Cancer diagnosis prognosis and therapy based on mutation of receptors for transforming growth factor and homologous growth controlling factors

摘要

This invention is based on the discovery that the type II TGF-. beta. receptor (RII) is a cancer suppressor gene which is genetically inactivated (mutated) in approximately 25% of colon cancers, including nearly all colon cancers of the class identified as mutator/microsatellite instability/RER. Methods are provided for detecting inactivation of RII for use in cancer diagnosis or prognosis.