Claims for Patent: 7,767,406

Summary for Patent: 7,767,406

Title:	Method for diagnosing tumors
Abstract:	The present invention describes a method for diagnosing tumours of the reproductive organs which is characterised by determination of the afamin content in a sample of a body fluid or in a tissue sample, wherein a tumour is diagnosed if the afamin content in the sample is decreased compared to the afamin content in a sample from a person without a tumour of the reproductive organs.
Inventor(s):	Dieplinger; Hans (Innsbruck, AT)
Assignee:	Vitateq Biotechnology GmbH (Innsbruck, AT)
Application Number:	11/814,905
Patent Claims:	1. A method for diagnosing testicular cancer, wherein the testicular cancer is a seminoma, a non-seminoma, or a mixed cancer of seminoma and non-seminoma, comprising determining a decrease in of the afamin content in a blood, serum, or plasma sample, wherein the testicular cancer is diagnosed if the afamin content in the sample is decreased compared to an afamin content normally present in blood, serum or plasma of a person without the testicular cancer. 2. The method of claim 1, comprising comparing the afamin content in the sample with an afamin standard. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the afamin standard is an afamin reference value of 50 mg to 70 mg of afamin per liter of blood serum of an individual not having the testicular cancer. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the testicular cancer is seminoma. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one additional marker for cancer is determined in the sample. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one additional marker is alpha-fetoprotein, beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, lactate dehydrogenase, epidermal growth factor, NES-1, or i(12p). 7. The method of claim 1, wherein testicular cancer is diagnosed if the afamin content in the sample is at least 10% lower than an afamin content in a person without a testicular cancer. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein testicular cancer is diagnosed if the afamin content in the sample is at least 20% lower than an afamin content in a person without testicular cancer. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein testicular cancer is diagnosed if the afamin content in the sample is at least at least 30% lower than an afamin content in a person without testicular cancer. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein testicular cancer is diagnosed if the afamin content in the sample is at least 40% lower than an afamin content in a person without testicular cancer. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein testicular cancer is diagnosed if the afamin content in the sample is at least 50% lower than an afamin content in a person without testicular cancer. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein testicular cancer is diagnosed if the afamin content in the sample is at least 60% lower than an afamin content in a person without testicular cancer. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the afamin content normally present in a sample from a person without a testicular cancer is further defined as 50 to 70 mg afamin per liter blood serum. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the afamin content normally present in a sample from a person without a testicular cancer is further defined as 60 mg afamin per liter blood serum. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample is serum. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the afamin content is determined with an anti-afamin antibody. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the anti-afamin antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the antibody comprises a detection marker. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the detection marker is a chromogenic, fluorogenic or radioactive marker. 20. The method of claim 1, further defined as comprising using a kit for determining the amount of afamin in a blood, serum, or plasma sample comprising afamin detection means and an afamin reference for diagnosing testicular cancers. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the kit contains a standardized amount of afamin.

Details for Patent 7,767,406

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.	NOVAREL	chorionic gonadotropin	For Injection	017016	January 15, 1974	7,767,406	2026-01-31
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.	NOVAREL	chorionic gonadotropin	For Injection	017016	December 27, 1984	7,767,406	2026-01-31
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.	NOVAREL	chorionic gonadotropin	For Injection	017016	February 15, 1985	7,767,406	2026-01-31
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.	NOVAREL	chorionic gonadotropin	For Injection	017016	February 16, 1990	7,767,406	2026-01-31
Bel-mar Laboratories, Inc.	CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN	chorionic gonadotropin	Injection	017054	March 26, 1974	7,767,406	2026-01-31
Fresenius Kabi Usa, Llc	CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN	chorionic gonadotropin	For Injection	017067	March 05, 1973	7,767,406	2026-01-31