Patent ID: 6589753
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of detecting the presence of malignant melanoma cells in a tissue sample by detecting Metallopanstimulin (MPS-1) in the cytoplasm of said cells, said method comprising:(a) fixing a tissue sample for staining with a buffered formalin having no detergent, thereby preserving the cytoplasmic MPS-1 protein; (b) treating the tissue with a stain blocking agent; (c) treating the tissue with a primary anti-peptide A antibody, said antibody having an affinity for an N-terminal portion of the MPS-1 protein, said N-terminal portion consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, so that the antibody binds to the N-terminal portion, thereby forming an antibody MPS-1 complex; (d) treating the tissue sample with a secondary anti-body having an affinity for said primary anti-peptide A antibody, so that the secondary antibody binds the primary antibody; (e) treating the tissue sample with a red chromogen stain, thereby visibly distinguishing said antibody complexes from the surrounding tissues; (f) counterstaining the tissue sample; and (g) visualizing the staining patterns to determine the presence of cytoplasmic MPS-1 wherein detection of cytoplasmic MPS-1 is indicative of the presence of malignant melanoma.