Patent ID: 7709222
Filing Date: 2010-05-04
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of making a prognosis for a patient afflicted with colon cancer which comprises: a) determining a quantity of thymidylate synthase present within a first subcellular compartment and a quantity of thymidylate synthase present within a second subcellular compartment in colon cells present in a tissue sample from the patient; b) obtaining a ratio of the quantity of thymidylate synthase present within the first subcellular compartment relative to the quantity of the thymidylate synthase present within the second subcellular compartment; and c) comparing the ratio so obtained to a plurality of standard reference ratios associated with a series of prognoses so as to thereby make a prognosis for the patient; wherein the first subcellular compartment is a nuclear compartment and the second subcellular compartment is a cytoplasmic compartment; wherein the ratios greater than one are associated with an unfavorable prognosis for the patient; and wherein the ratios less than one are associated with a favorable prognosis for the patient.