Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A rapid method for assessing sensitivity or resistance of mammalian cells of unknown drug sensitivity to an anticancer agent, which comprises the steps of: (a) separately incubating quiescent mammalian cells of unknown drug sensitivity and quiescent mammalian cells of known drug sensitivity in medium containing a growth stimulant in an amount sufficient to increase the level or ornithine decarboxylase protein in the cells, and determining the levels of ornithine decarboxylase protein in the cells by an immunological technique, thereby determining the levels of ornithine decarboxylase activity; (b) repeating step (a) in the presence of various concentrations of the anticancer agent; and (c) determining the level of drug sensitivity or resistance of the mammalian cells of unknown drug sensitivity by determining the ratio of the concentration of the anticancer agent required to reduce the ornithine decarboxylase activity level of the cells of unknown drug sensitivity by 50% (IC 50 ) to the concentration of the anticancer drug required to reduce the ornithine decarboxylase activity level of the cells of known sensitivity by 50% (IC 50 ).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A rapid method for assessing sensitivity or resistance of mammalian cells of unknown drug sensitivity to an anticancer agent, which comprises the steps of: (a) separately incubating quiescent mammalian cells of unknown drug sensitivity and quiescent mammalian cells of known drug sensitivity in medium containing a growth stimulant in an amount sufficient to increase the level or ornithine decarboxylase protein in the cells, and determining the levels of ornithine decarboxylase protein in the cells by an immunological technique, thereby determining the levels of ornithine decarboxylase activity; (b) repeating step (a) in the presence of various concentrations of the anticancer agent; and (c) determining the level of drug sensitivity or resistance of the mammalian cells of unknown drug sensitivity by determining the ratio of the concentration of the anticancer agent required to reduce the ornithine decarboxylase activity level of the cells of unknown drug sensitivity by 50% (IC 50 ) to the concentration of the anticancer drug required to reduce the ornithine decarboxylase activity level of the cells of known sensitivity by 50% (IC 50 ).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said growth stimulant comprises hormones, growth factors, hormones and growth factors, or serum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the levels of ornithine decarboxylase protein are determined by an immunological technique selected from the group consisting of ELISA, radioimmunoassay, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the levels of ornithine decarboxylase protein in the cells are determined by titration of the actual number of catalytically active ornithine decarboxylase molecules per cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein the titration is carried out by determining the concentration of ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor DL-O=difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) required to reduce the ornithine decarboxylase activity by 50%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the anticancer agent is selected from the group consisting of vinca alkaloids, anthracyclines, epipodophyllotoxins, actinomycin D and anti-folates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the levels of ornithine decarboxylase protein are determined from a crude cytosolic extract of the cells.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 7, wherein optimal ornithine decarboxylase levels for measuring are achieved by varying the volume of the crude cytosolic extract.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the mammalian cells of unknown drug sensitivity are primary cell isolates or cell lines.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the mammalian cells are tumor cells.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the mammalian cells are malignant cells from the central nervous system, colon, lung, liver, kidney, ovary, breast, a melanoma or a leukemia.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the mammalian cells of known drug sensitivity are primary cell isolates or cell lines.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the mammalian cells of known drug sensitivity are normal cells or malignant cells.