Inventors:
Harry A. Drabkin - Charleston SC, US
Robert M. Gemmill - Charleston SC, US
Federico R. Cappuzzo - Denver CO, US
Wan Lam - Vancouver, CA
International Classification:
C40B 30/04, C12Q 1/68, C40B 40/06
Abstract:
Disclosed is the identification, provision and use of biomarkers predictive of sensitivity or resistance to EGFR inhibitors such as gefitinib and products and processes related thereto. Specifically, a method is described for selecting a cancer patient who is predicted to benefit from therapeutic administration of an EGFR inhibitor, an agonist thereof, or a drug having substantially similar biological activity as EGFR inhibitor. Also described is a method to identify molecules that interact with the EGFR pathway to allow or enhance responsiveness to EGFR inhibitors, as well as a plurality of polynucleotides or antibodies for the detection of the copy number or expression of genes that are indicative of sensitivity or resistance to EGFR inhibitors, an agonist thereof, or a drug having substantially similar biological activity as EGFR inhibitors. A method to identify a compound with the potential to enhance the efficacy of EGFR inhibitors is also described.