ASSAY FOR GLYCOPROTEINS CONTAINING MANNOSE 6-PHOSPHATE

摘要

This invention relates to methods for detecting mannose 6-phosphorylated glycoproteins which are useful as prognostic markers for many types of cancer including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer. The methods of detection include histological and biochemical (protein blotting) assays using any probe that recognizes mannose 6-phosphorylated glycoproteins. Such probes include derivatives of purified mannose 6-phosphate receptors, fragments of mannose 6-phosphate receptors, genetically engineered mannose 6-phosphate receptors, and antibodies that recognize mannose 6-phosphorylated oligosaccharides and glycoproteins. The results of a study employing the inventive prognostic marker show that patients testing positive for mannose 6-phosphorylated glycoproteins are significantly more likely to die of breast cancer within five years than are patients testing negative for mannose 6-phosphorylated glycoproteins.