摘要 |
<p>The present invention relates to cancer markers and methods of detecting cancer markers in a sample. The sample may be peripheral blood. Cancer markers are most commonly mutated or abnormal DNA sequences associated with metastatic cancer. Markers may be detected using PCR, microarrays, or other nucleic acid or peptide-based assays. These methods may be used for a variety of diagnostic purposes, including initial, early-stage or later diagnosis of cancer, particularly metastatic cancer and monitoring of cancer or treatment progression. The cancer markers may also be used to create a cancer marker profile. Treatment may be directed based on this profile. Additionally, methods using blood may provide a cancer marker profile of mutations or abnormalities found in at least one of several tumors in the body, instead of merely one tumor. The invention also include kits, such as primer kits, and microarrays for use in performing the various methods.</p> |