| 摘要 |
Disclosed are methods and compositions for testing for various types of human cancers, including in particular metastatic mammary carcinoma, colon carcinoma astrocytoma, renal cell carcinoma, and teratocarcinoma malignant melanoma. The diagnostic method of the invention involves the detection of a gelatinolytic and type IV collagenolytic metalloproteinase having molecular weight of approximately 88 to 92 kilodaltons in size. This high molecular weight type IV collagenolytic enzyme is found to be associated with the cancerous state, but this has not been found in any noncancerous cells tested and further not found in the serum of non tumor bearing animals. The enzyme is associated both with rat and human tumors, the enzyme in each case being quite similar. Methods are disclosed for isolating the 88/92 kd enzyme, the isolated enzyme being useful as a control enzyme and diagnostic assays. Furthermore, the isolated enzyme will be useful in the preparation of antibodies, including monoclonal antibodies, having specificity for the metastasis-associated enzyme. Techniques are also disclosed for isolation and partial purification of the enzyme from both rat and human sources. Furthermore, methods are disclosed for conducting both enzymatic and immunologic based tests for the diagnosis of metastatic and recurrent disease. |
