PSCA: prostate stem cell antigen and uses thereof
AssigneeThe Regents of the University
InventorsRobert E. Reiter, Owen N. Witte
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides a novel prostate cell-surface antigen, designated Prostate Stem Cell Antigen (PSCA), which is widely over-expressed across all stages of prostate cancer, including high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate tumors.
Claims17
A method of imaging the presence of a pancreatic cancer which overexpresses the protein of SEQ ID NO:2 in an individual, said method comprising:
- a) administering an antibody or fragment thereof to the individual, whereby the antibody or fragment specifically binds to the protein of SEQ ID NO:
- 2, and wherein the antibody or fragment is conjugated to a radioisotope;
- and
- b) imaging the antibody bound to the protein of SEQ ID NO:
- 2 in the individual by immunoscintigraphy methods which detect an emission of the radioisotope.
A method of detecting the presence of a cancer in an individual, wherein the individual is suspected of having, or has pancreatic cancer, said method comprising:
- a) contacting a test biological sample from the individual with an antibody that specifically binds to SEQ ID NO:
- 2;
- b) detecting the level of protein in the test biological sample that specifically binds the antibody;
- and, c) comparing the level of protein in the test biological sample to the level of protein that specifically binds the antibody in a corresponding normal biological sample;
- wherein an elevated level of protein in the test sample relative to the normal sample is an indication of the presence of the cancer in the individual.
A method for monitoring the course of cancer in a patient that has pancreatic cancer, the method comprising steps of:
- a) contacting a first sample from the patient with an antibody that specifically binds SEQ ID NO:2 and quantitatively determining the level of protein in the sample that specifically binds the antibody;
- b) contacting a second sample from the patient with an antibody that specifically binds SEQ ID NO:2 and quantitatively determining the level of protein in the sample that specifically binds the antibody, wherein the second sample is obtained at a period of time after the first sample is obtained;
- and c) comparing the level of protein in the first sample to the level of protein in the second sample, wherein a difference in the levels is indicative of the course of the cancer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.