The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing and methods of treating hepatocellular carcinoma in a subject. The invention also relates to antagonists of PLVAP proteins, such as antibodies that specifically bind PLVAP proteins, as well as compositions and kits comprising antagonists of PLVAP proteins. The invention further relates to humanized antibodies that specifically bind PLVAP protein.

Methods for developing disease-related nanobodies and related products and kits are provided. The disease-specific proteins are extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, domains or epitopes that are associated with various aspects of disease and are not present, or are present in very low quantities, in non-diseased individuals. Highly effective nanobodies capable of specifically binding to these ECM protein epitopes useful in in vivo imaging assays, the detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases as well as monitoring therapeutic progress in a patient with a disease are provided herein.

Methods for developing disease-related nanobodies and related products and kits are provided. The disease-specific proteins are extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, domains or epitopes that are associated with various aspects of disease and are not present, or are present in very low quantities, in non-diseased individuals. Highly effective nanobodies capable of specifically binding to these ECM protein epitopes useful in in vivo imaging assays, the detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases as well as monitoring therapeutic progress in a patient with a disease are provided herein.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an antibody comprising a light chain variable domain and a heavy chain variable domain. The light chain variable domain comprises a CDRL1 with an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:8; a CDRL2 with an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:10; and a CDRL3 with an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:12. The heavy cham variable domain comprises a CDRH1 with an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:4; a CDRH2 with an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:16; and a CDRH3 with an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:18; wherein the antibody specifically binds glypican-3 (GPC3).