Patent ID: 7998688
Filing Date: 2011-08-16
Classification: A61K,C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of identifying an agent that inhibits tumor cells from undergoing an epithelial to mesenchymal transition, comprising providing a preparation containing a p21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2kinase), incubating the preparation with a test agent to be screened under conditions to permit binding of the test agent to the kinase; determining whether the test agent inhibits the PAK2 kinase by detecting a decrease in the phosphotransferase activity of the kinase, thus identifying agents that are PAK2 kinase inhibitors, determining whether an agent thus identified as a PAK2 kinase inhibitor, inhibits tumor cells from undergoing an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), by contacting a sample of tumor cells with said PAK2 kinase inhibitor, contacting the tumor cells with a factor known to induce an EMT in the tumor cells, determining whether the tumor cells have undergone an EMT by determining whether there is an increase in an epithelial biomarker and/or a decrease in a mesenchymal biomarker selected from the group consisting of Snail, Zeb1, Twist, Sip1, and Slug in the tumor cells relative to an identical sample of tumor cells contacted with the EMT inducing factor but not contacted with said PAK2 kinase inhibitor, and thus identifying whether said PAK2 kinase inhibitor is an agent that inhibits tumor cells from undergoing an epithelial to mesenchymal transition.