Abstract: Isolated peptides comprising an amino acid sequence having Formula I X1X2X3X4,??I wherein X1 is an optional residue of an amino acid selected from the group of R, F, Y, S and conservative substitutes thereof; X2 stands for a residue of an amino acid selected from the group of R and A and conservative substitutes thereof; X3 is a residue of an amino acid selected from the group of F, P, G, Q, M and conservative substitutes thereof; and X4 is a residue of an amino acid selected from the group of K, F, G, P and conservative substitutes thereof. The novel peptides are capable of binding to human kallikrein 2 and of inhibiting the proteolytic activity of human kallikrein 2. They can be used in prostate cancer treatment as such or in combination with other ligands modulating the activity of factors mediating tumor growth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel peptide ligands for prostate specific antigen (PSA) binding specifically with it and enhancing its enzyme activity, to a process for preparation of these peptides, to diagnostic and pharmaceutical compositions comprising these peptides, to the use of these peptides for pharmaceutical and research preparations, to methods using these peptides in diagnostic assays for determination of the concentrations of various molecular forms of PSA, to methods for modulating the PSA enzyme activity and PSA activity dependent conditions by using these peptides either in vivo or in vitro and to the use of these peptides in procedures for biochemical isolation and purification of PSA.

Abstract: This invention concerns an immunoassay for quantitative determination of the amount of the complex (PSA-A2M) between prostate specific antigen (PSA) and &agr;2-macroglobulin (A2M) in a sample. The assay comprises the steps of removing immunoreactive PSA from the sample, treating the PSA-A2M complex in the remaining supernatant so as to make the PSA thereof immunoreactive, determining the immunoreactive PSA derived from the PSA-A2M complex by exposing it to an antibody which binds immunoreactive PSA, and detecting the PSA. The invention also concerns a method for differentiating patients with cancer of the prostate (PCa) from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or healthy male subjects without PCa, wherein the individual's body fluid concentration of PSA has been determined as free PSA and as total PSA.

Abstract: According to the method of the invention, immunoassays are applied to measure free PSA as well as a proteinase inhibitor complex. Free PSA and PSA complex are according to the invention measured by a non-competitive immunoassay employing at least two different monoclonal antibodies. The invention is further characterized by that the PSA proteinase inhibitor complex of interest is formed either with &agr;1-antichymotrypsin, &agr;1-protease inhibitor (API) or &agr;2-macroglobulin. Moreover, the invention is characterized by that free PSA, the PSA-proteinase inhibitor complex and their ratio are applied in the diagnosis of patients with prostate cancer.

Abstract: According to the method of the invention, immunoassays are applied to measure free PSA as well as a proteinase inhibitor complex. Free PSA and PSA complex are according to the invention measured by a non-competitive immunoassay employing at least two different antibodies. The invention is further characterized in that the PSA proteinase inhibitor complex of interest is formed with .alpha..sub.1 -antichymotrypsin. Moreover, the invention is characterized in that free PSA, the PSA-proteinase inhibitor complex and their ratio are applied in the diagnosis of patients with prostate cancer.

Abstract: Method for the diagnosis of cancer tumors which comprises determining the concentration of oncofetal urine peptide in the blood serum or the urine of the patient. The oncofetal urine peptide is immunochemically identifiable by means of an antiserum which is produced by the immunization of purified oncofetal urine peptide. The purification method has the following steps:(a) concentrating urine peptides from cancer patients by means of dialyzation and lyophilization;(b) separating the urine peptides having a molecular weight of 4,000 to 10,000 by means of gel filtration to achieve a peptide fraction;(c) concentrating of the peptide fraction through lyophilization;(d) subjecting the peptide fraction to ion exchange chromatography by using SP-Sephadex, gradient elution at pH 4 to 5, ion strength 0.1 to 0.5 mol/l;(e) subjecting the treated peptide fraction to high Pressure Liquid Chromatography using a reverse phase column and eluation in a gradient containing phosphate buffer 10 mmol/l pH 6.