Use of HE4 and other biochemical markers for assessment of ovarian cancers

• US 20070286865A1
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elizabeth Somers, Richard Moore
• Original Assignee: Elizabeth Somers, Richard Moore
• Inventors: Moore, Richard, Somers, Elizabeth
• Application Number:
  US11/650,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20070286865A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/158.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 16/3069 Reproductive system, e.g. ovaria, uterus, testes, prostate
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/57442 of the uterus and endometrial

Abstract

The disclosure relates to use of the HE4/HE4a marker(s) together with one or more other markers to assess ovarian cancers in a patient.

Claims

1. A method of assessing whether a patient is afflicted with ovarian cancer, the method comprising assessing at least two markers, including both the HE4 marker and another marker selected from the group consisting of SMRP, CA125, and CA72-4, in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein elevated levels of the markers is correlated with increased likelihood that the patient is afflicted with ovarian cancer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the patient exhibits a pelvic mass.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising assessing the HE4 and CA125 markers.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising assessing the HE4 and SMRP markers.

5. A method of differentiating whether a pelvic mass in a patient is benign or an ovarian cancer, the method comprising assessing at least two markers, including both the HE4 marker and another marker selected from the group consisting of SMRP, CA125, and CA72-4, in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein elevated levels of the markers is correlated with increased likelihood that the pelvic mass is an ovarian cancer.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising assessing the HE4 and CA125 markers.

7. The method of claim 5, comprising assessing the HE4 and SMRP markers.

8. A method of assessing the response of a patient afflicted with ovarian cancer to a treatment, the method comprising assessing at least two markers, including both the HE4 marker and another marker selected from the group consisting of SMRP, CA125, and CA72-4, in samples obtained from the patient at different times during treatment, wherein decreased levels of the markers at the later time indicates that the patient is responding to the treatment.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising assessing the HE4 and CA125 markers.

10. The method of claim 8, comprising assessing the HE4 and SMRP markers.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the treatment is intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the treatment comprises administration to the patient of an antibody that binds specifically with CA125.

13. A method of assessing recurrence in a patient who has been treated for ovarian cancer, the method comprising assessing at least two markers, including both the HE4 marker and another marker selected from the group consisting of SMRP, CA125, and CA72-4, in a sample obtained from the patient following treatment, wherein elevated levels of the markers indicates that the ovarian cancer is recurring in the patient.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the markers are assessed multiple times following the treatment, and wherein increasing levels of the markers indicates that the ovarian cancer is recurring in the patient.

15. The method of claim 13, comprising assessing the HE4 and CA125 markers.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising assessing the HE4 and SMRP markers.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the treatment is intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the treatment comprises administration to the patient of an antibody that binds specifically with CA125.

19. A method of assessing the likelihood that a patient will develop an ovarian cancer, the method comprising assessing at least two markers, including both the HE4 marker and another marker selected from the group consisting of SMRP, CA125, and CA72-4, in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein elevated levels of the markers is correlated with increased likelihood that the patient will develop an ovarian cancer.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising assessing the HE4 and CA125 markers.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the patient exhibits normal levels of the CA125 marker and an elevated level of the HE4 marker is correlated with increased likelihood that the patient will develop an ovarian cancer.

22. The method of claim 19, comprising assessing the HE4 and SMRP markers.

23. A method of staging a tumor in a patient who is afflicted with ovarian cancer, the method comprising assessing at least two markers, including both the HE4 marker and another marker selected from the group consisting of SMRP, CA125, and CA72-4, in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein increasing levels of the markers are correlated with more advanced stages of ovarian cancer.

24. A method of grading a tumor in a patient who is afflicted with ovarian cancer, the method comprising assessing at least two markers, including both the HE4 marker and another marker selected from the group consisting of SMRP, CA125, and CA72-4, in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein increasing levels of the markers are correlated with more higher grades of ovarian cancer.