A device for testing a biological sample includes a housing, two or more test pads, and a sample pad. The sample pad and test pads are disposed within an interior portion of the housing. The sample pad is in fluid communication with an opening defined in an outer surface of the housing for receiving the biological sample. At least a portion of each test pad is in contact with the sample pad and is configured to test the biological sample. At least one window is defined in the outer surface of the housing adjacent the test pads such that the test pads are visible from outside of the housing. A first test pad may detect a threshold amount of CD44 in the biological sample, and a second test pad may detect total protein in the biological sample. The results are then used for early detection of cancers.

The present invention is directed to a method for identifying an individual who is at risk for developing metastatic liver disease that involves measuring, in a sample isolated from the individual, exosomal levels of one or more markers of metastatic liver disease. Kits for carrying out this method are also disclosed. The present invention also relates to a method of preventing metastatic liver disease in an individual who are at risk for developing the disease that involves administering one or more inhibitors of liver pre-metastatic niche formation.

A method of generating MSCs which secrete neurotrophic factors (NTFs) comprising incubating a population of undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a differentiating medium comprising basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), heregulin and cAMP.

A system for testing a biological subject includes an imaging device and an imaging agent detectable by the imaging device, for detecting amount and location of a biomarker in the biological subject. The imaging agent includes a fluorescent microsphere and a targeting member attached to the fluorescent microsphere. A method of testing a biological subject using the system includes providing the imaging agent, applying the imaging agent to a testing location of a patient and imaging the imaging agent in the testing location by the imaging device, so as to detect the amount and locations of the imaging agent. A method of screening and diagnose a cancer that is accessible via cavity of a patient, includes performing a CD44 and total protein test, and if the result is positive, performing an imaging test.

Disclosed herein are methods of determining the risk of developing a scoliosis based on the presence of at least one copy of a CD44 risk allele; methods of stratifying a subject having a scoliosis; methods of treating subjects having a scoliosis and compositions and kits for performing these methods.

This invention relates to a novel method for analyzing circulating tumor cells of a patient for the presence of metastasis-initiating cells. The method comprises the step of detecting cells exhibiting the simultaneous presence of c-MET, CD44 and CD47. The invention further relates to novel kits, novel methods for treating patients, and novel bifunctional analytes.

The methods described herein allow for the classification of patients into groups for receiving optimized radiation treatment based on patient specific biomarker signature. The biomarker signature includes markers that have been shown to correlate with TGF- expression and to be associated with tumor aggressiveness, radioresistance and poor prognosis. The markers play a key role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The methods described herein provide the dual benefits of anti-tumor efficacy plus normal tissue protection when combining TGF- inhibitors with ionizing radiation to treat cancer patients.

The present invention relates to functional binding fragments comprising the minimal binding fragments of VAR2CSA, to antibodies against such binding fragments of VAR2CSA, nucleic acids encoding such fragments of VAR2CSA as well as methods for their production. The invention further relates to conjugates and fusion proteins of VAR2CSA polypeptides including the minimal binding fragments and their use, in particular in the treatment of conditions associated with expression of chondroitin sulfate A (CSA), such as an inappropriate expression of chondroitin sulfate A (CSA).

The present invention relates to functional binding fragments comprising the minimal binding fragments of VAR2CSA, to antibodies against such binding fragments of VAR2CSA, nucleic acids encoding such fragments of VAR2CSA as well as methods for their production. The invention further relates to conjugates and fusion proteins of VAR2CSA polypeptides including the minimal binding fragments and their use, in particular in the treatment of conditions associated with expression of chondroitin sulfate A (CSA), such as an inappropriate expression of chondroitin sulfate A (CSA).

The present invention provides targeting probe, imaging probes, and probes for use as a medicament to treat damaged cartilage, where the probe targets injured tissue and can then be imaged and/or release agents to trigger the migration of surrounding chondrocytes from healthy tissue to injured tissue and/or recruit synovial stem cells.