Abstract: IMP-1 was abundantly expressed in the majority of lung-cancers examined. Positive immunostaining of IMP-1 was correlated with tumor size (pT-classification; P=0.0003), non-adenocarcinoma histology (P<0.0001), low-histological grade (P=0.0001), and poor prognosis (P=0.0053). Suppression of IMP-1 expression with siRNA effectively suppressed growth of NSCLC cells. IMP-1 was able to bind to mRNAs encoding a variety of proteins involved in signal transduction, cell-cycle progression, cell adhesion and cytoskeleton, and various types of enzymatic activities. These results suggest that IMP-1 expression is likely to play important roles in lung cancer development and progression, and that IMP-1 is a prognostic marker and a promising therapeutic target for treatment of lung cancer.

Abstract: The present invention features a method for determining t-RNA dihydrouridine-synthase activity of a polypeptide and screening for modulators of t-RNA dihydrouridine-synthase activity. The present invention further provides methods or pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and/or treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using such modulators. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods for diagnosing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using the t-RNA dihydrouridine-synthase activity of IMS-E21 (URLC8) protein as an index. The present invention further provides methods for predicting and prognosing lung squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC).

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8, 67, 89, as well as peptides comprising the above-mentioned amino acid sequences in which 1, 2, or several amino acids are substituted, deleted, or added, and having cytotoxic T cell inducibility. The present invention also provides drugs for treating or preventing tumors comprising these peptides. The peptides of the present invention can also be used as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention features a method for determining t-RNA dihydrouridine-synthase activity of a polypeptide and screening for modulators of t-RNA dihydrouridine-synthase activity. The present invention further provides methods or pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and/or treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using such modulators. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods for diagnosing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using the t-RNA dihydrouridine-synthase activity of IMS-E21 (URLC8) protein as an index. The present invention further provides methods for predicting and prognosing lung squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC).

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8, 67, 89, as well as peptides comprising the above-mentioned amino acid sequences in which 1, 2, or several amino acids are substituted, deleted, or added, and having cytotoxic T cell inducibility. The present invention also provides drugs for treating or preventing tumors comprising these peptides. The peptides of the present invention can also be used as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diagnostic marker to detecting lung cancer. In particular, the present invention provides lung cancer marker genes i.e. KIF4A, MAPJD, NPTX, or FGFR1OP. The present invention further provides methods and kit for identifying compounds for treating lung cancer as well as methods for predicting a prognosis or diagnosis of lung cancer. In particular, the present invention provides methods and kits for identifying inhibitors of the interaction between KIF4A/ZNF549, KIF4A/ZNF553, MAPJD/MYC, or FGFR1OP/WRNIP1 which find utility in the treatment and prevention of lung. Alternatively, the present invention provides MAPJD associated with HAT complex as therapeutic target.

Abstract: LY6K is identified herein as a potential biomarker useful for the diagnosis of cancer, such as lung and esophageal cancers, as well as for the prognosis of patients with these diseases. As discussed in detail herein, LY6K is specifically over-expressed in most lung and esophageal cancer tissues examined, and is elevated in the sera of a large proportion of patients with these tumors. Accordingly, LY6K may be used in combination with other tumor markers to significantly improve the sensitivity of cancer diagnosis. LY6K may be used in the treatment of ESCC cells, as demonstrated by the fact that small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) of LY6K suppressed growth of the cancer cells. Moreover, the LY6K molecule is also a likely candidate for development of novel therapeutic approaches, such as antibody therapy.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the observation that the co-activation of CDCA8 and AURKB, and their cognate interactions, play a significant role in lung-cancer progression. Accordingly, inhibiting the formation of the CDCA8-AURKB complex finds utility in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. The present invention also provides methods for identifying for compounds suitable for the treatment and/or prevention non-small-cell lung cancer, using, for example, the transcriptional regulatory region of the CDCA8 or AURKB gene, as well as diagnostic and prognostic methods that utilize the expression levels of CDCA8 and/or AURKB as a determining index.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for detecting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using differentially expressed genes KIF11, GHSR1b, NTSR1, and FOXM1. Also disclosed are methods of identifying compounds for treating and preventing NSCLC, based on the interaction between KOC1 and KIF11, or NMU and GHSR1b or NTSR1.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for detecting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using differentially expressed genes KIF11, GHSR1b, NTSR1, and FOXM1. Also disclosed are methods of identifying compounds for treating and preventing NSCLC, based on the interaction between KOC1 and KIF11, or NMU and GHSR1b or NTSR1.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for determining kinase activity of TTK for EGFR and methods of screening for modulators of this kinase activity. Also disclosed are methods and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and/or treating lung cancer that use or include such modulators. Methods for diagnosing lung cancer using the kinase activity of TTK for EGFR protein as an index as well as methods for assessing and prognosing lung cancer are also provided.

