Patent ID: 7855185
Filing Date: 2010-12-21
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of therapy used to inhibit the growth of hypoxic, preneoplastic/neoplastic cells in a tumor of a vertebrate afflicted with a preneoplastic/neoplastic disease, wherein said cells are abnormally expressing MN/CA IX, comprising: (a) obtaining a preneoplastic/neoplastic tissue sample taken from said tumor; (b) determining whether MN/CA9 gene expression product is expressed at abnormally high levels in said sample; and if so, (c) administering to said vertebrate tumor a vector comprising a hypoxia-inducible MN/CA9 promoter or promoter fragment operatively linked to a nucleic acid encoding a cytotoxic protein/polypeptide or a cytokine, to target expression of said protein/polypeptide or said cytokine to hypoxic cells; wherein said hypoxia-inducible MN/CA9 promoter or promoter fragment comprises at least a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: (1) SEQ ID NO: 146; and (2) nucleotide sequences that are 90% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 146; and wherein said hypoxia-inducible MN/CA9 promoter or promoter fragment has hypoxia-inducible activity.