METHODS FOR DETECTING AND PREDICTING GRADE 3 CERVICAL EPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA (CIN3) AND/OR CANCER

摘要

The present invention relates to assays for predicting the presence, absence or development of CIN3 and/or cancer, particularly cervical or endometrial cancer, most preferably cervical cancer, in an individual, particularly cervical and endometrial cancer, by determining the methylation status of certain CpGs in a population of DNA molecules in a sample which has been taken from the individual, deriving an index value based on the methylation status of the certain CpGs, and predicting the presence, absence or development of CIN3 and/or cancer, particularly cervical or endometrial cancer, most preferably cervical cancer, in the individual based on the cancer index value. The invention further relates to a method of treating and/or prevention of cancer in an individual, particularly cervical and endometrial cancer, the method comprising assessing the presence, absence or development of CIN3 and/or cancer, particularly cervical or endometrial cancer, most preferably cervical cancer, in an individual by performing the assays of the invention, followed by administering one or more therapeutic treatments or measures to the individual based on the assessment. The invention further provides a method of monitoring the CIN3 and/or cancer status of an individual according to changes in the individual's cancer index value over the course of time. The invention further relates to arrays which are suitable for performing the assays of the invention.