Method to identify a patient with an increased likelihood of responding to an anti-cancer therapy

A method of predicting responsiveness of a patient suffering from cancer to treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, the method comprising:

• determining an expression level of VEGF121 in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein a level of VEGF121 in the sample obtained from the patient at or above a reference level indicates that the patient is more likely to be responsive to treatment with the anti-cancer therapy, and;
• informing the patient that they have an increased likelihood of being responsive to anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist.

A method for determining the likelihood that a patient with cancer will exhibit benefit from anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, the method comprising:

• determining an expression level of VEGF121 in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein a level of VEGF121 in the sample obtained from the patient at or above a reference level indicates that the patient has increased likelihood of benefit from the anti-cancer therapy, and;
• informing the patient that they have an increased likelihood of exhibiting benefit from anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist.

A method for optimizing the therapeutic efficacy of an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, the method comprising:

• determining an expression level of VEGF121 in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein a level of VEGF121 in the sample obtained from the patient at or above a reference level indicates that the patient has increased likelihood of benefit from the anti-cancer therapy, and;
• providing a recommendation to the patient that they receive an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist.

A method for treating cancer in a patient, the method comprising

• determining that a sample obtained from the patient has a level of VEGF121 at or above the level of VEGF121 in a reference sample and
• administering an effective amount of an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist to said patient, whereby the cancer is treated.

A kit for determining whether a patient may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, the kit comprising

• a set of compounds capable of specifically binding to VEGF121 and
• instructions for using said compounds to determine the level of VEGF121 to predict responsiveness of a patient to treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, wherein a level of VEGF121 at or above the level of VEGF121 in a reference sample indicates that the patient may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist.

A set of compounds for detecting levels of VEGF121, the set comprising

• at least one compound capable of specifically binding to VEGF121.