Methods for the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer
AssigneeBoard of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
InventorTimothy L. O'Brien
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosed nucleic acid primer sets, used in combination with quantitative amplification (PCR) of tissue cDNA, can indicate the presence of specific proteases in a tissue sample. The detected proteases are themselves specifically overexpressed in certain cancers, and the presence of their genetic precursors may serve for early detection of associated ovarian and other malignancies, and for the design of interactive therapies for cancer treatment.
Claims6
A method of diagnosing ovarian cancer in an individual, comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining a biological sample from an individual;
- and
- (b) detecting hepsin in said sample, wherein over-expression of hepsin in said sample compared to normal ovarian tissue sample is indicative of the presence of ovarian cancer in said individual.
A method for detecting malignant ovarian hyperplasia in a biological sample, comprising the steps of:
- (a) isolating protein from said sample;
- and
- (b) detecting hepsin protein in said sample, wherein over-expression of said hepsin protein in said sample compared to normal ovarian tissue sample is indicative of the presence of malignant ovarian hyperplasia.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.