Role of Truncated Integrins in Cancer
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- Diagnostics
- Summary
- Researchers have discovered that cell adhesion receptors such as integrins may be secreted into the blood. Specifically, cancer patients may secrete truncated integrins. Detection of such markers by ELISA or other methods could be of diagnostic or prognostic value.
Wayne State University researchers have discovered that, in addition to the expression of an authentic wild type integrin, there is a novel alternately spliced variant expressed in certain cancer cells. This variant is a truncated version because it does not code for the transmembrane and cytoplasmic portions and, therefore, could exist as a soluble marker. An antigen was designed based on a unique sequence that is specifically expressed in the truncated gene product, but not present in the wild type integrin. An antibody was raised to this peptide sequence and used in Western blotting. Further studies revealed that several human tumor cells such as prostate adenocarcinoma, melanoma, and erythroleukemia, express the truncated integrin.
- File number
- 97-401
- Publications
- A U.S. Patent Nos. 6,046,316 and 6,218,514 have issued.
- Contact
- Fred Reinhart
Associate Vice President for Research
Phone: 313-577-5541
Fax : 313-577-2814
fred.reinhart@wayne.edu