Patent ID: 8759006

Claim:
A method of distinguishing androgen receptor negative prostate cancer from benign prostatic hyperplasia in a human subject having an elevated PSA level of at least 4 ng/ml, said method comprising analyzing the expression or levels of a PSCA protein of SEQ ID NO:2 in a sample from the subject by the steps of a) contacting the sample with a monoclonal antibody or fragment thereof which binds to an extracellular domain of the PSCA protein, wherein the monoclonal antibody or fragment thereof is capable of selectively binding a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence TARIRAVGLLTVISK (SEQ ID NO:9) or VDDSQDYYVGKK (SEQ ID NO:10); and b) detecting the binding of the antibody or fragment thereof to the PSCA protein; wherein the androgen receptor negative prostate cancer is distinguished from benign prostatic hyperplasia.