Abstract: Disclosed are a method for detecting liver cancer capable of detecting liver cancer with high specificity and a diagnostic therefor, as well as a novel therapeutic drug for cancer having an excellent anticancer effect. The method for detecting liver cancer cells in a sample utilizes as an index the expression of dlk gene. The expression of dlk gene may be measured by immunoassay using an anti-dlk antibody or by measuring mRNA of dlk gene. The therapeutic drug for cancer comprises as an effective ingredient an antibody which undergoes antigen-antibody reaction with Dlk expressing on surfaces of cancer cells and which exerts anticancer action against the cancer cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for detecting liver cancer capable of detecting liver cancer with high specificity and a diagnostic therefor, as well as a novel therapeutic drug for cancer having an excellent anticancer effect. The method for detecting liver cancer cells in a sample utilizes as an index the expression of dlk gene. The expression of dlk gene may be measured by immunoassay using an anti-dlk antibody or by measuring mRNA of dlk gene. The therapeutic drug for cancer comprises as an effective ingredient an antibody which undergoes antigen-antibody reaction with Dlk expressing on surfaces of cancer cells and which exerts anticancer action against the cancer cells.

Abstract: Zinc (II) ions (zinc sulfate, zinc acetate and the like) originated in inorganic salts making it difficult for such ions to pass through biological membranes, thus being difficult to be incorporated in a human body. For overcoming such problems, it is necessary to develop food products with a prophylactic effect against diabetes, which contain zinc sources and have a lower toxicity than zinc (II) ions, a good stability and good fat-solubility. The present invention provides food products which have a prophylactic effect against diabetes using specified health foods, nutritional (functional) foods or the like containing natural substances that contain zinc in high concentrations (plants such as papaya, maca and the like, and yeasts such as baker's yeast, brewer's yeast and the like).