20090304728 | TEM8 GENE, EXPRESSION FORMS AND DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC USES THEREOF - The present invention relates to the modulation of a gene known as “tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8)” and refers to the differential levels with which the gene is expressed, in its variants, in cells exhibiting angiogenic and migratory properties such as dendritic cells and metastatic tumor cells. The present invention further relates to the use of gene and polypeptide sequences of TEM8 as instruments of diagnosis and prognosis of pathological inflammatory angiogenesis and of the metastatic potential of tumor cells. The invention further relates to the use of the same gene and polypeptide sequences as direct therapeutic instruments, and to the use in immunogenic compositions or in vaccines apt to induce an immune response against cells overexpressing TEM8 gene products. Furthermore, the present invention relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of TEM8 activity in any polynucleotide and/or polypeptide variant thereof to be used in prevention or therapy treatments. Lastly TEM8 expression profiles in in vitro expanded DCs from cancer patients intercepts responsiveness to cancer immunotherapy. | 12-10-2009 |