Methods, compositions and cells are provided that identify and isolate a population of adult non-embryonic progenitor cells having multilineage potential, physical diameters of about 2 μm to about 8 μm in size or about 4 μm to about 6 μm, and expressing at least one of the stem cell associated genes among Oct-4, KLF-4, Nanog, Sox-2, Rex-1, GDF-3 or Stella. Methods are also provided that identify and isolate populations, which are subsets or subpopulations of progenitor adult stem cells within the population of the adult stem cells which is a heterogeneous population, the methods including contacting the adult stem cells with a ligand specific for at least one of: CD99, tetraspan, ICAM4, full-length MUC1, and truncated MUC1 receptor, in which a presence of a surface protein on the cells that bind to the ligand identifies the population which is the subset of the differentiated progenitor adult stem cells.

The present invention aims to provide a humanized antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof having stable physical property, superior in tumor accumulation, and capable of binding to mucin subtype 5AC.

The above-mentioned problem is solved by the present invention that provides a humanized antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof having a heavy chain variable region consisting of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1-4 or a mutated amino acid sequence thereof, and a light chain variable region consisting of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 5-8 or a mutated amino acid sequence thereof, and capable of binding to mucin subtype 5AC.

The invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a receptor, other than an immunoglobulin, wherein the receptor binds to a MUC1 tumor antigen independently of an major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The invention provides a method of activating a signaling pathway and/or killing a cancer cell using a receptor that is similar to or is a T cell receptor.

It is an object to provide a culture method which is capable of maintaining and/or culturing iPS cell-derived intestinal stem cells, while maintaining the properties of intestinal stem cells. The induced pluripotent stem cell-derived intestinal stem cell-like cells are cultured in the presence of a GSK-3β inhibitor, a histone deacetylation inhibitor, and a serum replacement, or in the presence of a GSK-3β inhibitor and a serum replacement. Preferably, the culture is carried out under conditions in which one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of an epidermal growth factor, a TGFβ receptor inhibitor and a fibroblast growth factor are further present.

The invention relates to methods of detection, capture, isolation and targeting of cancer cells for example circulating tumor cells (CTCs) using carbohydrate recognition domain of a lectin. The invention relates to methods of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cancer.

Protein and mRNA expression based methods for classification of gastric cancer, and methods of treatment based thereon.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods involving the use of mucin-specific proteases for mucin-specific cleavage, labeling, and/or enrichment of mucin domain glycoproteins. Also provided are methods for the analysis of mucin-domain glycoproteins useful in glycomapping of mucin glycosites and their associated glycoforms. Provided compositions and methods are also useful for selective cleavage, release, and enrichment of mucins from cell and tissue samples, for the study of native mucin biology, and for the detection and analysis of mucins that are aberrantly expressed in various conditions, including cancer.

The invention provides diagnostic and therapeutic targets for pulmonary disease, in particular, fibrotic lung disease. The inventors have found that a genetic variant MUC5B gene is associated with increased expression of the gene, increased risk of developing a pulmonary disease, and an improved prognosis and survival among those developing the pulmonary disease.

The present invention relates to an in vitro method for assessing the risk of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) disease progression for a subject classified to have stable disease under an ongoing NSCLC treatment regime. The method involves determining the level of CYFRA 21-1 and/or the level of CA 125 in a sample obtained from the subject; and comparing (i) the determined level of CYFRA 21-1 to a CYFRA 21-1 cut-off level, (ii) the determined level of CA 125 to a CA 125 cut-off level, or (iii) a score taking into account the determined level of CYFRA 21-1 and/or the determined level of CA 125 to a cut-off score. The method of the invention further allows for assessing whether the subject responds to the ongoing treatment and/or whether the treatment regime should be maintained or modified. The invention also provides for corresponding uses, computer-implemented methods and computer program products.

The present invention relates to the field of mucin isoforms, more in particular for use in the diagnosis, monitoring, prevention and/or treatment of a disease characterized by barrier dysfunction, such as but not limited to a gastrointestinal disorder (e.g. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), cancer, gastro-intestinal infections, obesitas, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)), neurodegenerative disorders, respiratory infections, . . . In a specific embodiment, said mucin isoform is selected from the list comprising: MUC1 isoforms and MUC13 isoforms.