Hox-gene expression as a biomarker for igf-1r therapeutics

Abstract

This invention provides methods for treating or preventing the onset of a tumor in a subject, wherein the tumor is determined to overexpress a Hox gene, including administering to the subject a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) antagonist. The invention also provides methods for determining whether a tumor in a subject is amenable to treatment with an IGF-1R antagonist including determining whether the tumor overexpresses a Hox gene, wherein overexpression of the Hox gene indicates that the tumor is amenable to treatment with an IGF-1R inhibitor.