Assay for carcinoma proliferative status by measuring NGAL expression level
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsMichael N. Gould, Steven P. Stoesz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of determining the proliferative status of a carcinoma is disclosed. One obtains a patient sample and then quantitatively analyzes the sample for NGAL gene expression product. The amount of NGAL expression product is compared with a standard curve to determine the S-phase value. The sample can be breast tissue or breast fluid aspirate. Alternatively, blood can by analyzed for this marker to diagnose metastasis.
Claims11
A method of determining the relative degree of proliferation of a human breast carcinoma, comprising:
- (a) obtaining a sample of carcinoma from human breast tissue;
- (b) quantitatively analyzing the sample for an NGAL gene expression product;
- and
- (c) determining the relative degree of proliferation of the carcinoma from the quantitative analysis of the NGAL expression product by determining whether NGAL protein is present in a concentration above a selected normal human value.
A method for screening for the presence in a human female of a breast carcinoma, comprising:
- (a) obtaining a sample of breast fluid from the female;
- (b) quantitatively analyzing the sample for NGAL protein;
- and
- (c) determining from the analysis whether further testing for the presence of a breast carcinoma is warranted by determining whether NGAL protein is present in a concentration above a selected normal human value.
A method for screening for the presence in a human female of a metastasizing breast carcinoma, comprising:
- (a) obtaining a blood sample from the female;
- (b) quantitatively analyzing the sample for NGAL protein associated with breast carcinomas;
- and
- (c) determining from the analysis whether further testing for the presence of a metastasizing breast carcinoma is warranted by determining whether NGAL protein is present in a concentration above a selected normal human value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.