Method of Diagnosing, Monitoring, Staging, Imaging and Treating Prostate Cancer

Abstract

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

1 : A method for diagnosing the presence of prostate cancer in a patient comprising:
 (a) determining levels of CSG in cells, tissues or bodily fluids in a patient; and   (b) comparing the determined levels of CSG with levels of CSG in cells, tissues or bodily fluids from a normal human control, wherein a change in determined levels of CSG in said patient versus normal human control is associated with the presence of prostate cancer.   
     
     
         2 : A method of diagnosing metastases of prostate cancer in a patient comprising:
 (a) identifying a patient having prostate cancer that is not known to have metastasized;   (b) determining CSG levels in a sample of cells, tissues, or bodily fluid from said patient; and   (c) comparing the determined CSG levels with levels of CSG in cells, tissue, or bodily fluid of a normal human control, wherein an increase in determined CSG levels in the patient versus the normal human control is associated with a cancer which has metastasized.   
     
     
         3 : A method of staging prostate cancer in a patient having prostate cancer comprising:
 (a) identifying a patient having prostate cancer;   (b) determining CSG levels in a sample of cells, tissue, or bodily fluid from said patient; and   (c) comparing determined CSG levels with levels of CSG in cells, tissues, or bodily fluid of a normal human control, wherein an increase in determined CSG levels in said patient versus the normal human control is associated with a cancer which is progressing and a decrease in the determined CSG levels is associated with a cancer which is regressing or in remission.   
     
     
         4 : A method of monitoring prostate cancer in a patient for the onset of metastasis comprising:
 (a) identifying a patient having prostate cancer that is not known to have metastasized;   (b) periodically determining levels of CSG in samples of cells, tissues, or bodily fluid from said patient; and   (c) comparing the periodically determined CSG levels with levels of CSG in cells, tissues, or bodily fluid of a normal human control, wherein an increase in any one of the periodically determined CSG levels in the patient versus the normal human control is associated with a cancer which has metastasized.   
     
     
         5 : A method of monitoring a change in stage of prostate cancer in a patient comprising:
 (a) identifying a patient having prostate cancer;   (b) periodically determining levels of CSG in cells, tissues, or bodily fluid from said patient; and   (c) comparing the periodically determined CSG levels with levels of CSG in cells, tissues, or bodily fluid of a normal human control, wherein an increase in any one of the periodically determined CSG 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 : A method of identifying potential therapeutic agents for use in imaging and treating prostate cancer comprising screening molecules for an ability to bind to CSG wherein the ability of a molecule to bind to CSG is indicative of the molecule being useful in imaging and treating prostate cancer. 
     
     
         7 : The method of  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  or  6  wherein the CSG comprises SEQ ID NO:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 or a polypeptide encoded thereby. 
     
     
         8 : An antibody which specifically binds CSG. 
     
     
         9 : A method of imaging prostate cancer in a patient comprising administering to the patient an antibody of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         10 : The method of  claim 9  wherein said antibody is labeled with paramagnetic ions or a radioisotope. 
     
     
         11 : A method of treating prostate cancer in a patient comprising administering to the patient an antibody of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         12 : The method of  claim 11  wherein the antibody is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent.