Abstract: The present invention relates to diagnostic, prognostic and clinical methods of distinguishing high-risk IPMN from more benign IPMN as well as high-grade PanIN and PDAC from low-grade PanIN with moderate sensitivity and very high specificity using Das-1 and related antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to diagnostic, prognostic and clinical methods of distinguishing high-risk IPMN from more benign IPMN as well as high-grade PanIN and PDAC from low-grade PanIN with moderate sensitivity and very high specificity using Das-1 and related antibodies.

Abstract: A method for preventing colorectal cancer in a patient possessing human tropomyocin isoform TC22 is disclosed. The method comprises: (a) detecting a serum protein concentration of TC22 in a patient and (b) administering to said patient prior to detecting colorectal cancer in said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a chemotherapeutic composition comprising a chemotherapeutic compound that reduces the level of TC22, wherein the chemotherapeutic compound is selected from the group consisting of sulfasalazine, 5-amino-2-hydroxybenzoic acid, osalazine, and balsalazide.

Abstract: A method for preventing or treating colorectal cancer in a patient possessing human tropomyocin isoform TC22 is presented. Also presented is a method for evaluating TC22 expression reduction activity of a compound.

Abstract: A novel isoform of tropomyosin is disclosed. The isoform is closely related to epithelial human tropomyosin (hTM) and more particularly to hTM5 except the last coding exon. The novel isoform, is called TC22. Northern blot analysis with TC22-specific probe revealed that normal culture cell lines and normal epithelial tissues expressed very little, if at all, TC22 message, whereas their transformed counterparts and tumor tissues including dysfunction of the alimentary canal, significantly increased the expression of TC22. Assays directed at determining the level of TC22 are useful in diagnostics and therapeutics of dysfunction of the alimentary canal. Specific antibodies and mimics for TC22 are also disclosed for use in diagnostics and therapeutics of dysfunction of the alimentary canal.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method for treating ulcerative colitis. Specifically, the method comprises orally or rectally administering to a human having ulcerative colitis a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody which binds to a tropomyosin isoform associated with ulcerative colitis. In another embodiment, the invention pertains to a method for treating ulcerative colitis in a human which comprises the steps of (a) obtaining from a human a colon epithelial cell extract containing a tropomyosin isoform associated with ulcerative colitis; (b) purifying the tropomyosin isoform until the tropomyosin isoform is substantially homogeneous; (c) developing an antibody which binds to the tropomyosin isoform; and (d) orally or rectally administering to a human having ulcerative colitis a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody to bind to the tropomyosin isoform associated with ulcerative colitis.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of therapy and diagnostic methods for ulcerative colitis. Specifically, the method comprises administering a compound or recombinant protein that inhibits interaction between CEP and human tropomyosin. Also included in the invention are methods to screen for drugs useful in treating ulcerative colitis and diagnostic methods for detecting diseases associated with an autoantigen response to hTM in affected tissue.

