Biomarkers predictive of muscle atrophy, method and use

2) A method of selectively treating a patient having muscle atrophy with a muscle anabolic agent, comprising:

• a) selecting the patient for treatment with a muscle anabolic agent on the basis of a the patient having significantly increased levels of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16, in urine;
• and
• b) thereafter, administering a therapeutically effective amount of a muscle anabolic agent to the patient.

4) A method of predicting the likelihood that a patient having muscle atrophy will respond to treatment with a muscle anabolic agent, comprising assaying a urine sample from the patient for the presence or absence of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16, wherein:

• a) significantly increased levels of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16 in urine is indicative of an increased likelihood that the patient will respond to treatment with a muscle anabolic agent;
• and
• b) the absence of significantly increased levels of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16 in urine is indicative of a decreased likelihood that the patient will respond to treatment with a muscle anabolic agent.

5) A method of producing a transmittable form of information for predicting the responsiveness of a patient having muscle atrophy to treatment with a muscle anabolic agent, comprising:

• a) determining an increased likelihood of the patient responding to treatment with a muscle anabolic agent based on significantly increased levels of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16, in urine;
• and
• b) recording the result of the determining step on a tangible or intangible media form for use in transmission.

7) A method of selectively predicting development of muscle atrophy in a patient, comprising identifying a patient on the basis of the patient having significantly increased levels of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16, in urine, wherein significantly increased levels of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16 in urine is indicative of a predisposition for developing muscle atrophy.

8) A method of selectively predicting development of muscle atrophy in a patient, comprising:

• a) assaying a urine sample from the patient for the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16;
• b) thereafter, selecting the patient for treatment with a muscle anabolic agent on the basis of the urine sample from the patient having significantly increased levels of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16.

9) A method of predicting the likelihood that a patient will develop muscle atrophy, comprising assaying a urine sample from the patient for the presence or absence of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16, wherein:

• a) significantly increased levels of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16 in urine is indicative of an increased likelihood that the patient will develop muscle atrophy;
• and
• b) the absence of significantly increased levels of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16 in urine is indicative of a decreased likelihood that the patient will develop muscle atrophy.

10) A method of producing a transmittable form of information for predicting the if a patient will develop muscle atrophy, comprising:

• a) determining an increased likelihood of the patient developing muscle atrophy based on significantly increased levels of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16, in urine;
• and
• b) recording the result of the determining step on a tangible or intangible media form for use in transmission.

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21) A kit for use in predicting the likelihood that a patient having muscle atrophy will respond to treatment with a muscle anabolic agent comprising,

• a) at least one probe capable of detecting the presence of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16;
• and
• b) instructions for using the probe to assay a biological sample from the muscle atrophy patient for the presence of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16, wherein significantly increase levels of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16 is indicative of an increased likelihood that the patient will respond to treatment with the muscle anabolic agent and the absence of significantly increased levels of the polypeptides in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 16 is indicative of a decreased likelihood that the patient will respond to treatment with the muscle anabolic agent.