Method of detecting procarboxypeptidase A and carboxypeptidase A levels in biological fluids
AssigneePrinceton University
InventorCharles Gilvarg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of measuring carboxypeptidase A levels and total carboxypeptidase A levels, wherein procarboxypeptidase A is converted to carboxypeptidase A by addition of clostripain, in a biological fluid with a carboxypeptidase A substrate, specificity of which is enhanced by addition of a carboxypeptidase A specific inhibitor are provided. In addition, methods of diagnosing acute pancreatitis by measurement of carboxypeptidase A levels and pancreatic cancer by measurement of total carboxypeptidase A levels are also provided.
Claims2
A method of measuring total carboxypeptidase A levels in a biological fluid comprising:
- (a) converting any procarboxypeptidase A in a biological fluid to carboxypeptidase A by addition of clostripain;
- (b) contacting the biological fluid with a carboxypeptidase A substrate in the presence and absence of a carboxypeptidase A specific inhibitor;
- and
- (c) measuring changes in optical density resulting from hydrolysis of the carboxypeptidase A substrate by carboxypeptidase A in the biological fluid in the presence and absence of the carboxypeptidase A specific inhibitor.
A method of diagnosing early stage pancreatic cancer in a patient comprising:
- (a) converting any procarboxypeptidase A in a biological fluid obtained from a patient to carboxypeptidase A by addition of clostripain;
- (b) measuring total carboxypeptidase A levels in the biological fluid by detecting changes in optical density resulting from hydrolysis of a carboxypeptidase A substrate by any carboxypeptidase A in the biological fluid in the presence and absence of a carboxypeptidase A specific inhibitor;
- and
- (c) determining whether the measured levels of total carboxypeptidase A in the biological fluid of the patient are increased as compared to total carboxypeptidase A levels in a healthy population due to elevated procarboxypeptidase A in the biological fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.