Methods of screening for or treating cancers or autoimmune disorders in which a complement C3 or C3 related protein is associated

Abstract

Methods of screening for cancers or treating cancers or autoimmune disorders are disclosed. In an aspect of the present invention, the screening methods are based on the detection of complement C3 or C3 related protein, or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the same, found to be associated with the presence of cancer. Additional screening methods are based on the use of complement regulators Factor I or DAF, or complement receptors 1 or 3. Preferred embodiments to the methods include detection based on immunological properties, physical properties, enzymatic properties and combinations thereof, or detection of a nucleic acid molecule encoding antigen based on nucleic acid amplification.

1 . A method of screening for a cancer comprising the step of detecting in a sample the presence of complement C3 protein or a C3 related protein, or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the protein.  
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the cancer that is screened for is colorectal, renal, bladder or cervical cancer.  
     
     
         3 . A method of screening for a cancer comprising the step of detecting in a sample the presence of one or more of complement decay acceleration factor (DAF) protein or a DAF related protein, complement Factor I (CFI) protein or a CFI related protein, complement binding protein CR1 or a CR1 related protein, complement binding protein CR3 or a CR3 related protein, or a nucleic acid molecule encoding any one of the above proteins.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 3    wherein the molecule detected is CFI protein or a CFI related protein, or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the protein.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 3    wherein the molecule detected is CR3 protein or a CR3 related protein, or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the protein.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 3    wherein the cancer that is screened for is colorectal, renal, bladder or cervical cancer.  
     
     
         7 . A method of treating a cancer comprising the step of modulating complement C3 protein or a C3 related protein associated with the cancer.  
     
     
         8 . A method of treating a cancer comprising the step of modulating any one of complement decay acceleration factor (DAF) protein or a DAF related protein, complement Factor I (CFI) protein or a CFI related protein, complement binding protein CR1 or a CR1 related protein, or complement binding protein CR3 or a CR3 related protein, wherein the protein is associated with the cancer.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 8    wherein CFI protein or a CFI related protein is modulated.  
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 8    wherein CR3 protein or a CR3 related protein is modulated.  
     
     
         11 . A method of treating an autoimmune disorder comprising the step of modulating complement C3 protein or a C3 related protein associated with the autoimmune disorder.