Novel method of diagnosing, monitoring, staging, imaging and treating lung cancer

Abstract

The present invention provides new methods for detecting, diagnosing, monitoring, staging, prognosticating, imaging and treating lung cancer.

1 . A method for diagnosing the presence of lung cancer in a patient comprising: 
 (a) measuring levels of LSG in cells, tissues or bodily fluids in said patient; and    (b) comparing the measured levels of LSG with levels of LSG in cells, tissues or bodily fluids from a normal human control, wherein an increase in measured levels of LSG in said patient versus normal human control is associated with the presence of lung cancer.    
     
     
         2 . A method of diagnosing metastatic lung cancer in a patient comprising: 
 (a) identifying a patient having lung cancer that is not known to have metastasized;    (b) measuring LSG levels in a sample of cells, tissues, or bodily fluid from said patient for LSG; and    (c) comparing the measured LSG levels with levels of LSG in cell, tissue, or bodily fluid type of a normal human control, wherein an increase in measured LSG levels in the patient versus the normal human control is associated with a cancer which has metastasized.    
     
     
         3 . A method of staging lung cancer in a patient having lung cancer comprising: 
 (a) identifying a patient having lung cancer;    (b) measuring LSG levels in a sample of cells, tissues, or bodily fluid from said patient; and    (c) comparing measured LSG levels with levels of LSG in cells, tissues, or bodily fluid type of a normal human control sample, wherein an increase in measured LSG levels in said patient versus the normal human control is associated with a cancer which is progressing and a decrease in the measured LSG levels is associated with a cancer which is regressing or in remission.    
     
     
         4 . A method of monitoring lung cancer in a patient for the onset of metastasis comprising: 
 (a) identifying a patient having lung cancer that is not known to have metastasized;    (b) periodically measuring levels of LSG in samples of cells, tissues, or bodily fluid from said patient for LSG; and    (c) comparing the periodically measured LSG levels with levels of LSG in cells, tissues, or bodily fluid type of a normal human control, wherein an increase in any one of the periodically measured LSG levels in the patient versus the normal human control is associated with a cancer which has metastasized.    
     
     
         5 . A method of monitoring changes in a stage of lung cancer in a patient comprising: 
 (a) identifying a patient having lung cancer;    (b) periodically measuring levels of LSG in cells, tissues, or bodily fluid from said patient; and    (c) comparing the periodically measured LSG levels with levels of LSG in cells, tissues, or bodily fluid type of a normal human control, wherein an increase in any one of the periodically measured LSG levels in the patient versus the normal human control is associated with a cancer which is progressing in stage and a decrease is associated with a cancer which is regressing in stage or in remission.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4  or  5  wherein the LSG comprises SEQ ID NO:4 or 5.  
     
     
         7 . An antibody against an LSG wherein said LSG comprises SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         8 . A method of imaging lung cancer in a patient comprising administering to the patient an antibody of  claim 7 .  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said antibody is labeled with paramagnetic ions or a radioisotope.  
     
     
         10 . A method of treating lung cancer in a patient comprising administering to the patient an antibody of  claim 7 .  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the antibody is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent.