Method for detecting disease markers
AssigneeTemple University of the Comonwealth System of Higher Education
InventorsFrank N. Chang, Phu T. Duong, George P. Tuszynski
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Abstract
Disease specific markers, in particular cancer markers, can be detected by electrophoretically separating proteins and protein complexes from a biological sample on a protein binding polymeric membrane in a low conductivity, water-miscible organic solvent buffer. Electrophoretic separation profiles representing different diseases can be produced, and used in the diagnosis or prognosis of these diseases.
Claims29
A method of identifying disease-specific markers in a biological sample, comprising:
- (1) obtaining at least one biological sample comprising proteins from at least one normal subject;
- (2) obtaining at least one biological sample comprising proteins from at least one diseased subject;
- (3) separating the proteins in the at least one biological sample obtained in step (1) by membrane electrophoresis to obtain a normal separation profile;
- (4) separating the proteins in the at least one biological sample obtained in step (2) by membrane electrophoresis to obtain a disease separation profile;
- and
- (5) comparing the normal separation profile to the disease separation profile to determine the difference in the number and distribution of proteins between the normal and disease separation profiles,
- wherein the difference in the number, distribution or both number and distribution of proteins between the normal and disease separation profiles represents the disease-specific markers.
A method of diagnosing a disease in a test subject, comprising:
- (1) obtaining at least one biological sample comprising proteins from the test subject;
- (2) separating the proteins in the at least one biological sample by membrane electrophoresis to obtain a test separation profile;
- and
- (3) providing a standard separation profile representing the disease to be diagnosed;
- and
- (4) comparing the test separation profile to the standard separation profile,
- wherein a substantial similarity between the test separation profile and the standard separation profile indicates that the test subject has the disease represented by the standard separation profile.
A method of staging cancer in a test subject, comprising:
- (1) obtaining at least one biological sample comprising proteins from the test subject;
- (2) separating the proteins in the at least one biological sample by membrane electrophoresis to obtain a test separation profile;
- (3) comparing the test separation profile to a set of standard separation profiles comprising a plurality of stage-specific separation profile to determine whether one of the stage-specific separation profiles is substantially similar to the test separation profile,
- wherein the test subject has cancer of the stage represented by the stage-specific separation profile which is substantially similar to the test separation profile.
A method of staging breast cancer in a test subject, comprising:
- (1) obtaining at least one biological sample comprising proteins from the subject;
- (2) separating the proteins in the at least one biological sample by membrane electrophoresis to obtain a test separation profile;
- and
- (3) comparing the test separation profile to a set of standard separation profiles comprising a first, second, third and fourth stage-specific separation profile representing, respectively, stage I, II, III or IV of breast cancer, wherein:
- (i) a substantial similarity of the test separation profile to the first stage-specific separation profile indicates that the test subject has stage I breast cancer;
- (ii) a substantial similarity of the test separation profile to the second stage-specific separation profile indicates that the test subject has stage II breast cancer;
- (iii) a substantial similarity of the test separation profile to the third stage-specific separation profile indicates that the test subject has stage III breast cancer;
- and
- (iv) a substantial similarity of the test separation profile to the fourth stage-specific separation profile indicates that the test subject has stage IV breast cancer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.