Methods and compositions for the detection of cancer cells

摘要

A molecular probe for use in detecting, monitoring, and/or imaging cancer cells and/or cancer cell metastasis, migration, dispersal, and/or invasion includes a targeting agent and a detectable moiety. The targeting agent specifically binds to and/or complexes with a proteolytically cleaved extracellular fragment of an immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily cell adhesion molecule that is expressed by a cancer cell or another cell in the cancer cell microenvironment.

主权项

1. A method of detecting cancer cells and/or cancer cell metastasis, migration, dispersal, and/or invasion, the method comprising:
administering to a subject an amount of a molecular probe, the molecular probe comprising a targeting agent and a detectable moiety, the targeting agent specifically binding to and/or complexing with a proteolytically cleaved extracellular fragment of an immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily cell adhesion molecule that is expressed by a cancer cell or another cell in the cancer cell microenvironment; and detecting molecular probes bound to and/or complexed with the cancer cells to determine the location and/or distribution of the cancer cells in the subject.