Abstract: The invention relates to the field of medical prognostics. In particular, the invention relates to methods for predicting prostate cancer progression and overall survival prognosis in a subject involving the detection of elevated amounts of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) in a test body sample such as serum.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of modulating appetite and/or body weight in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a MIC-1-modulating agent, wherein said agent increases or decreases the amount of MIC-1 present in said subject, or inhibits or enhances the biological activity of MIC-1 present in said subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of prognosing the survival of a diseased subject, particularly a subject with chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as selecting an end-stage renal disease subject for a kidney transplant. The methods involve detecting an elevated amount of macrophage inhibitory cytoking-1 (MID-1) in a test body sample from the diseased subject. A method of preventing or reducing the risk of death in a CKD subject which involves removing or inactivating MIC-1 present in the blood, plasma or serum of the subject, is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for controlling body weight and/or appetite in a subject are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods involve administering to an overweight or obese subject an effective amount of a first agent comprising MIC-1, a MIC-1 agonist and/or a MIC-1-inducing agent, and a second agent comprising leptin and/or a leptin agonist, for the purpose of achieving weight loss. In other embodiments, the methods involve administering to an anorexic or cachectic subject an effective amount of a MIC-1-inhibiting agent and a leptin-inhibiting agent, for the purpose of increasing body weight and/or appetite in a subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of medical prognostics. In particular, the invention relates to methods for predicting prostate cancer progression and overall survival prognosis in a subject involving the detection of elevated amounts of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) in a test body sample such as serum.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of modulating appetite and/or body weight in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a MIC-1-modulating agent, wherein said agent increases or decreases the amount of MIC-1 present in said subject, or inhibits or enhances the biological activity of MIC-1 present in said subject.

Abstract: Methods of diagnosing or prognosing a disease or condition associated with increased or over expression of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) are disclosed. The methods typically involve detecting a change in the amount of MIC-1 in a test body sample from a subject taken at two or more time points. The change in the amount of MIC-1 may be adjusted for the effect of at least the following factors as appropriate: the gender of the subject, the age of the subject, the body mass index (BMI) of the subject, the subject being a smoker, the subject being a user of NSAIDs, and the waist-to-hip ratio where the subject is female. The methods are particularly suitable for diagnosing or prognosing the presence of one or more colorectal polyp(s).

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of prognosing the survival of a diseased subject, particularly a subject with chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as selecting an end-stage renal disease subject for a kidney transplant. The methods involve detecting an elevated amount of macrophage inhibitory cytoking-1 (MID-1) in a test body sample from the diseased subject. A method of preventing or reducing the risk of death in a CKD subject which involves removing or inactivating MIC-1 present in the blood, plasma or serum of the subject, is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of modulating appetite and/or body weight in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a MIC-1 modulating agent, wherein said agent increases or decreases the amount of MIC-1 present in said subject, or inhibits or enhances the biological activity of MIC-1 present in said subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of medical prognostics. In particular, the invention relates to methods for predicting prostate cancer progression and overall survival prognosis in a subject involving the detection of elevated amounts of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) in a test body sample such as serum.

Abstract: Methods of diagnosing or prognosing a disease or condition associated with increased or over expression of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) are disclosed. The methods typically involve detecting a change in the amount of MIC-1 in a test body sample from a subject taken at two or more time points. The change in the amount of MIC-1 may be adjusted for the effect of at least the following factors as appropriate: the gender of the subject, the age of the subject, the body mass index (BMI) of the subject, the subject being a smoker, the subject being a user of NSAIDs, and the waist-to-hip ratio where the subject is female. The methods are particularly suitable for diagnosing or prognosing the presence of one or more colorectal polyp(s).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of modulating appetite and/or body weight in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a MIC-1-modulating agent, wherein said agent increases or decreases the amount of MIC-1 present in said subject, or inhibits or enhances the biological activity of MIC-1 present in said subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of modulating appetite and/or body weight in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a MIC-1-modulating agent, wherein said agent increases or decreases the amount of MIC-1 present in said subject, or inhibits or enhances the biological activity of MIC-1 present in said subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of prognosing the survival of a diseased subject, particularly a subject with chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as selecting an end-stage renal disease subject for a kidney transplant. The methods involve detecting an elevated amount of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) in a test body sample from the diseased subject. A method of preventing or reducing the risk of death in a CKD subject which involves removing or inactivating MIC-1 present in the blood, plasma or serum of the subject, is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and novel types of agents for modulating appetite and/or body weight in a subject. Moreover, the invention relates to a method of screening for agents which interact and modulate the activity of the receptor complex for macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1).

Abstract: Methods of diagnosing or prognosing a disease or condition associated with increased or over expression of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) are disclosed. The methods typically involve detecting a change in the amount of MIC-1 in a test body sample from a subject taken at two or more timing points. The change in the amount of MIC-1 may be adjusted for the effect of at least the following factors as appropriate: the gender of the subject, the age of the subject, the body mass index (BMI) of the subject, the subject being a smoker, the subject being a user of NSAIDs, and the waist-to-hip ratio where the subject is female. The methods are particularly suitable for diagnosing or prognosing the presence of one or more colorectal polyp(s).

Abstract: Method of modulating appetite and/or body weight in a subject by administering to the subject an effective amount of a MIC-1 modulating agent. The agent is selected from (i) MIC-1 inhibiting agents which decrease the amount of endogenous MIC-1 in the subject, (ii) MIC-1 inhibiting agents which inhibit the activity of endogenous MIC-1 in the subject, (iii) MIC-1 enhancing agents which enhance the amount of endogenous MIC-1 in the subject, and (iv) MIC-1 enhancing agents which enhance the activity of endogenous MIC-1 in the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of prognosing the survival of a diseased subject, particularly a subject with chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as selecting an end-stage renal disease subject for a kidney transplant. The methods involve detecting an elevated amount of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) in a test body sample from the diseased subject. A method of preventing or reducing the risk of death in a CKD subject which involves removing or inactivating MIC-1 present in the blood, plasma or serum of the subject, is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing risk of miscarriage and/or premature birth, foetal abnormalities, cancer (e.g. prostate cancer) and inflammatory disease (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis) are disclosed which involve determining abnormal levels of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) in a body sample or, otherwise, determining the presence of a MIC-1 variant protein. Also disclosed are methods for reducing the risk of miscarriage and/or premature birth in pregnant subjects, and methods for treatment of inflammatory disease and/or cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of modulating appetite and/or body weight in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a MIC-1-modulating agent, wherein said agent increases or decreases the amount of MIC-1 present in said subject, or inhibits or enhances the biological activity of MIC-1 present in said subject.