Method and means for the early detection and diagnosis of certain types of cancers
First Claim
1. A kit for the screening of cancer of certain tumors and histological types in humans, which includes the combination of:
- (i) means, for quantifying the level of a peptide selected from the group consisting of big-ACTH (big-Adrenocorticotropen Hormone), ACTH, and 1-39 amino acid ACTH in human serum;
(ii) means, for quantifying the level of big-β
MSH (big-β
melanocyte-stimulating hormone) peptide in human serum;
(iii) means, for quantifying the level of the alpha chain of glycopeptide hormone in human serum; and
(iv) means, for quantifying the level of the peptide selected from the group consisting of Argenine vasotocin (AVT) and Argenine vasopressin (AVP) plus Argenine vasotocin (AVT) in human serum, each of said means for each of said peptides including in containers a known quantity of radioactive peptide of each type to be assayed, a binding agent specific for the binding of the peptide of the type to be assayed, and a known quantity of the peptide to be assayed for preparation of a standard curve.
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Abstract
This invention is directed to a method and means for the early detection of a wide variety of cancers, in humans, which method and means consists of the assay and development of a pattern or fingerprint of severally biologically inert, or inactive polypeptides (or perhaps biologically active peptides) in the blood of humans, e.g.: big-ACTH (big-Adrenocorticotropin Hormone), big-βMSH (big-beta melanocyte-stimulating Hormone), the alpha chain of the glycopeptide hormones, the measurement of the arginine vasotocin (AVT), an analogue of Arginine vasopressin, (AVP) (or the combined measurement of AVP and AVT). The values obtained by the assays of each of the foregoing polypeptids is then compared with the individual values and patterns found in humans. If any one of the polypeptide values is elevated above the upper end of the normal values, a carcinoma from some tumor site is suspected; also from the pattern of elevations in one or more peptides, a specific type of cancer may be suspected. The tumor site can then be readily localized. The level of detectability of a carcinoma from a variety of tumor sites, by means of this procedure approaches 100%. Since evidence of these biologically inactive prohormones, fragments and analogues of hormones precedes clinically recognizable ectopic hormone production by months or years, an early, reliably detection system for carcinoma cancers is set forth herein. Assays of each of the polypeptides is performed by means of radioimmunoassay coupled with radioreceptorassay or bioassay, where necessary.
29 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A kit for the screening of cancer of certain tumors and histological types in humans, which includes the combination of:
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(i) means, for quantifying the level of a peptide selected from the group consisting of big-ACTH (big-Adrenocorticotropen Hormone), ACTH, and 1-39 amino acid ACTH in human serum; (ii) means, for quantifying the level of big-β
MSH (big-β
melanocyte-stimulating hormone) peptide in human serum;(iii) means, for quantifying the level of the alpha chain of glycopeptide hormone in human serum; and (iv) means, for quantifying the level of the peptide selected from the group consisting of Argenine vasotocin (AVT) and Argenine vasopressin (AVP) plus Argenine vasotocin (AVT) in human serum, each of said means for each of said peptides including in containers a known quantity of radioactive peptide of each type to be assayed, a binding agent specific for the binding of the peptide of the type to be assayed, and a known quantity of the peptide to be assayed for preparation of a standard curve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 23)
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16. A method of screening for carcinoma of certain tumor and histological types in humans, which includes the combination of the following steps:
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(i) measuring the level of big-ACTH (big-Adrenocorticotropin Hormone) peptide in human serum by radioimmunoassay of ACTH, assay of 1-39 amino acid ACTH, and calculating the difference as big-ACTH; (ii) measuring the level of big-β
MSH (big-β
melanocyte-stimulating hormone) peptide in human serum by radioimmunoassay;(iii) measuring the level of the α
chain of glycopeptide hormone in human serum by radioimmunoassay;(iv) measuring the level of the peptide selected from the group consisting of argenine vasotocin (AVT) and argenine vasopressin (AVP) plus argenine vasotocin (AVT) in human serum by radioimmunoassay the steps (i) through (iv) being performable in any sequence; each radioimmunoassay including a measurement of the free or bound radioactive peptide; and comparing the level of each of said peptides with normal values circulating in the blood of humans to determine the elevation, if any, of any of said peptides. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification