Abstract: Methods of screening for cancers or treating cancers or autoimmune disorders are disclosed. In an aspect of the present invention, the screening methods are based on the detection of complement C3 or C3 related protein, or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the same, found to be associated with the presence of cancer. Additional screening methods are based on the use of complement regulators Factor I or DAF, or complement receptors 1 or 3. Preferred embodiments to the methods include detection based on immunological properties, physical properties, enzymatic properties and combinations thereof, or detection of a nucleic acid molecule encoding antigen based on nucleic acid amplification.

Abstract: Methods of screening for or treating cancer are disclosed. The screening methods are based on the detection of an antigen, or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the antigen, found by the present invention to be associated with the presence of cancer. Preferred embodiments of the methods include detection of the antigen based on immunological properties, physical properties, enzymatic properties and combinations thereof, or detection of a nucleic acid molecule encoding the antigen based on nucleic acid amplification.

Abstract: Complexes (which include basement membrane components) and their polypeptide components are found to be related to the invasiveness of a bladder tumor. Detection of such complexes or constituents in a urine sample by immunological or non-immunological methods permits determining the invasiveness of a bladder tumor.