MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE-7 (MMP-7) MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND METHODS FOR THEIR USE IN THE DETECTION OF OVARIAN CANCER

摘要

Compositions and methods for diagnosing ovarian cancer in a patient and for identifying patients with an increased likelihood of having ovarian cancer are provided. The compositions include novel monoclonal antibodies, and variants and fragments thereof, that specifically bind to MMP-7. Monoclonal antibodies having the binding characteristics of an MMP-7 antibody of the invention and monoclonal antibodies that bind to an MMP-7 epitope of a disclosed antibody are further provided. Hybridoma cell lines that produce an MMP-7 monoclonal antibody of the invention are also disclosed herein. The compositions find use in diagnostic methods as well as in screening methods for identifying patients having an increased likelihood of having ovarian cancer. Kits comprising one or more of the disclosed MMP-7 monoclonal antibodies and for practicing the methods of the invention are further provided. Polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence for an MMP-7 epitope of a disclosed monoclonal MMP-7 antibody and methods of using these polypeptides in the production of MMP-7 antibodies are also encompassed by the present invention.