Differential diagnosis method

A method of treating a cancer in a subject, which comprises the following steps:

• (i) determining a size profile of circulating chromatin fragments in a blood, serum or plasma sample obtained from the subject, wherein the subject has been determined to have an elevated level of circulating chromatin fragments;
• (ii) using the size profile of the circulating chromatin fragments to indicate whether the disease present is a cancer;
• wherein the size profile of the circulating chromatin fragments in a subject with a cancer is smaller compared to a subject with a NETosis related disease;
• and
• (iii) administering a treatment to the subject if based on step (ii) cancer is present.

A method of treating a NETosis related disease in a subject, which comprises the following steps:

• (i) determining a size profile of circulating chromatin fragments in a blood, serum or plasma sample obtained from the subject, wherein the subject has been determined to have an elevated level of circulating chromatin fragments;
• (ii) using the size profile of the circulating chromatin fragments to indicate whether the disease present is a NETosis related disease;
• wherein the size profile of the circulating chromatin fragments in a subject with a NETosis related disease is larger compared to a subject with cancer;
• and
• (iii) administering a treatment to the subject if based on step (ii) a NETosis related disease is present.

A method for measuring nucleosomes in a sample, comprising:

• (i) contacting the sample with a DNA intercalating dye;
• (ii) contacting the sample with a binding agent which specifically binds to a nucleosome or a component thereof;
• (iii) determining a degree of binding of the DNA intercalating dye to the nucleosomes;
• and
• (iv) using the degree of binding of the DNA intercalating dye to measure an amount of nucleosomes present in the sample.