Technologies

HEXIM 1 (hexamethylene bisacetamide inducible protein 1) is an intracellular phosphoprotein which plays regulatory roles in gene transcription and cell cycle signaling pathways. This technology comprises the measurement of HEXIM1 expression, phosphorylation state and/or subcellular localization to monitor, diagnose and prognose stages of prostate cancer. Hexim1 protein is absent in normal prostate, but significantly increases in the nuclei during benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and in the cytoplasm in prostate cancer (adenocarcinoma).Moreover, specifically phosphorylated HEXIM1, independent of expression level or subcellular location, is unique to prostate carcinoma and absent in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A unique antibody recognizing the HEXIM1 isoform associated with prostate adenocarcinoma is available and is being used to further validate the prognostic/diagnostic applications of HEXIM1. This biomarker may be developed for histology/staging of prostate tissue directly, or by monitoring prostate tumor cells found in the circulation and/or urine.