Abstract: A method of detecting a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer in a sample comprises detecting an epigenetic change in at least one gene selected from an NDRG4/NDRG2 subfamily gene, GATA4, OSMR, GATA5, SFRP1, ADAM23, JPH3, SFRP2, APC, MGMT, TFPI2, BNIP3, FOXE1, SYNE1, SOX17, PHACTR3 and JAM3, wherein detection of the epigenetic change is indicative of a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer. Also described are pharmacogenetic methods for determining suitable treatment regimens for cancer and methods for treating cancer patients, based around selection of the patients according to the methods of the invention. The present invention is also concerned with improved methods of collecting, processing and analyzing samples, in particular body fluid samples. These methods may be useful in diagnosing, staging or otherwise characterizing various diseases.

Abstract: A method of detecting a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer in a sample comprises detecting an epigenetic change in at least one gene selected from an NDRG4/NDRG2 subfamily gene, GATA4, OSMR, GATA5, SFRP1, ADAM23, JPH3, SFRP2, APC, MGMT, TFPI2, BNIP3, FOXE1, SYNE1, SOX17, PHACTR3 and JAM3, wherein detection of the epigenetic change is indicative of a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer. Also described are pharmacogenetic methods for determining suitable treatment regimens for cancer and methods for treating cancer patients, based around selection of the patients according to the methods of the invention. The present invention is also concerned with improved methods of collecting, processing and analyzing samples, in particular body fluid samples. These methods may be useful in diagnosing, staging or otherwise characterizing various diseases.

Abstract: A method of detecting a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer in a sample comprises detecting an epigenetic change in at least one gene selected from an NDRG4/NDRG2 subfamily gene, GATA4, OSMR, GATA5, SFRP1, ADAM23, JPH3, SFRP2, APC, MGMT, TFPI2, BNIP3, FOXE1, SYNE1, SOX17, PHACTR3 and JAM3, wherein detection of the epigenetic change is indicative of a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer. Also described are pharmacogenetic methods for determining suitable treatment regimens for cancer and methods for treating cancer patients, based around selection of the patients according to the methods of the invention. The present invention is also concerned with improved methods of collecting, processing and analyzing samples, in particular body fluid samples. These methods may be useful in diagnosing, staging or otherwise characterizing various diseases.

Abstract: A method of detecting a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer in a sample comprises detecting an epigenetic change in at least one gene selected from an NDRG4/NDRG2 subfamily gene, GATA4, OSMR, GATA5, SFRP1, ADAM23, JPH3, SFRP2, APC, MGMT, TFPI2, BNIP3, FOXE1, SYNE1, SOX17, PHACTR3 and JAM3, wherein detection of the epigenetic change is indicative of a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer. Also described are pharmacogenetic methods for determining suitable treatment regimens for cancer and methods for treating cancer patients, based around selection of the patients according to the methods of the invention. The present invention is also concerned with improved methods of collecting, processing and analyzing samples, in particular body fluid samples. These methods may be useful in diagnosing, staging or otherwise characterizing various diseases.

Abstract: A method of detecting a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer in a sample comprises detecting an epigenetic change in at least one gene selected from an NDRG4/NDRG2 subfamily gene, GATA4, OSMR, GATA5, SFRP1, ADAM23, JPH3, SFRP2, APC, MGMT, TFPI2, BNIP3, FOXE1, SYNE1, SOX17, PHACTR3 and JAM3, wherein detection of the epigenetic change is indicative of a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer. Also described are pharmacogenetic methods for determining suitable treatment regimens for cancer and methods for treating cancer patients, based around selection of the patients according to the methods of the invention. The present invention is also concerned with improved methods of collecting, processing and analyzing samples, in particular body fluid samples. These methods may be useful in diagnosing, staging or otherwise characterizing various diseases.

Abstract: A real-time method of detecting the presence and/or amount of a methylated or unmethylated gene of interest in a DNA-containing sample, comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the DNA-containing sample with a reagent which selectively modifies unmethylated cytosine residues in the DNA to produce detectable modified residues but which does not modify methylated cytosine residues (b) amplifying at least a portion of the methylated or unmethylated gene of interest using at least one primer pair, at least one primer of which is designed to bind only to the sequence of methylated or unmethylated DNA following treatment with the reagent, wherein at least one primer in the primer pair produces a detectable fluorescence signal during amplification which is detected in real-time (c) quantifying the results of the real-time detection against a standard curve for the methylated or unmethylated gene of interest to produce an output of gene copy number.

Abstract: A method of detecting a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer in a sample comprises detecting an epigenetic change in at least one gene selected from an NDRG4/NDRG2 subfamily gene, GATA4, OSMR, GATA5, SFRP1, ADAM23, JPH3, SFRP2, APC, MGMT, TFPI2, BNIP3, FOXE1, SYNE1, SOX17, PHACTR3 and JAM3, wherein detection of the epigenetic change is indicative of a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer. Also described are pharmacogenetic methods for determining suitable treatment regimens for cancer and methods for treating cancer patients, based around selection of the patients according to the methods of the invention. The present invention is also concerned with improved methods of collecting, processing and analyzing samples, in particular body fluid samples. These methods may be useful in diagnosing, staging or otherwise characterizing various diseases.

Abstract: A real-time method of detecting the presence and/or amount of a methylated or unmethylated gene of interest in a DNA-containing sample, comprises the steps of (a) contacting the DNA-containing sample with a reagent which selectively modifies unmethylated cytosine residues in the DNA to produce detectable modified residues but which does not modify methylated cytosine residues (b) amplifying at least a portion of the methylated or unmethylated gene of interest using at least one primer pair, at least one primer of which is designed to bind only to the sequence of methylated or unmethylated DNA following treatment with the reagent, wherein at least one primer in the primer pair produces a detectable fluorescence signal during amplification which is detected in real-time (c) quantifying the results of the real-time detection against a standard curve for the methylated or unmethylated gene of interest to produce an output of gene copy number.