Abstract: Objective methods for detecting and diagnosing small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are described herein. In one embodiment, the diagnostic method involves determining the expression level of an SCLC-associated gene that discriminates between SCLC cells and normal cells. In another embodiment, the diagnostic method involves determining the expression level of an SCLC-associated gene that distinguishes two major histological types of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and SCLC. Finally, the present invention provides methods of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of small cell lung cancer, methods of treating small cell lung cancer and method for vaccinating a subject against small cell lung cancer. Furthermore, the present invention provides chemotherapy resistant lung cancer- or SCLC-associated genes as diagnostic markers and/or molecular targets for therapeutic agent for these cancers. These genes are up-regulated in chemoresistant lung cancer or SCLC.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and a kit for assessing the prognosis of lung cancer by detecting the expression level of the neuromedin U (NMU) gene in a patient-derived biological sample. The method and kit are particularly preferred for assessing the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of screening for a therapeutic agent for cancer, in particular, lung cancer, by detecting compounds that inhibit the binding of the NMU protein with the heterodimer of growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1b (GHSR1b) and neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1).

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for identifying compounds for treating cancer as well as methods for predicting a prognosis of cancer. In particular, the present invention provides methods and kits for identifying inhibitors of the interaction between ANLN and RhoA which find utility in the treatment and prevention of cancer, particularly lung cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Also disclosed herein are compositions for treating or preventing cancer identified by the screening method of the present invention and methods of using same in the treatment and prevention of cancer.

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: 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, a Homo sapiens epithelial cell transforming sequence 2 oncogene (ECT2) and a cell division cycle 45, S. cerevisiae, homolog-like (CDC45L) are further characterized.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8, 67, 89, as well as peptides comprising the above-mentioned amino acid sequences in which 1, 2, or several amino acids are substituted, deleted, or added, and having cytotoxic T cell inducibility. The present invention also provides drugs for treating or preventing tumors comprising these peptides. The peptides of the present invention can also be used as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention provided methods for treating lung cancers using therapeutic agents for lung cancers comprising erbB receptor inhibitors as active ingredients. Methods for examining the responsiveness of lung cancer patients to erbB receptor inhibitors by using blood amphiregulin (AREG) as an indicator were provided. Furthermore, methods for treating lung cancers in which responsiveness to an erbB receptor inhibitor is determined based on blood AREG concentration, and in which therapeutic agents are selectively administered to patients expected to be responsive, were also provided. Advanced therapeutic effects can be expected by administering an erbB receptor inhibitor to patients predicted to be responsive. The present invention contributes to the improvement of therapeutic effects of gefitinib (Product name: Iressa®) and such on lung cancers.

Abstract: The present invention provides the method of predicting an non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) prognosis.

Abstract: The present invention features a method for determining t-RNA dihydrouridine-synthase activity of a polypeptide and screening for modulators of t-RNA dihydrouridine-synthase activity. The present invention further provides methods or pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and/or treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using such modulators. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods for diagnosing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using the t-RNA dihydrouridine-synthase activity of IMS-E21 (URLC8) protein as an index. The present invention further provides methods for predicting and prognosing lung squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC).