DETECTION OF EPHA3 AS A MARKER OF THE PRESENCE OF A SOLID TUMOR

摘要

The disclosure provides methods and compositions for detecting non-hematopoietic, non-tumor EphA3-expressing cells in cancer patients and for monitoring the prognosis of patients using EphA3 as a detection marker. Specifically, the level of EphA3+ non- hematopoietic. non-tumor cells in the peripheral blood is used for diagnosing the presence of a solid tumor. The methods further comprise determining whether the EphA3+ cells express CD34, CD45, CD44, CD90, and/or KDR. Methods for treating patients having an increased level of EphA3-expressing non-hematopoietic, non-tumor cells in the blood are also described.