Method for determining the presence of mutated BRCA protein
AssigneeBaystate Medical Center, Inc.
InventorsLorrie A. Adams, Timothy J. Byrne, Gabriel M. Cohn, Margaret T. Reece
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Abstract
This invention relates to a simple and reliable screening method for determining an individual's susceptibility to breast, ovarian, colon or prostrate cancer. This invention also relates to a test kit for use in conjunction with this method. The inventive method targets a specific alteration of the BRCA protein and identifies a non-invasive source of normal cells that express this protein.
Claims22
An antibody-based method for determining the presence of mutated BRCA protein in cells expressing the protein, wherein unmutated BRCA protein contains amino-terminus and carboxy-terminus regions and wherein mutated BRCA protein is typically a foreshortened protein from which carboxy-terminus regions are missing, wherein the method comprises:
- preparing a first and a second equal quantity of cells that express the BRCA protein, wherein the first and the second equal quantity of cells are obtained from one test subject;
- administering a quantity of a first primary antibody capable of detecting or reacting with the amino-terminus regions of the BRCA protein to the first quantity of cells;
- administering an equal quantity of a second primary antibody capable of detecting or reacting with the carboxy-terminus regions of the BRCA protein to the second quantity of cells;
- measuring antibody reactivity within the first and second quantity of cells;
- and
- comparing the measured antibody reactivity within the first quantity of cells to the measured antibody reactivity within the second quantity of cells to determine the presence of mutated BRCA protein in the first and second quantity of cells,
- wherein a difference between the measured antibody reactivity within the first quantity of cells and the measured antibody reactivity within the second quantity of cells indicates the presence of mutated BRCA protein in the first and second quantity of cells.
An antibody-based method for determining the presence of mutated BRCA protein in buccal cells, wherein unmutated BRCA protein contains amino-terminus and carboxy-terminus regions and wherein mutated BRCA protein is typically a foreshortened protein from which carboxy-terminus regions are missing, wherein the method comprises:
- preparing a first and a second equal quantity of cells that express the BRCA protein, wherein the first and the second equal quantity of cells are obtained from one test subject;
- administering a quantity of a first primary antibody capable of detecting or reacting with the amino-terminus regions of the BRCA protein to the first quantity of cells;
- administering an equal quantity of a second primary antibody capable of detecting or reacting with the carboxy-terminus regions of the BRCA protein to the second quantity of cells;
- measuring antibody reactivity within the first and second quantity of cells;
- and
- comparing the measured antibody reactivity within the first quantity of cells to the measured antibody reactivity within the second quantity of cells to determine the presence of mutated BRCA protein in the first and second quantity of cells,
- wherein a difference between the measured antibody reactivity within the first quantity of cells and the measured antibody reactivity within the second quantity of cells indicates the presence of mutated BRCA protein in the first and second quantity of cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.