The present invention relates to a method for diagnosis of different stages of
endometrial cancer in an individual. Further, the present invention relates to a method for evaluating the probability of survival for an individual suffering from endometrial
carcinoma. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the stratification of therapy
regimen of endometrial tumor,
ovarian cancer,
breast cancer, non-small
lung cancer or
hormone refractory prostate cancer therapy in an individual or monitoring therapeutic
efficacy in an individual suffering from the same based on the expression status of STMN1
gene or
protein. Moreover, the present invention relates to a kit for use in any of the above referenced methods comprising a means for determining amplifications and deletions of chromosomal regions 3q26.32 and 12p12.1, determining alterations of the
gene expression profile of the genes (
gene signature): upregulation of the genes PLEKHK1, ATP10B, NMU, MMP1, ATAD2, NETO2, TNNI3, PHLDA2, OVOL1 and down-regulation of the genes: NDP, KIAA1434, MME, CFH, MOXD1, SLC47A1, RBP1, PDE8B, ASRGL1,
ADAMTS19, EFHD1, ABCA5, NPAS3, SCML1, TNXB, ENTPD3, AMY1A, ENPP, RASL11B, PDZK3, or the expression status of the STMN1 gene or
protein, respectively. Finally, the present invention provides a method for predicting the response to taxanes in an individual suffering from a
disease treated with the taxanes based on the expression status of the STMN1 gene or
protein.