Methods of detection of cancer using peptide profiles

Abstract

The disclosed methods address the identification and monitoring of cancer in a subject using serum peptide profiles. Such profiles allow the detection of the differential presence of certain serum peptide markers in comparison with controls. The profiles can be determined employing mass spectrometry.

1 - 77 . (canceled) 
     
     
         78 . A method of identifying cancer of the prostate in a subject comprising detecting prostate cancer in the subject by detecting an increase in the following peptides: a complement C3f peptide or a fragment thereof, clusterin, complement C4-alpha, kininogen or factor XIII peptide fragment, or any combination thereof in a plasma or serum sample obtained from the subject relative to the level of those peptides in a healthy control, thereby identifying cancer of the prostate in the subject. 
     
     
         79 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising detecting a decrease in fibrinopeptideA peptide or a fragment thereof, or a fibrinogen-alpha peptide fragment, or any combination thereof in a biological sample obtained from the subject. 
     
     
         80 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising measuring an increase in an ITIH4 peptide relative to the level in a control. 
     
     
         81 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the detecting comprises analyzing the biological sample, or a preparation thereof using mass spectrometry. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the mass spectrometry is MALDI TOF mass spectrometry. 
     
     
         83 . A method of identifying cancer of the prostate in a subject comprising detecting prostate cancer in the subject by detecting a decrease in a fibrinopeptide A or a fragment thereof and a fibrinogen-alpha peptide fragment, and an increase in a complement C3f peptide or a fragment thereof, a ITIH4, clusterin, complement C4-alpha, kininogen and factor XIII peptide fragment in a plasma or serum sample obtained from the subject relative to the level of those peptides in a healthy control, thereby identifying cancer of the prostate in the subject. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the fibrinopeptideA peptide fragment is selected from the group consisting of DSGEGDFLAEGGGVR (SEQ ID NO. 1), SGEGDFLAEGGGVR (SEQ ID NO. 2), GEGDFLAEGGGVR (SEQ ID NO. 3), EGDFLAEGGGVR (SEQ ID NO. 4), GDFLAEGGGVR (SEQ ID NO. 5), DFLAEGGGVR (SEQ ID NO. 6) and LAEGGGVR (SEQ ID NO. 25). 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the complement C3f peptide fragment is selected from the group consisting of, SSKITHRIHWESASLL (SEQ ID NO. 8), SKITHRIHWESASLL (SEQ ID NO. 9), KITHRIHWESASLL (SEQ ID NO. 10), THRIHWESASLL (SEQ ID NO. 11), and IHWESASLL (SEQ ID NO. 28). 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the ITIH4 peptide fragment is selected from the group consisting of PGVLSSRQLGLPGPPDVPDHAAYHPF (SEQ ID NO. 13), SRQLGLPGPPDVPDHAAYHPF (SEQ ID NO. 15), HAAYHPFR (SEQ ID NO. 34), QLGLPGPPDVPDHAAYHPFR (SEQ ID NO. 35), HAAYHPF (SEQ ID NO. 39) NVHSGSTFFKYYLQGAK1PKPEASFSPR (SEQ ID NO. 40) and NVHSAGAAGSRMNFRPGVLSS (SEQ ID NO. 41). 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the clusterin peptide fragment is HFFFPKSRIV (SEQ ID NO. 17). 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the complement C4-alpha peptide fragment is GLEEELQFSLGSKINVKVGGNS (SEQ ID NO. 23). 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the fibrinogen-alpha peptide fragment is selected from the group consisting of SSSYSKQFTSSTSYNRGDSTFESKSYKMA (SEQ ID NO. 55) and SSSYSKQFTSSTSYNRGDSTFESKSYKM (SEQ ID NO. 56). 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the kininogen peptide fragment is NLGHGHKHERDQGHGHQ (SEQ ID NO. 52). 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the factor XIII peptide fragment is AVPPNNSNAAEDDLPTVELQGVVPR (SEQ ID NO. 53). 
     
     
         92 . A method of identifying cancer of the prostate in a subject comprising: detecting in a plasma or serum biological sample obtained from the subject levels of one or more peptides selected from the group consisting of: a complement C3f peptide or a fragment thereof, clusterin peptide fragment, complement C4-alpha peptide fragment, kininogen peptide fragment, and factor XIII peptide fragment; and identifying cancer of the prostate in the subject when the levels of the one or more peptides in the subject are increased relative to the level of the corresponding peptides in a healthy control. 
     
     
         93 . A method of identifying prostate cancer in a subject, comprising: obtaining a plasma or serum biological sample from the subject; detecting prostate cancer in the subject by detecting levels of fibrinopeptideA or a fragment thereof, a fibrinogen-alpha peptide fragment, complement C3f peptide or a fragment thereof, ITIH4 peptide fragment, clusterin peptide fragment, complement C4-alpa peptide fragment, kininogen peptide fragment, and factor XIII peptide fragment; and identifying cancer of the prostate in the subject when the levels of the fibrinopeptideA or a fragment thereof and fibrinogen-alpha peptide fragment in the subject sample are decreased relative to the level of the corresponding peptides in a healthy control, and when the levels of complement C3f peptide or fragment thereof, ITIH4, clusterin, complement C4-alpha, kininogen and factor XIII peptide fragments are increased relative to the level of the corresponding peptides in a healthy control.