Patent ID: 8617831

Claim:
A method of monitoring the status of cancer in a patient comprising: determining the concentration of soluble c-Met ectodomain in a first biological tissue from the patient at a first time point, determining the concentration of soluble c-Met ectodomain in a second biological tissue from the patient at a second time point that is later than the first time point, wherein the first and second biological tissues are the same type of tissues, and determining the status of cancer in the patient by comparing the concentration of soluble c-Met ectodomain in the first and second biological tissues wherein a difference in the concentration of soluble c-Met ectodomain in the first and second biological tissues indicates that the patient's cancer has regressed or worsened; and wherein similar concentrations of soluble c-Met ectodomain in the first and second biological tissues indicates that the patient's cancer has remained stable; and wherein a lower concentration of soluble c-Met ectodomain in the second biological tissue than that in the first biological tissue indicates that the patient's cancer has regressed; and wherein a greater concentration of soluble c-Met ectodomain in the second biological tissue than that in the first biological tissue indicates that the patient's cancer has worsened.