Abstract: A method of detecting a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer in a sample comprises detecting an epigenetic change in at least one gene selected from an NDRG4/NDRG2 subfamily gene, GATA4, OSMR, GATA5, SFRP1, ADAM23, JPH3, SFRP2, APC, MGMT, TFPI2, BNIP3, FOXE1, SYNE1, SOX17, PHACTR3 and JAM3, wherein detection of the epigenetic change is indicative of a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer. Also described are pharmacogenetic methods for determining suitable treatment regimens for cancer and methods for treating cancer patients, based around selection of the patients according to the methods of the invention. The present invention is also concerned with improved methods of collecting, processing and analyzing samples, in particular body fluid samples. These methods may be useful in diagnosing, staging, or otherwise characterizing various diseases.

Abstract: A real-time method of detecting the presence and/or amount of a methylated or unmethylated gene of interest in a DNA-containing sample, comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the DNA-containing sample with a reagent which selectively modifies unmethylated cytosine residues in the DNA to produce detectable modified residues but which does not modify methylated cytosine residues (b) amplifying at least a portion of the methylated or unmethylated gene of interest using at least one primer pair, at least one primer of which is designed to bind only to the sequence of methylated or unmethylated DNA following treatment with the reagent, wherein at least one primer in the primer pair produces a detectable fluorescence signal during amplification which is detected in real-time (c) quantifying the results of the real-time detection against a standard curve for the methylated or unmethylated gene of interest to produce an output of gene copy number.

Abstract: A method of detecting a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer in a sample comprises detecting an epigenetic change in at least one gene selected from an NDRG4/NDRG2 subfamily gene, GATA4, OSMR, GATA5, SFRP1, ADAM23, JPH3, SFRP2, APC, MGMT, TFPI2, BNIP3, FOXE1, SYNE1, S0X17, PHACTR3 and JAM3, wherein detection of the epigenetic change is indicative of a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer. Also described are pharmacogenetic methods for determining suitable treatment regimens for cancer and methods for treating cancer patients, based around selection of the patients according to the methods of the invention. The present invention is also concerned with improved methods of collecting, processing and analyzing samples, in particular body fluid samples. These methods may be useful in diagnosing, staging or otherwise characterizing various diseases.

Abstract: An oligonucleotide, primer or probe comprises the nucleotide sequences of any of SEQ ID NO. 5, 6, 7, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 25. The oligonucleotides are useful for the detection of the methylation status of a gene, in particular the MAGE-A3 gene. The oligonucleotides are useful in primer pairs, kits and methods for determining the methylation status of the MAGE-A3 gene and for diagnosing cancer, directing therapy and selecting subjects for treatment. The primer or probe can comprise a loop or hairpin structure and can be used in real-time methylation specific PCR.

Abstract: An oligonucleotide, primer or probe comprises the nucleotide sequences of any of SEQ ID NO. 5, 6, 7, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 25. The oligonucleotides are useful for the detection of the methylation status of a gene, in particular the MAGE-A3 gene. The oligonucleotides are useful in primer pairs, kits and methods for determining the methylation status of the MAGE-A3 gene and for diagnosing cancer, directing therapy and selecting subjects for treatment. The primer or probe can comprise a loop or hairpin structure and can be used in real-time methylation specific PCR.

Abstract: A real-time method of detecting the presence and/or amount of a methylated or unmethylated gene of interest in a DNA-containing sample, comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the DNA-containing sample with a reagent which selectively modifies unmethylated cytosine residues in the DNA to produce detectable modified residues but which does not modify methylated cytosine residues (b) amplifying at least a portion of the methylated or unmethylated gene of interest using at least one primer pair, at least one primer of which is designed to bind only to the sequence of methylated or unmethylated DNA following treatment with the reagent, wherein at least one primer in the primer pair is a primer containing a step loop structure carrying a donor and an acceptor moiety of a molecular energy transfer pair arranged such that in the absence of amplification, the acceptor moiety quenches fluorescence emitted by the donor moiety upon excitation and during amplification, the stem loop structure is disrupted so as to separat

Abstract: An oligonucleotide, primer or probe comprises the nucleotide sequences of any of SEQ ID NO. 5, 6, 7, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 25. The oligonucleotides are useful for the detection of the methylation status of a gene, in particular the MAGE-A3 gene. The oligonucleotides are useful in primer pairs, kits and methods for determining the methylation status of the MAGE-A3 gene and for diagnosing cancer, directing therapy and selecting subjects for treatment. The primer or probe can comprise a loop or hairpin structure and can be used in real-time methylation specific PCR.

Abstract: A method of detecting a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer in a sample comprises detecting an epigenetic change in at least one gene selected from an NDRG4/NDRG2 subfamily gene, GATA4, OSMR, GATA5, SFRP1, ADAM23, JPH3, SFRP2, APC, MGMT, 11112, BNIP3, FOXE1, SYNE1, S0X17, PHACTR3 and JAM3, wherein detection of the epigenetic change is indicative of a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer. Also described are pharmacogenetic methods for determining suitable treatment regimens for cancer and methods for treating cancer patients, based around selection of the patients according to the methods of the invention. The present invention is also concerned with improved methods of collecting, processing and analyzing samples, in particular body fluid samples. These methods may be useful in diagnosing, staging or otherwise characterizing various diseases.