Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of detecting carcinomas by measuring the level of a glycero compound, such as glycerol-3-phosphate, in a plasma, serum, or urine specimen from a patient. The method is particularly useful as a screening test for ovarian and breast carcinomas.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods for identifying and characterizing compounds that modulate the activity of an LPA receptor.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods for detecting preeclampsia in pregnancies. The present invention comprises the steps of obtaining a sample specimen from a patient, assaying the specimen to determine the level of glycerophosphatidyl compounds, glycerophosphatidylcholine, lysophospholipids and/or lysophosphatidylcholine in the sample, comparing levels in the sample to levels in normal samples, and correlating significant decreases as compared to normal samples as a positive indicator of preeclampsia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to non-radioactive enzymatic methods for detecting Sphingosine-1-Phosphate (S1P) in biological fluids. The present invention further relates to a method of detecting the presence of cancer in a patient by the use of these and other methods of detecting (S1P) in biological samples from a patient.

Abstract: Applicant has probed the Edg2 lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor with a series of LPA analogs to determine receptor activation. The present invention is drawn to a series of LPA analogs which function as Edg2 receptor agonists, and methods of using such compounds to activate the Edg2 receptor of the surface of a cell. The compounds of the invention comprise a glycerol backbone with an Sn1 ester-linked saturated or unsaturated alkyl group, substitutions of the hydroxyl group (—OH) at carbon two of the glycerol backbone, and optional replacement of the phosphate di-anion with either a hydroxyl group or a dimethylated phosphate. These LPA analogs may find uses in cancer and neurological disorders.

Abstract: The present invention is an enzymatic method and diagnostic kits for detecting and quantifying the presence of one or more lysophospholids in a sample of bodily fluid taken from a test subject. The method uses enzymes in a two step assay and may be used to detect disease conditions associated with altered levels of lysophospholipids and to correlate such conditions with altered levels of lysophospholipids.

Abstract: The present invention is an enzymatic method and diagnostic kits for detecting and quantifying the presence of one or more lysophospholids in a sample of bodily fluid taken from a test subject. The method uses enzymes in a two step assay and may be used to detect disease conditions associated with altered levels of lysophospholipids and to correlate such conditions with altered levels of lysophospholipids.

Abstract: The present invention is an enzymatic method and diagnostic kits for detecting and quantifying the presence of one or more lysophospholids in a sample of bodily fluid taken from a test subject. The method uses enzymes in a two step assay and may be used to detect disease conditions associated with altered levels of lysophospholipids and to correlate such conditions with altered levels of lysophospholipids.

Abstract: The present invention is an enzymatic method and diagnostic kits for detecting and quantifying the presence of one or more lysophospholids in a sample of bodily fluid taken from a test subject. The method uses enzymes in a two step assay and may be used to detect disease conditions associated with altered levels of lysophospholipids and to correlate such conditions with altered levels of lysophospholipids.