Method for detecting cancer
AssigneeThe Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
InventorSol Spiegelman
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Abstract
The existence and status of cancers in humans can be detected by assaying for viral related proteins in plasma samples. Suitable viral related proteins include the enzyme RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase) or an extracellular tumor associated protein which is of viral origin. The aforesaid enzyme and tumor associated protein are immunologically cross-reactive with antibodies to Mason-Pfizer Monkey Virus (MPMV) and murine mammary tumor virus (MMTV) which thereby provide a convenient source of reagents for the instant method.
Claims14
A method for the detection of breast cancer in a human subject, which method comprises immunologically assaying a sample from said subject for breast cancer specific viral related protein, the assay utilizing the cross-reactivity of the protein with antibodies to Mason-Pfizer Monkey Virus or murine mammary tumor virus.
A method for the immunohistological detection of breast cancer which method comprises treating a human breast tissue section with a first antibody against a virus selected from Mason-Pfizer Monkey Virus and murine mammary tumor virus, thereafter treating said tissue section with a second antibody directed against the first antibody, which second antibody is conjugated to peroxidase enzyme and then treating the resulting tissue section with a substrate of said enzyme which forms a colored precipitate on contact with said enzyme whereby positive staining of said tissue section is indicative of the presence of malignant cells in said tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.