METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS EMPLOYING SECRETED PROTEINS THAT REFLECT AUTOPHAGY DYNAMICS WITHIN TUMOR CELLS

摘要

A diagnostic reagent or device for determining the autophagy levels of cancer cells comprises a ligand capable of specifically complexing with, binding to, or quantitatively detecting or identifying a biomarker selected from IL-8, IL-1β, DKK-3, FAM-3C and/or LIF, or an isoform, pro-form, modified molecular form including posttranslational modification, or unique peptide fragment or nucleic acid fragment thereof. Another reagent contains ligands to two or more of these biomarkers. Optionally, such reagent or device includes a signaling molecule and/or a substrate on which the ligand is immobilized. Other reagents are useful in methods of measuring autophagy of cancer cells, e.g., melanoma and for monitoring cancer progression, chemoresistance, or predicting likely candidates for treatment with autophagy inhibitors.