Method of Detecting or Monitoring a Malignant Plasma Cell Disease

Abstract

A method of detecting or monitoring a malignant plasma cell disease comprising detecting in a sample the ratio between the relative amounts of immunoglobulins having: (i) a heavy chain class bound to λ light chains; and (ii) immunoglobulins having the same heavy chain class but bound to κ light chains. Preferably the ratio is determined by (1) a method wherein the ratio is determined using: (i) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, having specificity for a heavy chain class at the same time as having specificity for a first light chain in combination with either: (ii) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, having specificity for the heavy chain class at the same time as having specificity for the second light chain; or (iii) an antibody, or fragment thereof, having specificity for the heavy chain and a further antibody, or fragment thereof, having specificity for the second light chain. (2) a method wherein the ratio is determined using: (i) at least one antibody, or a fragment thereof, specific for the heavy chain class; (ii) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, specific for λ light chains; and (iii) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, specific for κ light chains; or Antibodies specific for a heavy chain class at the same time as having specificity for a specific light chain are also provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.