Cancer Detection Methods and Reagents

Abstract

Sensitive and specific methods are provided for use in detecting the presence of cancer marker proteins in the body fluids of a mammal. Also provided are autoantibodies for use in these methods, and immortalized cells which are a source of the autoantibodies.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . An in vitro method for detecting a cancer-associated marker protein present in a bodily fluid of a mammal comprising:
 (a) contacting a sample of bodily fluid from said mammal with antibodies directed against at least one epitope of the marker protein; and   (b) detecting the presence of any complexes formed between said antibodies and the marker protein present in the sample;   wherein the antibodies are mammalian autoantibodies which are derived from the same species as the mammal from which the sample has been obtained,   wherein detection of the complexes indicates the presence of the cancer-associated marker protein in the bodily fluid, wherein the mammal is a human and the autoantibodies are human autoantibodies.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the bodily fluid is plasma, serum, whole blood, urine, feces, lymph, cerebrospinal fluid or nipple aspirate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the cancer-associated marker protein is associated with lymphomas, leukemias, breast cancers, colorectal cancers, lung cancers, pancreatic cancers, prostate cancers, cervical cancers, ovarian cancers, endometrial cancers or cancers of the skin. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the cancer-associated marker protein is a breast cancer-associated marker protein. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the cancer-associated marker protein is a modified MUC1, BRCA1, p53, c-myc, c-erbβ2 or Ras protein. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the cancer-associated marker protein is a modified MUC1, BRCA1, BRCA2, p53, c-myc, c-erbβ2 or Ras protein associated with primary breast cancer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the cancer-associated marker protein is a modified MUC1, BRCA1, BRCA2, p53, c-myc, c-erbβ2 or Ras protein associated with advanced breast cancer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the autoantibodies are obtainable from monocytes isolated from a patient with primary breast cancer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein autoantibodies are obtainable from monocytes isolated from a patient with advanced breast cancer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the autoantibodies are produced by an immortalized cell or cell population. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said autoantibodies are polyclonal antibodies. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the autoantibodies are immobilized on a solid surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein any complexes formed between the autoantibodies and any cancer-associated marker protein present in the sample are detected using secondary antibodies or autoantibodies specific for at least one epitope of the marker protein, the secondary autoantibodies carrying a detectable label. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in addition to the sample a labelled cancer-associated marker protein is added carrying at least one epitope recognized by the autoantibodies. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A diagnostic reagent that comprises mammalian autoantibodies with a specificity for at least one epitope of a mammalian cancer-associated marker protein. 
     
     
         21 . The diagnostic reagent of  claim 20  for use in detecting the presence of a mammalian cancer-associated marker protein in a sample of body fluid. 
     
     
         22 . The reagent of  claim 20  wherein the autoantibodies are human autoantibodies and the marker protein is a human cancer-associated marker protein. 
     
     
         23 . The reagent of  claim 20  wherein the autoantibodies have specificity for at least one epitope of a cancer-associated marker protein associated with lymphomas, leukemias, breast cancers, colorectal cancers, lung cancers, pancreatic cancers, prostate cancers, cervical cancers, ovarian cancers, endometrial cancers or cancers of the skin. 
     
     
         24 . The reagent of  claim 23  wherein the autoantibodies have specificity for at least one epitope of a breast cancer-associated marker protein. 
     
     
         25 . The reagent of  claim 20  wherein the marker protein is a modified MUC1, BRCA1, BRCA2, p53, c-myc, c-erbβ2 or Ras protein. 
     
     
         26 . The reagent of  claim 24  wherein the marker protein is a modified MUC1, BRCA1, BRCA2, p53, c-myc, c-erbβ2 or Ras protein associated with primary breast cancer. 
     
     
         27 . The reagent of  claim 24  wherein the marker protein is a modified MUC1, BRCA1, BRCA2, p53, c-myc, c-erbβ2 or Ras protein associated with advanced breast cancer. 
     
     
         28 . The reagent of  claim 26  wherein the autoantibodies are obtainable from monocytes isolated from a patient with primary breast cancer. 
     
     
         29 . The reagent of  claim 27  wherein the autoantibodies are obtainable from monocytes isolated from a patient with advanced breast cancer. 
     
     
         30 . An immortalized cell population capable of producing autoantibodies directed against at least one epitope of a mammalian cancer-associated marker protein. 
     
     
         31 . The immortalized cell population of  claim 30 , which is capable of producing autoantibodies directed against at least one epitope of a human cancer-associated marker protein. 
     
     
         32 . The immortalized cell population of  claim 31  wherein the autoantibodies are directed against at least one epitope of a cancer-associated marker protein associated with lymphomas, leukemias, breast cancers, colorectal cancers, lung cancer, pancreatic cancers, prostate cancers, cervical cancers, ovarian cancers, endometrial cancers or cancers of the skin. 
     
     
         33 . The immortalized cell population of  claim 32  wherein the autoantibodies are directed against an epitope of a breast cancer-associated marker protein. 
     
     
         34 . The immortalized cell population of  claim 31  wherein the autoantibodies are directed against a modified MUC1, BRCA1, BRCA2, p53, c-myc, c-erbβ2 or Ras protein. 
     
     
         35 . The immortalized cell population of  claim 33  wherein the autoantibodies are autoantibodies to a modified MUC1, BRCA1, BRCA2, c-myc, p53, c-erbβ2 or Ras protein associated with primary breast cancer. 
     
     
         36 . The immortalized cell population of  claim 33  wherein the autoantibodies are autoantibodies to a modified MUC1, BRCA1, BRCA2, c-myc, c-erbβ2 or Ras protein associated with advanced breast cancer. 
     
     
         37 . The immortalized cell population of  claim 30 , which is derived from monocytes isolated from a patient or a group of patients having cancer or other neoplasia. 
     
     
         38 . The immortalized cell population of  claim 35  wherein said cell population is derived from monocytes of a patient or group of patients having primary breast cancer. 
     
     
         39 . The immortalized cell population of  claim 36  wherein the cell population is derived from monocytes of a patient or group of patients with advanced breast cancer. 
     
     
         40 - 51 . (canceled)