Diagnosis of uterine or ovarian cancer, by detecting overexpression of TFF3 protein or nucleic acid, also treatment using TTF3 inhibitors

摘要

Use of nucleic acid (I) that encodes TFF3 and/or TFF3 peptide or protein (II) for: (i) detecting uterine and/or ovarian tumors and (ii) determining the risk of development of such tumors comprises examining the corresponding tissue for overtranscription of TFF3 RNA or overexpression of TFF3 protein. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) use of (II) or TFF3-encoding RNA in screening for binding agents; (2) use of agents (III) that inhibit or bind to TTF3 for preparing a composition for treating uterine and/or ovarian cancer; (3) diagnosing uterine and/or ovarian tumors by treating the appropriate tissue with a detection substance that includes a reporter group (RG), then detecting any RG, and if RG is detected at a above a predetermined minimum level, the tissue is classified as containing tumor cells; and (4) treating uterine and/or ovarian tumors using (III).