METHOD AND COMPOSITION FOR DIAGNOSING CARCINOMA

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of screening for the presence of a malignant condition using antibodies specific for mesothelin/MPF and/or mesothelin/MPF-related antigens to detect polypeptides that naturally occur in soluble form.SOLUTION: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for the detection of a malignant condition, and relates to the discovery of soluble forms of mesothelin polypeptides, including mesothelin related antigen (MRA). In particular, the invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding MRA and an MRA variant. The invention also provides the method of screening for the presence of a malignant condition in a subject by detecting reactivity of the antibody specific for a mesothelin polypeptide with a molecule naturally occurring in soluble form in a sample from such a subject, and by hybridization screening using an MRA nucleotide sequence, as well as other related advantages.