University of Louisville Research Foundation

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation

Martin Fusek

Vaclav Vetvicka

Jarmila Zidkova

Methods for diagnosing a cancer in a subject are provided that include determining an amount of autoantibodies immunoreactive to procathepsin D (pCD) in a sample obtained from the subject. Further provided are systems for diagnosing a cancer in a subject that include an autoantibody immunoreactive pCD antigen and a means for detecting binding of an autoantibody to the antigen.

Systems and methods for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer

Human procathepsin D was demonstrated to be mitogenic for breast cancer cells but not normal cells. The activation peptide of the procathepsin D appears to be responsible, since inhibition of enhancement of proliferation of breast cancer cells can be obtained by inhibition of the activation peptide through the use of an agent such as an antibody immunoreactive with the activation peptide.

Growing community of inventors

Tursko, Czechia

Martin Fusek