Patent ID: 7108983
Filing Date: 2006-09-19
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for screening an individual for primary colorectal cancer, the method comprising: a) determining a total concentration of TIMP-1 in a plasma sample of said individual; b) constructing a percentile plot of total plasma TIMP-1 concentrations obtained from a non-colorectal cancer population; c) constructing a ROC (receiver operating characteristics) curve based on total plasma TIMP-1 concentrations determined in a non-colorectal cancer population and on total plasma TIMP-1 concentrations determined in a primary colorectal cancer population; d) selecting a desired sensitivity; e) determining from the ROC curve the specificity corresponding to the desired sensitivity; f) determining from the percentile plot the total plasma TIMP-1 concentration value corresponding to the determined specificity; and g) indicating the individual as likely to have primary colorectal cancer if the total concentration of TIMP-1 in the plasma sample of the individual is equal to or higher than said total plasma TIMP-1 concentration value corresponding to the determined specificity and indicating the individual as unlikely to have primary colorectal cancer if the total concentration of TIMP-1 in the plasma sample of the individual is lower than said total plasma TIMP-1 concentration value corresponding to the determined specificity.