Methods and compositions for detecting endometrial or ovarian cancer

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and compositions for assessing the absence, presence, progression, or stage of cancer. In particular, methods and compositions for detecting endometrial cancer or ovarian cancer are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for assessing the presence, absence, progression or stage of cancer in a female subject comprising:
 determining the level of at least one polypeptide or fragment thereof or the level of at least one nucleic acid encoding said at least one polypeptide or fragment thereof in a sample from said subject, wherein said at least one polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of one SEQ ID NO.s:9-33, or comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of an albumin protein fragment having a mass selected from the group consisting of about 2044, about 2098, about 2070, about 1013, about 1067, about 1639, about 999, about 1342, about 1396, about 1149, about 1405, about 1757, about 952, about 1169, about 1303, about 1623, about 1677, about 2403, about 2457, about 2413, about 2467, about 2541, about 2595, about 2559, about 2613, about 2720, about 2774, about 2916, about 2970, about 3362, about 3415 and about 1396.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is obtained from the cervix, the vagina, or the posterior vaginal fornix. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining the level of at least two polypeptides or the level of at least two nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides or a fragment thereof, wherein the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of one of SEQ ID NO.s:9-33, or comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of an albumin protein fragment having a mass selected from the group consisting of about 2044, about 2098, about 2070, about 1013, about 1067, about 1639, about 999, about 1342, about 1396, about 1149, about 1405, about 1757, about 952, about 1169, about 1303, about 1623, about 1677, about 2403, about 2457, about 2413, about 2467, about 2541, about 2595, about 2559, about 2613, about 2720, about 2774, about 2916, about 2970, about 3362, about 3415 and about 1396. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising comparing the level of at least one polypeptide or the level of a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide in a sample from the subject with the level of at least one polypeptide or the level of a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide in a sample from a subject without the cancer or with a reference level of the at least one polypeptide or of the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide, wherein the reference level is known to be indicative of the presence or absence of the cancer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein an increase in the level of said at least one polypeptide or fragment thereof or the level of said at least one nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide or a fragment thereof in a sample from said subject compared to the level of said at least one polypeptide or fragment thereof or the level of said at least one nucleic acid encoding said at least one polypeptide in a sample from said subject without cancer or compared to said reference level of the at least one polypeptide or of the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide is indicative of the presence of the cancer in the subject. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cancer comprises endometrial cancer, wherein the polypeptide comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO.s: 9-12 or SEQ ID NOs.: 24-33, or comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of an albumin protein fragment having a mass selected from the group consisting of about 1013, about 1067, about 1396, about 1623, about 1677, about 1639, about 2044, about 2098, about 2403, about 2457, about 2413, about 2467, about 2541, about 2595, about 2559, about 2613, about 2720, about 2774, about 2916, about 2970, about 3362, about 3415 and about 1396. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cancer comprises ovarian cancer, wherein the polypeptide comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO.s: 11-21, or comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of an albumin protein fragment having a mass selected from the group consisting of about 2044, about 2098, about 2070, about 1639, about 999, about 1342, about 1396, about 1149, about 1405, about 1757, about 952, about 1169, and about 1303. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the level of said at least one polypeptide or fragment thereof comprises performing a procedure selected form the group consisting of an immunoassay, a colorimetric assay, a Western blot, an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), a radioimmunoassay, and mass spectrometry. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the level of said at least one polypeptide or fragment thereof comprises:
 applying said sample to a solid phase test strip or flow-through test strip comprising an agent which selectively binds to said at least one polypeptide or fragment thereof; and   detecting said polypeptide bound to said agent on said solid phase test strip or flow-through test strip.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said agent comprises an antibody or fragment thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is obtained from a cervical pap specimen. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is substantially free of cells. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises at least one residue associated with iron.