Methods for diagnosing and treating prostate cancer

Abstract

Devices and methods for diagnosing and treating prostate cancer are disclosed. In practicing the method, a subject's body-fluid sample is assayed for GPC3 protein, and the GPC3 level observed is used in determining whether the subject has an elevated GPC3 level associated with prostate cancer. Patients with such elevated levels may be treated, in accordance with the present disclosure, with a variety of GPC3-related immunotherapy agents.

1 . A diagnostic device for use in for screening for prostate cancer in a human subject, or staging treatment of prostate cancer in a subject, comprising
 a structure for receiving a body-fluid sample from the subject,   an anti-GPC-3 binding antibody associated with said structure and capable of reacting with body-fluid received in said structure, to produce, in combination with other reagents associated with the structure, a detectable reaction indicative of the level of GPC3 in the sample, and   a known-standard indicator against which the level of detectable reaction produced can be assessed as an elevated level associated with prostate cancer.   
     
     
         2 . The diagnostic device of  claim 1 , wherein said structure includes a porous pad having the anti-GPC3 binding protein embedded therein, for reaction with the fluid sample when the sample is applied to the pad, said detectable reaction is indicated by a calorimetric or fluorimetric indicator, and said known-standard indicator includes an index that represents a level of GPC3 corresponding to that associated with prostate cancer. 
     
     
         3 . The diagnostic device of  claim 1 , which includes a spectrophotometic detector for generating a signal related to the level of GPC3 produced, a microprocessor for comparing said signal with a known-standard signal value associated with prostate cancer, and a display for displaying an output of the microprocessor. 
     
     
         4 . The diagnostic device of  claim 1 , for use in staging the treatment of prostate cancer in a human, wherein said known-standard indicator includes two or more indicators that represent different levels of GPC3 associated with different stages of prostate cancer.