EPSTI1, A GENE INDUCED BY EPITHELIAL-STROMAL INTERACTION IN HUMAN BREAST CANCER

摘要

The present invention describes a novel gene, EPSTI1 for epithelial stromal interaction 1 (breast), which is upregulated upon direct interaction between tumour cells and stromal cells in the tumour environment of the breast. The full-length EPSTI1 cDNA was isolated and characterised with respect to nucleotide sequence, chromosomal organisation and localisation, i.e. the nucleotide sequence encoding the EPSTI1 polypeptide, the EPSTI1 polypeptide itself is disclosed herein. Furthermore, the present invention discloses the use of said gene for production of pure EPSTI1-protein. Finally the use of the EPSTI1 gene as a tool for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, especially as a specific toll to detect metastatic cancer and invasive cancer is disclosed.