Tumour markers
AssigneeOncImmune Ltd.
InventorsJohn F. R. Robertson, Catherine R. L. Graves
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of determining the immune response of a mammal to circulating tumour marker proteins is described in which a sample of bodily fluid, for example plasma or serum, is contacted with a panel of two or more distinct tumour marker antigens. The presence of complexes between the tumour marker antigens and any autoantibodies to the antigens present in the sample are detected and provide an indication of an immune response to a circulating tumour marker protein. The method is useful for the diagnosis of cancer, particularly for identifying new or recurrent cancer in an otherwise assymptomatic patient.
Claims22
A method for the detection of cancer or early neoplastic change, comprising
- (a) contacting a sample of bodily fluids from a mammal with a panel of two or more distinct tumor marker antigens;
- and
- (b) determining the presence or absence of complexes of the tumor marker antigens bound to autoantibodies present in the sample of bodily fluids, the autoantibodies being immunologically specific to tumor marker proteins;
- wherein the presence of the complexes is indicative of cancer or early neoplastic change,
- wherein the panel provides higher sensitivity and/or specificity than a single tumor marker antigen, and
- wherein at least one of the two or more tumor marker antigens is selected from the group consisting of MUC1, p53, c-erbB2, Ras, and c-myc.
A method for the detection of cancer or early neoplastic change, comprising:
- (a) contacting a sample of bodily fluids from a mammal with a panel of two or more distinct tumor marker antigens;
- and
- (b) determining the presence or absence of complexes of the tumor marker antigens bound to autoantibodies present in the sample of bodily fluids, the autoantibodies being immunologically specific to tumor marker proteins;
- wherein the presence of the complexes is indicative of cancer or early neoplastic change,
- wherein the complexes detected are indicative of cancer,
- wherein the panel provides higher sensitivity and/or specificity than a single tumor marker antigen, and
- wherein the panel comprises at least p53 and c-erbB2.
A method for the detection of cancer in asymptomatic patients or early neoplastic change, comprising
- (a) contacting a sample of bodily fluids from a mammal with a panel of two or more distinct tumor marker antigens;
- and
- (b) determining the presence or absence of complexes of the tumor marker antigens bound to autoantibodies present in the sample of bodily fluids, the autoantibodies being immunologically specific to tumor marker proteins;
- wherein the presence of the complexes is indicative of cancer or early neoplastic change,
- wherein the panel provides higher sensitivity and/or specificity than a single tumor marker antigen, and
- wherein the cancer is an early carcinogenic change in asymptomatic patients.
A method for the detection of cancer or early neoplastic chance, comprising
- (a) contacting a sample of bodily fluids from a mammal with a panel of two or more distinct tumor marker antigens;
- and
- (b) determining the presence or absence of complexes of the tumor marker antigens bound to autoantibodies present in the sample of bodily fluids, the autoantibodies being immunologically specific to tumor marker proteins;
- wherein the presence of the complexes is indicative of cancer or early neoplastic change,
- wherein the panel provides higher sensitivity and/or specificity than a single tumor marker antigen, and
- wherein the tumor marker proteins have alterations that are absent in corresponding normal tissue proteins.
A method for the detection of cancer or early neoplastic change, comprising
- (a) contacting a sample of bodily fluids from a mammal with a panel of two or more distinct tumor marker antigens;
- and
- (b) determining the presence or absence of complexes of the tumor marker antigens bound to autoantibodies present in the sample of bodily fluids, the autoantibodies being immunologically specific to tumor marker proteins;
- wherein at least one of the two or more tumor marker antigens is selected from the group consisting of MUC1, p53, c-erbB2, Ras, c-myc, BRCA1, BRCA2, PSA, APC and CA125 and
- wherein the presence of the complexes is indicative of cancer or early neoplastic change.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.