HOXC6 AND OVARIAN CANCER METHODS AND USES THEREOF

摘要

The present invention comprises novel methods, systems, devices, and kits to detect cancer in a patient using HOXC6. Methods and systems are presented herein to (1) determine differential gene expression in cancer tissue (e.g. human epithelial ovarian cancer) using Exon microarray analysis and confirm select gens using qPCR; (2) to correlate transcriptional expression from part 1 with potential protein using IHC; and (3) to confirm specific proteins in sera by ELISA process. In some embodiments, a ELISA kit is provided. More specifically, the inventors developed a cancer screen test based on significant changes in HOXC6 protein in blood serum of ovarian cancer human subjects. Industry available standard protocols and reagents for the detection of HOXC6 in patient blood serum provided highly variable results that would be unsatisfactory for clinical diagnostic testing and screening. Thus the inventors developed and optimized a protocol for indirect sandwich ELISA to detect the HOXC6 protein in blood serum suitable for clinical use.

主权项

1. A method for detecting the likelihood of ovarian cancer which comprises:
measuring a level of HOXC6 in a blood or tissue sample; and if the level of HOXC6 is 50% or less than a normal level of HOXC6, determining that the blood or tissue sample indicates an increased likelihood of having ovarian cancer.