive therapy.

Abstract: A polypeptide can conduct electricity in a closed circuit. Conformational changes in the polypeptide due to posttranslational modifications or ligand binding can effect the conductive properties of the polypeptide which can be measured. In such a closed circuit, a polypeptide having at least one residue capable of reversible modification can be used as a molecular switch. Circuits comprising such molecular switches can be used, for example, in methods for assessing the modification state of a polypeptide, determining the activity of an enzyme of interest, identifying compounds that affect the activity of an enzyme of interest, storing data, detecting the presence of a compound and identifying inhibitors of protein-protein interactions.

Abstract: Provided are methods of identifying a metabolic target in a cancer stem cell that include using a microarray to identify intracellular signaling networks within a population of cancer stem cells that respond to a growth factor for the stem cell. Also provided are methods of determining a personalized therapeutic regime that include receiving metabolic information relating to a cancer stem cell in a patient, determining the patient's personal criteria relevant to the therapeutic regime, and combining the metabolic and personal criteria. Also provided are a diagnostic test for establishing a personalized therapeutic regime for a colon cancer patient and methods of reducing colon cancer stem cells/treating colon cancer.

Abstract: Capture particles for harvesting analytes from solution and methods for using them are described. The capture particles are made up of a polymeric matrix having pore size that allows for the analytes to enter the capture particles. The pore size of the capture particles may be changeable upon application of a stimulus to the particles, allowing the pore size of the particles to be changed so that analytes of interest remain sequestered inside the particles. The polymeric matrix of the capture particles may be made of co-polymeric materials having a structural monomer and an affinity monomer, the affinity monomer having properties that attract the analyte to the capture particle. The capture particles may be used to isolate and identify analytes present in a mixture. They may also be used to protect analytes which are typically subject to degradation upon harvesting and to concentrate low an analyte in low abundance in a fluid.

Abstract: This invention relates, e.g., to a method for predicting a subject's response to a chemotherapeutic agent and/or the subject's prognosis, comprising measuring the phosphorylation state of at least one member of the mTOR pathway, and/or of at least one member of an interconnected polypeptide pathway (e.g. a member of the Akt pathway or a member of the IRS pathway), compared to a baseline value, in a cancer tissue or cancer cell sample from the subject, wherein an elevated level of the phosphorylation state compared to the baseline value indicates that the subject is a non-responder to the chemotherapeutic agent and/or has a poor prognosis. Also described is a method for treating a cancer in a subject in need thereof, wherein the subject exhibits an elevated level of the phosphorylation state, comprising administering one or more inhibitors of the mTOR and/or an interconnected pathway.

Abstract: Capture particles for harvesting analytes from solution and methods for using them are described. The capture particles are made up of a polymeric matrix having pore size that allows for the analytes to enter the capture particles. The pore size of the capture particles are changeable upon application of a stimulus to the particles, allowing the pore size of the particles to be changed so that analytes of interest remain sequestered inside the particles. The polymeric matrix of the capture particles are made of co-polymeric materials having a structural monomer and an affinity monomer, the affinity monomer having properties that attract the analyte to the capture particle. The capture particles may be used to isolate and identify analytes present in a mixture. They may also be used to protect analytes which are typically subject to degradation upon harvesting and to concentrate low an analyte in low abundance in a fluid.

Abstract: A method of treating or inhibiting progress of dementia and/or macular degeneration in a mammal involves administering compositions containing siRNA to heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) or heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2), a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, a caspase inhibitor, or a metalloporphyrin in a manner that permits access to brain sites and/or the macula of the patient.

Abstract: Nanoporous materials can be used to enrich samples for subsequent analysis of substances contained in the sample. The method is shown to enrich the yield of species in the low molecular weight proteome, allowing detection of small peptides in the low nanomolar range.

Abstract: This invention relates, e.g., to a method for predicting the response of a subject having estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer to an inhibitor of the estrogen signaling pathway (e.g. tamoxifen), comprising measuring in a cancer sample from the subject the level of phosphorylation, compared to a baseline value, of one or more of the following members of an interconnected intracellular signaling pathway: (a) 4EBP1, and/or (b) p70S6, and/or (c) STAT3, and/or (d) FAK, wherein a significantly elevated level of phosphorylation of 4EBP1, and/or p70S6 and/or STAT3, and/or a significantly decreased level of phosphorylation of FAK, compared to the baseline value, indicates that the subject is likely to be a non-responder to the inhibitor and/or has a poor prognosis. Additional members of the intracellular signaling pathway whose phosphorylation can be measured are also described.

Abstract: A theranostics technique for describing signaling pathway activity within a cellular or tissue sample may include analyzing a cellular sample to obtain sample quantitative values for a series of target protein modification levels reflected in a set of a plurality of protein biomarkers in the sample. The sample quantitative values may be compared to reference quantitative values for the same series of protein modification levels. The reference quantitative values may be statistically processed from a plurality of comparable samples. The sample quantitative values may be displayed in relation to the reference quantitative values in a way that may suggest a specific course of treatment.

Abstract: The invention relates to the discovery of a novel tumor suppressor gene which is associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. The gene has been designated MEN1 and the gene product is menin. The absence of this protein and associated mutations in the corresponding gene have been identified in individuals suffering from multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. The identification of this marker for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 has diagnostic uses as well as for gene therapy.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for shielding and directing agents to biological targets in cellular systems for therapeutic, prophylactic, and diagnostic uses. Vascular devices are also provided which have coated surfaces that contain proteomic antisense, as well as therapeutic and other biological agents attached thereto.