| 20100287631 | WNT PATHWAY MUTATIONS IN CANCER STEM CELLS - Cancer specific splicing events in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway are associated with progression of myelogenous leukemia. Misspliced genes of interest include GSK3β. In some embodiments of the invention, polynucleotides are provided that correspond to misspliced GSK3β transcripts associated with cancer. Such transcripts are characterized by a deletion of exon (8), and particularly in exon (8) and (9). Detection of such transcripts in cells is indicative of the presence of leukemia, and particularly of the presence of leukemia stem cells. In other embodiments, polypeptides are provided that are encoded by misspliced GSK3β transcripts associated with cancer. Such polypeptides are useful as diagnostic markers for cancer, and as a target for screening of therapeutic agents. Animal models comprising a human LSC having a misspliced GSK3b transcript provide a useful model for leukemia, for drug/gene screening in the prevention and treatment of leukemia in humans, etc. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110059448 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING CANCER STEM CELL SELF-RENEWAL POTENTIAL - In alternative embodiments, the invention provides compositions and methods for determining the self-renewal potential of a cancer stem cell (CSC) through analysis of the cross-talk between cell self-renewal pathways leading to deregulation and enhanced self-renewal of the CSC, or for predicting the drugability (susceptibility to a drug) of a CSC, and/or for predicting the progression of a cancer that corresponds to the CSC, the method comprising detecting and quantifying in CSCs one or more B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family protein isoform(s) or transcripts (mRNAs, messages) encoding one or more Bcl-2 family protein(s) or protein isoform(s) thereof. In alternative embodiments, the invention provides compositions and methods to determine and measure the levels of Wnt, glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3 beta), glycogen synthase kinase-3 alpha (GSK-3 alpha), and/or Sonic Hedgehog Homolog (SHH or Shh) family proteins and alternatively spliced transcripts (mRNAs), and Wnt, GSK3beta, GSK3alpha and/or Shh family protein and alternatively spliced transcript ratios in cancer cells, e.g., stem cells, e.g., CSCs, for diagnostic, drug discovery and prognostic purposes. | 03-10-2011 |
