Tumor cell-derived microvesicles

A method for monitoring progression of a cancer or therapeutic efficacy of an anti-cancer treatment in a subject, comprising:

• a) collecting a first sample from a subject having cancer at a first timepoint, isolating microvesicles from the first sample, and measuring an oncogenic protein or an MV-associated protein in the microvesicles obtained from the first sample;
• and
• b) collecting a second sample from the subject having cancer at a second timepoint. the second timepoint occurring after the first timepoint. isolating microvesicles from the second sample. and measuring the oncogenic protein or the MV-associated protein in the microvesicles obtained from the second sample;
• wherein a change in the amount of the oncogenic or MV-associated protein in the microvesicles obtained from the second sample compared to the amount of the oncogenic or MV-associated protein in the microvesicles obtained from the first sample is indicative of progression of the cancer, or a reduction or no change in the amount of the oncogenic or MV-associated protein in the microvesicles obtained from the second sample compared to the amount of the oncogenic or MV-associated protein in the microvesicles obtained from the first sample indicates therapeutic efficacy of the anti-cancer treatment when the first timepoint occurs before the subject has received an anti-cancer treatment. And the second timepoint occurs after the subject has received the anti-cancer treatment;
• and
• wherein said sample is a bodily fluid selected from the group consisting of blood, lymph, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, ascites, saliva, lavage, semen, glandular secretions, exudate, contents of cysts and feces.