Patent ID: 8168383
Filing Date: 2012-05-01
Classification: A61K,C07K,C12N,C12Q,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for identifying in a patient having cancer if the cancer comprises a mutant Echinoderm Microtubule-Associated Protein-Like 4 (EML4)-Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) polynucleotide, said method comprising: (a) obtaining a circulating tumor cell from a patient having cancer; and (b) utilizing at least one reagent that specifically binds to a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of (i) a polynucleotide encoding an EML4-ALK fusion polypeptide comprising amino acids 1-222 of SEQ ID NO:3 and residues 1116-1383 of SEQ ID NO:5, and (ii) the full-length complement of the polynucleotide of (i) to determine whether an EML4-ALK fusion polynucleotide is present in said circulating tumor cell, wherein the specific binding of said reagent to said polynucleotide identifies the cancer in said patient as a cancer comprising a mutant EML4-ALK polynucleotide.