DIAGNOSTIC, PROGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC METHOD USED FOR THE ANALYSIS AND TREATMENT OF MALIGN TUMOURS

摘要

The invention relates to methods for diagnosing malignant tumours, for determining the prognosis of a tumour and for therapeutic intervention when a malignant tumour is present, using the human HuR protein that is similar to ELAV. An abnormal cytoplasmic expression of HuR occurs in one part of the tumours. In cases of ovarian cancer, for example, the group of tumours with cytoplasmic HuR expression have a worse prognosis in the univariate and multivariate survival analyses. The cytoplasmic expression of HuR can also be observed in other malign tumours. Thus the HuR protein can be used as a molecular prognosis marker or as a target for ovarian cancer, colonic cancer, prostatic cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer or endometrial cancer. The determination of HuR permits the tumour prognosis to be assessed. In addition, the therapeutic inhibition of HuR within the framework of a molecular tumour treatment permits therapeutic intervention in various signal paths that are relevant to the biology of the tumour.