Patent ID: 7125675

Claim:
A method for evaluating the ability of an agent to inhibit tumor cell spreading which comprises: (a) admixing with cell culture media an effective amount of an agent known to inhibit the interaction between RAGE (SEQ. ID. NO:1) on a tumor cell and a matrix coated with an extracellular matrix molecule selected from the group consisting of a cadherin, an integrin and a hyaluronic acid, wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of a peptide, a peptidomimetic, a synthetic organic molecule, an inorganic molecule, a carbohydrate, a lipid, and a fragment of an antibody; (b) contacting the tumor cell in cell culture with media from step (a); (c) determining the amount of spreading of the tumor cell in the cell culture; and (d) comparing the amount of spreading of the tumor cell determined in step (c) with the amount determined in the absence of the agent, thus evaluating the ability of the agent to inhibit tumor cell spreading.