Patent ID: 7056660
Filing Date: 2006-06-06
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
1. A method for determining an increased risk for or presence of a disseminated cancer cell or a micrometastasized cancer cell in a body fluid from a subject, comprising: (a) investigating, in a plurality of cells from a body fluid of a subject known to have or suspected of being at risk for having a disseminated cancer cell or a micrometastasized cancer cell, for at least one first nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of a cancer-specific mRNA and a cancer-associated mRNA, wherein the mRNA is essentially not expressed in a non-cancer cell in the body fluid; (b) isolating from the body fluid at least one cancer cell according to a method for removing cancer cells from non-cancer cells; (c) investigating at least one cancer cell isolated according to step (b) for at least one second nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of a cancer-specific nucleic acid and a cancer-associated nucleic acid; and (d) investigating at least one non-cancer cell from the body fluid for at least one second nucleic acid that is investigated in step (c) whereby a control is provided based on the body fluid, wherein said first and second nucleic acids are different, wherein presence of said first nucleic acid in the plurality of cells and an increased or decreased presence of the second nucleic acid in the cancer cell relative to the presence or absence of said second nucleic acid in the non-cancer cell from the body fluid indicate an increased risk for having a disseminated cancer cell or a micrometastasized cancer cell.