Detection and treatment of cancers of the lung

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for cancer therapies and diagnostics, including but not limited to, cancer markers. In particular, the present invention provides tumor antigens associated with specific cancers and diagnostic assays for the detection of such antigens and associated autoantibodies as indicative of the presence of specific cancers. The present invention further provides cancer immunotherapy utilizing the tumor antigens of the present invention.

1 . A method for detecting cancer, comprising: 
 a) providing a sample from a subject suspected of having cancer; and    b) detecting the presence of a tumor antigen, wherein said tumor antigen is protein gene product 9.5 in said sample, thereby detecting cancer.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancer is lung cancer.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject comprises a human subject.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said sample is selected from the group consisting of a blood sample and a tumor sample.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said detecting comprises exposing said sample to an antibody and detecting said antibody binding to said tumor antigen.  
   
   
       7 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises step c) providing a prognosis to said subject.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said detecting cancer further comprises detecting a stage of said cancer.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said detecting cancer further comprises detecting a sub-type of said cancer.  
   
   
       12 - 30 . (canceled)