| abstract |
The present invention relates to the finding that the class of mutant p53 proteins which bind to HSP70 defines a group of mutant p53 proteins which elicit serum autoantibodies. Thus, disclosed is a method of classifying tumor cells for the ability to produce serum p53 autoantibodies in a patient carrying such tumor cells, a method of detecting tumor cells containing a mutant p53 protein capable of forming a complex with a 70 kilodalton heat shock protein (hsp70) in the cells in a patient, a method of distinguishing tumor cells capable of causing more aggressive disease in a patient carrying the tumor cells, and a method of monitoring a patient for the recurrence of disease in a patient previously diagnosed as carrying tumor cells. |