This invention consists of the identification and cloning of a novel gene, MARS (Modulator of Antigen Receptor Signaling), which is a putative tumour suppressor gene. The invention also relates to the link between the MARS gene and human cancer, and its use in the diagnosis and prognosis of leukemia. The invention also relates to the screening of potential therapeutic drugs for the treatment of human cancers that have either a mutation in the MARS gene or lack the MARS gene all together.

Inventor: Dr. Jane McGlade

Publications:

Loreto, M.P., & McGlade, C.J. (2003). Cloning and characterization of human Src-like adaptor protein 2 and a novel splice isoform, SLAP-2-v. Oncogene, 22, 266-273.

Pakuts, B., Debonneville, C., Liontos, L.M., Loreto, M.P., & McGlade, C.J. (2007). The Src-like Adaptor Protein 2 Regulates Colony-stimulating Factor-1 Receptor Signaling and Down-regulation. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 282(25), 17953-17963.

An estimated 44,240 new cases of leukemia will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2008 alone. More than half of all cases occur in older adults over the age 67. The need for effective screening and treatment is imperative to fighting this disease.

MARS has sequential and structural similarity to SLAP and the Src family of tyrosine kinases and is believed to be a cancer suppressor gene. Evidence that MARS activity suppresses the activity of tyrosine kinase signaling pathways, in both cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases and growth factor receptors is described in the publications below. The expression of the MARS protein appears to be unique to hematopoietic tissues and cell lines and may be applicable to various diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic uses in the identification, treatment and prevention of leukemia.