Methods for detecting vasculopathies and tumors

Abstract

This invention relates generally to the field of prognosis and diagnosis of vasculopathy and certain tumors. In particular, the invention provides a method for prognosing or diagnosing vasculopathy, neuroectodermal tumor, epithelial tumor, myelomonocytic tumor or lymphoid tumor in a mammal. The invention can also be used for monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment of the vasculopathy, neuroectodermal tumor, epithelial tumor, lymphoid tumor or myelomonocytic tumor.

1 . A method for diagnosing a mammal suspected of having a neuroectodermal, epithelial or myelomonocytic tumor associated with overexpression of NCAM L1, comprising: 
 a) assessing an expression level of a NCAM L1 protein or a mRNA encoding said NCAM L1 protein, in a sample obtained from the mammal;    b) assessing an expression level of a NCAM L1 protein or a mRNA encoding said NCAM L1 protein, in a sample obtained from a mammal not having said tumor;    c) comparing said expression level assessed in steps a) and b), whereby an indication that said NCAM L1 expression level assessed in step a) is greater than the expression level assessed in step b) indicates the presence of said neuroectodermal, epithelial or myelomonocytic tumor in said mammal.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the NCAM L1 protein being assessed is a soluble NCAM L1 protein.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an antibody against the NCAM L1 protein is used to determine the expression level.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the antibody is selected from the group consisting of a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a single-chain antibody, and an antibody fragment.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is selected from the group consisting of urine, whole blood, plasma, serum, saliva, semen, stool, sputum, cerebral spinal fluid, tears, mucus, and amniotic fluid.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neuroectodermal tumor is melanoma or neuroblastoma.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the epithelial tumor is a renal or a lung carcinoma.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the myelomonocytic tumor is a myelomonocytic leukemia.  
   
   
       10 . A method for monitoring treatment, comprising: 
 a) identifying a mammal suffering from a neuroectodermal, epithelial or myelomonocytic tumor associated with overexpression of NCAM L1;    b) assessing an expression level of a NCAM L1 protein or a mRNA encoding said NCAM L1 protein, in a sample obtained from the mammal before treatment;    c) providing treatment to the mammal;    d) assessing an expression level of a NCAM L1 protein or a mRNA encoding said NCAM L1 protein, in a sample obtained from the mammal after treatment; and    e) comparing the expression level of said NCAM L1 protein or said mRNA encoding said NCAM L1 protein from the sample obtained after treatment to the expression level from the sample obtained before treatment from a mammal not having said tumor, whereby effectiveness of the treatment is monitored.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a decrease in expression levels indicates an effective treatment.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a decrease in expression levels indicates an ineffective treatment.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the NCAM L1 protein being assessed is a soluble NCAM L1 protein.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein an antibody against the NCAM L1 protein is used to determine the expression level.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the antibody is selected from the group consisting of a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a single-chain antibody, and an antibody fragment.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the sample is selected from the group consisting of urine, whole blood, plasma, serum, saliva, semen, stool, sputum, cerebral spinal fluid, tears, mucus, and amniotic fluid.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mammal is a human.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the neuroectodermal tumor is melanoma or neuroblastoma.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the epithelial tumor is a renal or a lung carcinoma.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the myelomonocytic tumor is a myelomonocytic leukemia.