Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for screening maternal urine samples for changes in the pattern of mass spectral fingerprinting which have been found to be characteristic of fetal aneuploidies such as Down's Syndrome and have application for the 5 screening of other fetal abnormalities and disorders of pregnancy including gestational trophoblastic diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for screening human tissue or fluid samples for changes in the expression of genes, in particular CGB2 and CBG1, characteristic of poor prognosis in cancer such as bladder cancer. The methods have application for the screening, diagnosis or monitoring of other common epithelial cancers including those of the bladder, breast, cervix, colon, endometrium, kidney, lung (including small cell lung carcinoma—SCLC), nasal/pharynx, oro/facial, ovary, prostate, pancreas, vagina and vulva. Methods of treating cancers by reducing the level of expression of CGB2 and CGB1 or products thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of providing a prognosis for a pregnancy comprising subjecting a sample to direct mass spectral analysis, and comparing the spectra resulting from said analysis to spectra generated from samples obtained from 5 normal pregnancies. The invention describes subjecting a sample of maternal bodily fluid and/or fluids in which an embryo is cultured, or kept in, to direct matrix assisted laser desorption time of flight mass spectrometry and detection of spectral masses between 2,000 and 100,000 m/z. The changes in spectral masses, leading to changes in the profile of the spectra, are characteristic of disorders of fetal development and 10 pregnancy.

Abstract: A method for determining the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy and spontaneous miscarriage is described, by measuring the levels of markers, especially hCG and CA-125 which have been found to be characteristic of these conditions. Preferably measuring these biomarker levels at earliest possible presentation of patients with general clinical symptoms and applying cut-off values described determines the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy and spontaneous miscarriage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for screening human tissue or fluid samples for changes in the expression of genes, in particular CGB2 and CBG1, characteristic of poor prognosis in cancer such as bladder cancer. The methods have application for the screening, diagnosis or monitoring of other common epithelial cancers including those of the bladder, breast, cervix, colon, endometrium, kidney, lung (including small cell lung carcinoma—SCLC), nasal/pharynx, oro/facial, ovary, prostate, pancreas, vagina and vulva. Methods of treating cancers by reducing the level of expression of CGB2 and CGB1 or products thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for screening maternal urine samples for changes in the pattern of mass spectral fingerprinting which have been found to be characteristic of fetal aneuploidies such as Down's Syndrome and have application for the screening of other fetal abnormalities and disorders of pregnancy including gestational trophoblastic diseases.