Methods for diagnosis and prognosis of cancers of epithelial origin

Abstract

ADAM 12 expression and activity are up regulated in patients that have cancers of epithelial origin, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, and skin cancer, as well as others: Accordingly. the present invention is directed to methods for prognostic evaluation, and diagnosis of cancers of epithelial origin. In particular, the presence of ADAM 12 in a biological sample is indicative of cancer of epithelial origin. Further, the amount of ADAM 12 protein detected in biological samples, e.g. urine, correlate with disease status such that ADAM 12 levels can be used to predict the presence of, as well as the metastatic potential of cancer. Thus, measuring the level of ADAM 12 in biological samples (e.g. urine or blood) provides a quick, easy, and safe screen that can be used to both diagnose and prognose cancer in a patient.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.