MOLECULAR SIGNALING PATHWAYS TRIGGERED BY RITUXIMAB: PROGNOSTIC, DIAGNOSTIC, AND THERAPEUTIC USES

摘要

The present invention provides markers associated with activated molecular signaling pathways (example: p38 MAKP, NF-κB, ERK1/2, YY-1 and AKT) inhibited by rituximab in cancer cells as well as pathways activated by rituximab (such as death receptors, RKIP, PTEN) all of which are associated with the regulation of chemo and immunoresistance. The present invention provides methods of prognosis and providing a prognosis for cancer such as lymphoma, leukemia, and autoimmune disease, as well as, methods of drug discovery. These markers are also therapeutic targets for treatment of cancer resistant to conventional and experimental cancer therapeutics. Inhibition or activation of expression and/or activity of targeted gene products sensitizes resistant tumor cells to subtoxic doses of cytotoxic treatment including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy and gene therapy, and the cytotoxic molecules.