Patent ID: 8343719

Claim:
A method of detecting or diagnosing a cancer comprising the steps of: obtaining a biological sample from a subject in need of diagnosis; measuring an amount of a first microRNA in the biological sample selected from the group consisting of: hsa-miR-15b, hsa-miR-181b, hsa-miR-200c, and hsa-let-7g; measuring an amount of a second microRNA in the biological sample selected from the group consisting of hsa-miR-15b, hsa-miR-181b, hsa-miR-200c and hsa-let-7g, wherein the second microRNA is different from the first microRNA; comparing the amount of the first microRNA and the second microRNA found in the biological sample to a standard amount of the first microRNA and the second microRNA found in normal or non-cancerous cells or to an amount of the first microRNA and the second microRNA in a control sample, wherein the presence of an amplification in the amount of the first microRNA and the second microRNA found in the sample relative to the standard or the control is diagnostic for the presence of cancer; wherein the absence of an amplification in the amount of the first microRNA and the second microRNA found in the sample relative to the standard or control is diagnostic for the absence of cancer; and wherein the cancer is colorectal cancer.