Abstract: This invention pertains to an in vitro immunoassay method for diagnosing human gastric intestinal metaplasia which comprises the steps of (a) contacting a gastric tissue sample of a subject suspected of having human gastric intestinal metaplasia cells with the monoclonal antibody DAS-1, or a fragment thereof, which monoclonal antibody is produced by the hybridoma deposited under ATCC accession number HB 9397 and which reacts with human gastric intestinal metaplasia antigen; and (b) detecting immunoreactivity between the gastric tissue and the monoclonal antibody, such immunoreactivity indicating a positive diagnosis of human gastric intestinal metaplasia.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention pertains to a method for treating ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease by administering a composition comprising colonic epithelial protein (CEP) to induce tolerance. Another aspect of the invention provides for a composition comprising a colon epithelial cell extract, a LS-180 human colon cancer cell extract, a normal colon cell extract and T lymphocytes of a subject fed with the colon epithelial cell extract in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and/or inflammation. Yet another aspect of the invention is directed to methods for treating inflammatory bowel disease and/or inflammation by administering the aforementioned compositions to a subject.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of therapy and diagnostic methods for ulcerative colitis. Specifically, the method comprises administering a compound or recombinant protein that inhibits interaction between CEP and human tropomyosin. Also included in the invention are methods to screen for drugs useful in treating ulcerative colitis and diagnostic methods for detecting diseases associated with an autoanticen response to hTM in affected tissue.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method for treating ulcerative colitis. Specifically, the method comprises orally or rectally administering to a human having ulcerative colitis a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody which binds to a tropomyosin isoform associated with ulcerative colitis. In another embodiment, the invention pertains to a method for treating ulcerative colitis in a human which comprises the steps of (a) obtaining from a human a colon epithelial cell extract containing a tropomyosin isoform associated with ulcerative colitis; (b) purifying the tropomyosin isoform until the tropomyosin isoform is substantially homogeneous; (c) developing an antibody which binds to the tropomyosin isoform; and (d) orally or rectally administering to a human having ulcerative colitis a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody to bind to the tropomyosin isoform associated with ulcerative colitis.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method for treating ulcerative colitis. Specifically, the method comprises orally or rectally administering to a human having ulcerative colitis a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody which binds to a tropomyosin isoform associated with ulcerative colitis. In another embodiment, the invention pertains to a method for treating ulcerative colitis in a human which comprises the steps of (a) obtaining from a human a colon epithelial cell extract containing a tropomyosin isoform associated with ulcerative colitis; (b) purifying the tropomyosin isoform until the tropomyosin isoform is substantially homogeneous; (c) developing an antibody which binds to the tropomyosin isoform; and (d) orally or rectally administering to a human having ulcerative colitis a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody to bind to the tropomyosin isoform associated with ulcerative colitis.

Abstract: This invention pertains to an in vitro immunoassay method for diagnosing human gastric intestinal metaplasia which comprises the steps of (a) contacting a gastric tissue sample of a subject suspected of having human gastric intestinal metaplasia cells with the monoclonal antibody DAS-1, or a fragment thereof, which monoclonal antibody is produced by the hybridoma deposited under ATCC accession number HB 9397 and which reacts with human gastric intestinal metaplasia antigen; and (b) detecting immunoreactivity between the gastric tissue and the monoclonal antibody, such immunoreactivity indicating a positive diagnosis of human gastric intestinal metaplasia.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the diagnosis of benign Barrett's Epithelium and Barrett's-derived adenocarcinoma. The method of diagnosis comprises contacting a monoclonal antibody which reacts with benign Barrett's Epithelium cells and Barrett's-derived adenocarcinoma cells, but does not react with normal esophageal epithelium cells, squamous carcinoma cells, cardia cells or gastric mucosa cells and detecting immunoreactivity. Immunoreactivity indicates a positive diagnosis Barrett's Epithelium or Barrett's-derived adenocarcinoma.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for treating ulcerative colitis in a human which comprises orally or rectally administering to the human a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody which binds to a colonic antigen associated with ulcerative colitis. In another embodiment, the present invention pertains to a method for treating ulcerative colitis in a human which comprises the steps of (a) obtaining from a human a colon epithelial cell extract containing a colonic antigen associated with ulcerative colitis; (b) purifying the colonic antigen until the antigen is substantially homogeneous; (c) developing an antibody which binds to the colonic antigen; (d) orally or rectally administering to a human having ulcerative colitis a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody to bind to the colonic antigen associated with ulcerative colitis.

Abstract: A novel isoform of tropomyosin is disclosed. The isoform is closely related to epithelial human tropomyosin (hTM) and more particularly to hTM5 except the last coding exon. The novel isoform, is called TC22. Northern blot analysis with TC22-specific probe revealed that normal culture cell lines and normal epithelial tissues expressed very little, if at all, TC22 message, whereas their transformed counterparts and tumor tissues including dysfunction of the alimentary canal, significantly increased the expression of TC22. Assays directed at determining the level of TC22 are useful in diagnostics and therapeutics of dysfunction of the alimentary canal. Specific antibodies and mimics for TC22 are also disclosed for use in diagnostics and therapeutics of dysfunction of the alimentary canal.