Importance

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Abstract

Antibodies which specifically bind to components of the DNA synthesome which are altered in malignant cells are disclosed. These antibodies can be used, inter alia, to diagnose, prognoses, and treat malignancy and in assays to screen cells, tissues, and body fluids for the presence of a malignant phenotype. These antibodies can be further used to identify test compounds having the ability to suppress the malignant phenotype in a cell by assaying for the ability to inhibit or block the function of an altered component of the DNA synthesome associated with the malignant phenotype. Further, disclosed herein are methods and kit for minimally invasively detecting the presence of neoplasms and malignant conditions using easily obtainable body fluids, such as blood, plasma, lymph, pleural fluid, spinal fluid, saliva, sputum, urine, and semen, for example, to both detect the presence of cancer as well as assess the stage of the disease and the prognosis of the patient. By detecting the presence of an altered form of a component of the DNA synthesome in body fluid, one can diagnose and prognose malignancy. The disclosed method and kit therefor can be used as a diagnostic biomarker for malignancy as well as a means of monitoring the progress and effectiveness of therapeutics.

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First Claim