Screening for cell growth abnormalities by detecting DNA preinitiation complex proteins

摘要

Methods tor determining cell growth abnormalities, particularly cancerous or pre-cancerous cells, are described in which polypeptides involved in the preinitiation complex of DNA replication are detected. Target polypeptides include CDC6, MCM2, MCM3, MCM4, MCM5, MCM6 and MCM7. Typically antibodies detecting these proteins are used in screening assays on tissue sections or smears. The detection of RNA encoding these proteins is also described. The application is particularly concerned with cervical neoplasia's but also describes screening for growth abnormalities of breast, colon, lung, bladder, skin, larynx, oesophagus, bronchus, lymph nodes and urinary tract tissue.