Methods and compositions for the detection of cervical cancer

A method for detecting cervical cancer in a human, comprising:

• detecting the presence of a nucleic acid molecule in a tissue or body fluid sample of the human thereby to indicate the presence of a cervical carcinoma in the human,
• wherein the nucleic acid molecule is selected from the group consisting of:
• a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence capable of recognizing and being specifically bound by a cervical cancer-associated protein;
• and
• a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding a cervical cancer-associated protein,
• wherein said cervical cancer-associated protein is characterized as being selected from the group consisting of:
• a protein having a molecular weight of about 69,400 Daltons and an isoelectric point of about 5.8;
• a protein having a molecular weight of about 53,800 Daltons and an isoelectric point of about 5.5;
• a protein having a molecular weight of about 47,900 Daltons and an isoelectric point of about 5.6;
• a protein having a molecular weight of about 46,000 Daltons and an isoelectric point of about 5.1;
• and
• a protein having a molecular weight of about 44,900 Daltons and an isoelectric point of about 6.6,
• wherein the molecular weight is determined by standard polyacrylarnide gel electrophoresis techniques and the isoelectric point is determined by standard isoelectric focusing techniques, and
• wherein the cervical cancer-associated protein is further characterized as being a non-chromatin protein which is detectable at a higher level in a human cervical cancer cell than in a normal human cervical cell, as determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

A kit for detecting the presence of cervical cancer or for evaluating the efficacy of a therapeutic treatment of a cervical cancer, the kit comprising in combination:

• a receptacle for receiving a human tissue or body fluid sample from a mammal;
• a binding moiety which binds specifically to an epitope on a cervical cancer-associated protein, said protein being characterized as having a molecular weight of from about 44,900 Daltons to about 69,400 Daltons as determined by standard polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis techniques and an isoelectric point of from about 5.1 to about 6.6 as determined by standard isoelectric focusing techniques, and wherein the protein is further characterized as being a non-chromatin protein which is detectable at a higher level in a human cervical cancer cell than in a normal human cervical cell, as determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis;
• a means for detecting the binding of the binding moiety with the cervical cancer-associated protein;
• and
• a reference sample.