Use of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) for assessing responsiveness of MUC 16-positive cancer treatment

A method for treating or delaying progression of a MUC16-positive cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject one or more therapeutically effective amounts of a MUC16 antagonist, wherein an initial therapeutically effective amount of the MUC16 antagonist was administered prior to administration of the one or more therapeutically effective amounts of the MUC16 antagonist, and:

• wherein a sample obtained from the subject after administration of the initial therapeutically effective amount of the MUC16 antagonist was determined to have an epididymis protein 4 (HE4) expression level that is at least 25% lower than the expression level of HE4 in a sample obtained from the subject prior to administration of the initial therapeutically effective amount of the MUC16 antagonist;
• or
• wherein the subject was selected for treatment based on a determination that a sample obtained from the subject after administration of the initial therapeutically effective amount of the MUC16 antagonist has an epididymis protein 4 (HE4) expression level that is at least 25% lower than the expression level of HE4 in a sample obtained from the subject prior to administration of the initial therapeutically effective amount of the MUC16 antagonist;
• or
• wherein treatment is based upon the subject having a sample that expresses epididymis protein 4 (HE4) at a level that is at least 25% lower after administration of the initial therapeutically effective amount of the MUC16 antagonist than the expression level of HE4 in a sample obtained from the subject prior to administration of the initial therapeutically effective amount of the MUC16 antagonist;
• or
• provided that the subject has been found to have a sample that expresses epididymis protein 4 (HE4) at a level that is at least 25% lower after administration of the initial therapeutically effective amount of the MUC16 antagonist than the expression level of HE4 in a sample obtained from the subject prior to administration of the initial therapeutically effective amount of the MUC16 antagonist.