The present invention provides for diagnostic kits for identifying cancer
patients who are more susceptible to cancer therapies employing
endostatin and other angiogenesis inhibitors, based upon the discovery
that Nucleolin is a specific receptor for Endostatin. In particular, the
diagnostic kits include antibody molecules against Nucleolin, DNA or RNA
molecules that specifically bind to nucleic acid molecules encoding
Nucleolin. The present invention also discloses methods of screening for
angiogenesis inhibitors which specifically interact with Nucleolin, and
act as angiogenesis inhibitors in an analogous manner as Endostatin. In
addition, the present invention discloses methods of inhibiting the
proliferation of endothelial cells or angiogenesis of tumor by
administering an anti-nucleolin antibody linked to a cytotoxic agent such
as tumor necrosis factor alpha to the endothelial cells.