Methods for detecting ras-activated neoplastic cells in a biological sample, for diagnosing a ras-activated neoplasm in an animal, for treating or ameliorating a ras-activated neoplasm in an animal, for diagnosing the presence of a neoplasm in a mammal, for detecting neoplastic cells having a particular phenotype in a biological sample, to diagnose a neoplasm having a particular phenotype in an animal, and to treat or ameliorate a neoplasm having a particular phenotype in an animal

摘要

"METHODS FOR DETECTING RAS-ACTIVATED NEOPLASTIC CELLS IN A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE, TO DIAGNOSIS A RAS-ACTIVATED NEOPLASM IN AN ANIMAL, TO TREAT OR IMPROVE A RAS-ACTIVATED NEOPLASM TO A DIAGNOSIS, DETECTING NEOPLASTIC CELLS HAVING A PARTICULAR PHENOTYPE IN A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE, TO DIAGNOSE A NEOPLASM, AND TO TREAT OR IMPROVE A NEOPLASM HAVING A PARTICULAR PHENOTYPE. The present invention provides a method of diagnosing neoplasms having a particular phenotype by employing selectively replicating oncolytic viruses in neoplasms having the particular phenotype. For example, reovirus does not replicate in normal cells. However, the reovirus selectively replicates in cells with an activated ras path leading to the death of these cells. Therefore, a cell that becomes neoplastic due to at least in part elevated ras path activities can be diagnosed by its susceptibility to reovirus replication. This invention may further be applied, using other oncolytic viruses, to the diagnosis and / or treatment of other tumors such as interferon-sensitive tumors, p53-deficient tumors and Rb-deficient tumors. Also provided herein are kits useful in the diagnosis or treatment described herein.