Nucleic acids encoding an endometrial bleeding associated factor (EBAF)

Abstract

A method for the early diagnosing of selected adenocarcinomas in a human comprising the steps of removing a bodily sample from the human, and assaying the bodily sample for elevated expression of a specific gene. The gene being assayed for in the bodily sample is the TGFB-4 gene (hereinafter referred to as the endometrial bleeding associated factor (ebaf) gene. The bodily sample can be tissue from a specific organ in the body, or a blood sample. Increased levels of ebaf in the sample relative to basal levels may be indicative of a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon or ovaries, or an adenocarcinoma of the testis.

1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding an endometrial bleeding associated factor (ebaf) having the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1. 
     
     
       2. An isolated  The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1  which is a DNA molecule. 
     
     
       3. An isolated  The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1  which is a cDNA molecule. 
     
     
       4. An isolated  The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1  which is an RNA molecule. 
     
     
       5. A 1.5 kb mRNA transcript encoding an isoform of ebaf. 
     
     
       6. A 2.5 kb mRNA transcript encoding an isoform of ebaf. 
     
     
       7. An isolated  The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1  which is a probe for detecting the presence of ebaf nucleic acid in bodily samples.