Patent ID: 8444957
Filing Date: 2013-05-21
Classification: A61K,A61P,C07K,C12Y

Abstract:
1. A method of screening for a neoplastic disease state, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting tissue from a mammalian organism suspected of having a neoplastic disease state with a composition comprising a compound that binds Flt4 receptor tyrosine kinase, wherein the compound comprises a member selected from the group consisting of (i) an anti-Flt4 antibody; (ii) a polypeptide comprising an antigen-binding fragment of an anti-Flt4 antibody; and (iii) a polypeptide comprising an Flt4 ligand selected from the group consisting of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C (VEGF-C) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-D (VEGF-D); (b) detecting said compound bound to cells in said mammalian organism; and (c) screening for a neoplastic disease from the quantity or distribution of said compound bound to cells in said mammalian organism; wherein the detection of the compound bound to blood vessel endothelial cells is correlated with the presence of a neoplastic disease.