Means and methods for diagnosing pancreatic cancer

Abstract

The present invention pertains to the field of cancer diagnosis. Specifically, it relates to a method for diagnosing pancreas cancer in a subject comprising the steps of determining in a sample of a subject suspected to suffer from pancreas cancer the amount of at least one biomarker selected from the biomarkers shown in Table 1 and comparing the said amount of the at least one biomarker with a reference, whereby pancreas cancer is to be diagnosed. The present invention also contemplates a method for identifying whether a subject is in need of a pancreas cancer therapy comprising the steps of the aforementioned methods and the further step of identifying a subject in need of a pancreas cancer therapy if said subject is to be diagnosed to suffer from pancreas cancer. Contemplated are, furthermore, diagnostic devices and kits for carrying out said methods.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for diagnosing pancreas cancer in a subject comprising the steps of:
 (a) determining in a sample of a subject suspected to suffer from pancreas cancer the amount of at least one biomarker selected from the biomarkers shown in Table 1; and   (b) comparing the amount of the at least one biomarker with a reference, whereby pancreas cancer is to be diagnosed.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one biomarker is selected from the biomarkers shown in Tables 2a or 2b and wherein the subject is a female. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one biomarker is selected from the biomarkers shown in Tables 3a or 3b and wherein the subject is a male. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the reference is derived from a sample of a subject known not to suffer from cancer. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein an increase in the amount of the at least one biomarker selected from the biomarkers shown in Tables 2a or 3a compared to the reference is indicative for pancreas cancer. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a decrease in the amount of the at least one biomarker selected from the biomarkers shown in Tables 2b or 3b compared to the reference is indicative for pancreas cancer. 
     
     
         23 . A method for identifying whether a subject is in need of a pancreas cancer therapy comprising the steps of the method of  claim 17 , and a further step of identifying a subject in need of a pancreas cancer therapy if the subject is to be diagnosed to suffer from pancreas cancer. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the pancreas cancer therapy comprises surgery, radiotherapy or drug treatment. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the sample is a urine sample. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the pancreas cancer is pancreas adenocarcinoma. 
     
     
         28 . A device for diagnosing pancreas cancer in a sample of a subject comprising:
 (a) an analyzing unit for the sample of the subject comprising a detection agent for at least one biomarker as shown in any one of Tables 1, 2a, 2b, 3a or 3b, the detection agent allowing for the determination of the amount of the at least one biomarker in the sample; and operatively linked thereto,   (b) an evaluation unit comprising a data processing unit and a data base, the data base comprising a stored reference and the data processing unit being capable of carrying out a comparison of the amount of the at least one biomarker determined by the analyzing unit and the stored reference, thereby establishing the diagnosis.   
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the detection agent is an antibody. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the antibody is immobilized on a solid support in an array format. 
     
     
         31 . A kit comprising a detection agent for determining the amount of at least one biomarker as shown in any one of Tables 1, 2a, 2b, 3a or 3b and evaluation instructions for establishing the diagnosis.