| abstract |
The present inventors have discovered that humans have a gene that encodes a novel protein of the thymosin β family. This novel protein, herein referred to as thymosin β15, has the ability to bind and sequester G-actin, like other members of the thymosin β family, but unlike what is known about other members also directly regulates cell motility in prostatic carcinoma cells. A cDNA of the human thymosin β15 gene (SEQ ID NO: 1) and having deduced the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) was isolated. The present inventors have shown that enhanced transcripts (mRNA) and expression of the thymosin β15 gene in non-testicular cells has a high correlation to disease state in a number of cancers, such as prostate, lung, melanoma and breast cancer, particularly metastatic cancers. Accordingly, discovering enhanced levels of transcript or gene product in non-testicular tissues can be used in not only a diagnostic manner, but a prognostic manner for particular cancers. |