Novel method of diagnosing, monitoring, and staging colon cancer

Abstract

The present invention provides a new method for detecting, diagnosing, monitoring, staging, and prognosticating colon cancer.

1 . A method for diagnosing the presence of colon cancer in a patient comprising: 
 (a) measuring levels of CSG in a sample of cells, tissue or bodily fluid obtained from the patient; and    (b) comparing the measured levels of CSG with levels of CSG in a sample of cells, tissue or bodily fluid obtained from a control, wherein an increase in measured levels of CSG in the patient versus the CSG levels in the control is associated with the presence of colon cancer.    
     
     
         2 . A method of diagnosing metastatic colon cancer in a patient comprising: 
 (a) measuring levels of CSG in a sample of cells, tissue, or bodily fluid obtained from the patient; and    (b) comparing the measured levels of CSG with levels of CSG in a sample of cells, tissue, or bodily fluid obtained from a control, wherein an increase in measured CSG levels in the patient versus the CSG levels in the control is associated with a cancer which has metastasized.    
     
     
         3 . A method of staging colon cancer in a patient comprising: 
 (a) identifying a patient suffering from colon cancer;    (b) measuring levels of CSG in a sample of cells, tissue, or bodily fluid obtained from the patient; and    (c) comparing the measured levels of CSG with levels of CSG in a sample of cells, tissue, or bodily fluid obtained from a control, wherein an increase in the measured levels of CSG versus the levels of CSG in the control is associated with a cancer which is progressing and a decrease in the measured levels of CSG versus the levels of CSG in the control is associated with a cancer which is regressing or in remission.    
     
     
         4 . A method of monitoring colon cancer in a patient for the onset of metastasis comprising: 
 (a) identifying a patient having colon cancer that is not known to have metastasized;    (b) periodically measuring CSG levels in samples of cells, tissue, or bodily fluid obtained from the patient; and    (c) comparing the periodically measured levels of CSG with levels of CSG in cells, tissue, or bodily fluid obtained from a control, wherein an increase in any one of the periodically measured levels of CSG in the patient versus the levels of CSG in the control is associated with a cancer which has metastasized.    
     
     
         5 . A method of monitoring changes in a stage of colon cancer in a patient comprising: 
 (a) identifying a patient having colon cancer;    (b) periodically measuring levels of CSG in samples of cells, tissue, or bodily fluid obtained from the patient; and    (c) comparing the measured levels of CSG with levels of CSG in a sample of the same cells, tissue, or bodily fluid of a control, wherein an increase in any one of the periodically measured levels of CSG versus levels of CSG in the control is associated with a cancer which is progressing in stage and a decrease in any one of the periodically measured levels of CSG versus the levels of CSG in the control 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 CSG comprises SEQ ID NO:3, 4, 5 or 7.