Methods for the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer
OwnerTimothy J. O'Brien, Martin J. Cannon +1inventors
InventorsTimothy J. O'Brien, Martin J. Cannon, Alessandro Santin
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Abstract
The disclosed nucleic acid primer sets, used in combination with quantitative amplification (PCR) of tissue cDNA, can indicate the presence of specific proteases in a tissue sample. Specifically, the present invention relates to expression of hepsin protease. The detected proteases are themselves specifically over-expressed in certain cancers, and the presence of their genetic precursors may serve for early detection of associated ovarian and other malignancies, and for the design of interactive therapies for cancer treatment.
Claims20
An immunogenic composition, comprising:
- a full length hepsin protein or a fragment of a hepsin protein;
- and
- an appropriate adjuvant.
A method of immunotherapy targeted toward hepsin in an individual, comprising the steps of:
- a) isolating dendritic cells from the individual;
- b) expressing or introducing a hepsin protein or peptide thereof comprising the immunogenic composition of claim 34 in the dendritic cells;
- and
- c) transferring the dendritic cells back to the individual, wherein the dendritic cells would activate hepsin-specific immune responses in the individual, thereby generating immunotherapy targeted toward hepsin in said individual.
The method of claim 24, wherein expression or introduction of the hepsin protein or peptide thereof in the dendritic cells is obtained by transfection, transduction and loading the dendritic cells with the hepsin protein or peptide thereof.
An oligonucleotide having a sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO:188.
A method of screening for compounds that inhibit hepsin activity, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting a sample comprising hepsin protein with a compound;
- and
- (b) assaying for hepsin protease activity, wherein a decrease in said hepsin protease activity in the presence of said compound relative to hepsin protease activity in the absence of said compound indicates said compound inhibits hepsin activity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.