Patent ID: 7732148
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of diagnosing prostate cancer and discriminating between cancerous and non-cancerous prostate tissue, comprising the steps of: a) providing a prostate massage to a human; b) obtaining an exprimate urine sample from the human; c) fractionating the exprimate urine sample to produce an insoluble fraction and a supernatant fraction; d) determining the abundance of human annexin A3 protein in the insoluble fraction and/or supernatant fraction; e) providing a first control value for the abundance of human annexin A3 protein in an insoluble fraction and/or supernatant fraction from a second human known not to have prostate cancer, wherein the insoluble fraction and/or supernatant fraction is obtained from the second human by performing steps a)-d); f) comparing the abundance of human annexin A3 protein in the insoluble fraction and/or supernatant fraction to the first control value; and g) diagnosing the human as having prostate cancer and discriminating between cancerous and non-cancerous tissue, if the abundance of human annexin A3 protein in the insoluble fraction and/or supernatant fraction is less than the first control value; wherein the exprimate urine sample, or a fraction thereof, is purified and is free from neutrophils, monocytes or peripheral blood mononuclear cells.