An in vitro co-culture system comprising cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and cancer cells for producing and maintaining cancer stem cells and uses thereof for identifying agents capable of reducing cancer cell stemness. Also disclosed herein are a paracrine network through which CAFs facilitate production and/or maintenance of cancer stem cells and the use of components of such a paracrine network for prognosis purposes and for identifying cancer patients who are likely to respond to certain treatment.

The present invention provides methods for predicting the likelihood of mucosal healing in an individual with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). In addition, the present invention provides methods for monitoring the progression of mucosal healing in an individual with a disease such as IBD. Information on mucosal healing status derived from the use of the present invention can also aid in optimizing therapy and/or monitoring the therapeutic efficiency of an anti-TNF inhibitor drug.

The present invention provides biomarkers for efficient and accurate characterization of Sanfilippo syndrome. In particular, the present invention provides biomarkers differentially expressed in Sanfilippo syndrome. Those biomarkers, used alone or in combination, may permit more accurate robust characterization of Sanfilippo syndrome, resulting in more precise determination of the types and/or severity of the syndrome. In addition, inventive biomarkers according to the present invention can be used to effective monitor treatment response in Sanfilippo syndrome patients and/or to optimize treatment for Sanfilippo syndrome.

The invention provides methods and compositions for modulating the HGF/c-met signaling pathway, in particular by regulating binding of HGF chain to c-met.

Methods are provided for treating a gastric cancer patient. A specific Met fragment peptide is precisely quantitated by SRM-mass spectrometry directly in gastric tumor cells collected from gastric tumor tissue that was obtained from the cancer patient and compared to a reference level. If the Met peptide is below the reference level a second therapeutic regimen is used to treat the patient whereas if the Met peptide is above the reference level then a first therapeutic regimen combining, for example, the second regimen with one or more Met inhibitor therapeutic agents may be used to treat the patient.

Methods are provided for predicting and diagnosing the presence of breast cancer in women with dense breasts, as well as for assessing the therapeutic efficacy of a cancer treatment and determining whether a subject potentially is developing cancer.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in subjects suffering from or suspected of having a renal injury. In particular, the invention relates to using assays that detect one or more markers selected from the group consisting of Clusterin, Heart-type fatty acid binding protein, Hepatocyte growth factor, Interferon gamma, Interleukin-12 subunit beta, Interleukin-16, Interleukin-2, 72 kDa type IV collagenase, Matrix metalloproteinase-9, Midkine, and Serum amyloid P-component as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in renal injuries.

The present invention provides methods for predicting the likelihood of mucosal healing in an individual with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). In addition, the present invention provides methods for monitoring the progression of mucosal healing in an individual with a disease such as IBD. Information on mucosal healing status derived from the use of the present invention can also aid in optimizing therapy and/or monitoring the therapeutic efficiency of an anti-TNF inhibitor drug.

To obtain data associated with a mitochondrial disease, a method includes measuring the level of at least one protein selected from the group consisting of GDF15 (growth differentiation factor 15), HGF (hepatocyte growth factor), MIG (gamma interferon induction monokine), SCF (stem cell factor) and SCGF- (stem cell growth factor beta) in a biological sample collected from a subject. The measured protein level is compared to that of control subjects and then it is checked whether or not there is difference between the protein level of the subject and that of control subjects.

The present invention relates to a method of assessing the wound healing potency of a mesenchymal stem cell population. In addition, the present invention concerns a method of selecting a mesenchymal stem cell population for producing a stem cell population under cGMP conditions and a method of selecting a mesenchymal stem cell population for producing a stem cell population for subsequent pharmaceutical administration. Further, the present invention relates to a method of selecting a mesenchymal stem cell population for generating a master cell bank and to a method of identifying a tissue suitable as starting material for producing a mesenchymal stem cell population for pharmaceutical use.