| abstract |
Disclosed is a method for diagnosing cancer characterized by detecting epiregulin (EREG) protein. It was found that expression of EREG increased at the gene level and protein level very frequently in colorectal cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, or renal cancer. An antibody that recognizes EREG protein is used for diagnosis or treatment of cancer of the present invention. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions, cytostatics and anticancer agents that contain an antibody that binds to EREG as an active ingredient. Further disclosed is a method for causing cell damage to an EREG-expressing cell and a method for suppressing the proliferation of the EREG-expressing cell by contacting an EREG-expressing cell with an antibody that binds to EREG. |