Proteases are enzymes which hydrolyze protein enzymes, eliminating their activity. The present invention exploits the hydrolyzing activity of proteases including proteinase K, endoproteinase LysC and/or trypsin to control the activity of restriction enzymes and/or eliminate or reduce production of unwanted DNA or RNA fragments (known as star activity).

Proteases are enzymes which hydrolyze protein enzymes, eliminating their activity. The present invention exploits the hydrolyzing activity of proteases including proteinase K, endoproteinase LysC and/or trypsin to control the activity of restriction enzymes and/or eliminate or reduce production of unwanted DNA or RNA fragments (known as star activity).

Provided are compounds of the Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

##STR00001##

wherein W, X, Y, Z, x, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, x and n are defined in the specification. The compounds are inhibitors of lysyl oxidase (LOX) and lysyl oxidase-like (LOXL) family members (LOXL1, LOXL2, LOXL3, LOXL4) and are useful in therapy, particularly in the treatment of cancer. Also disclosed are LOX inhibitors for use in the treatment of a cancer associated with EGFR and biomarkers that predict responsiveness to a LOX inhibitor.

Provided are compounds of the Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

##STR00001##

wherein W, X, Y, Z, x, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, x and n are defined in the specification. The compounds are inhibitors of lysyl oxidase (LOX) and lysyl oxidase-like (LOXL) family members (LOXL1, LOXL2, LOXL3, LOXL4) and are useful in therapy, particularly in the treatment of cancer. Also disclosed are LOX inhibitors for use in the treatment of a cancer associated with EGFR and biomarkers that predict responsiveness to a LOX inhibitor.

A method of screening/prognosis/diagnosis for colorectal cancer (CRC) wherein methionine aminopeptidase 2 (MetAP2) levels are detected in a non-tumor sample such as peripheral blood, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or lymphocytes. Based on the MetAP2 levels, the individual may be selected for further testing.

A method of screening/prognosis/diagnosis for colorectal cancer (CRC) wherein methionine aminopeptidase 2 (MetAP2) levels are detected in a non-tumor sample such as peripheral blood, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or lymphocytes. Based on the MetAP2 levels, the individual may be selected for further testing.

Provided are methods of identifying, visualizing and purifying proteases from a complex biological sample.

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for the determining the abundance and/or concentration of protein biomarkers in a biological sample.

It is necessary to establish a purification method effective for the removal of endotoxin, in order to obtain thermolysin containing a reduced amount of contaminant endotoxin. On the premise of the establishment, accurate measurement of the amount of endotoxin that contaminates thermolysin is required. The present invention addresses the problem of providing a novel measurement method which enables accurate measurement of the amount of endotoxin that contaminates thermolysin. The present invention also addresses the problem of providing thermolysin containing a reduced amount of contaminant thermolysin, and the use thereof. There is provided thermolysin containing contaminant endotoxin in an amount of 1 EU/mg or less. There is also provided a method for measuring endotoxin that contaminates thermolysin, the method including pretreatment of deactivating the thermolysin. An enzyme preparation including the thermolysin according to the present invention as an active ingredient has a high utility value in the field of regenerative medicine.

It is necessary to establish a purification method effective for the removal of endotoxin, in order to obtain thermolysin containing a reduced amount of contaminant endotoxin. On the premise of the establishment, accurate measurement of the amount of endotoxin that contaminates thermolysin is required. The present invention addresses the problem of providing a novel measurement method which enables accurate measurement of the amount of endotoxin that contaminates thermolysin. The present invention also addresses the problem of providing thermolysin containing a reduced amount of contaminant thermolysin, and the use thereof. There is provided thermolysin containing contaminant endotoxin in an amount of 1 EU/mg or less. There is also provided a method for measuring endotoxin that contaminates thermolysin, the method including pretreatment of deactivating the thermolysin. An enzyme preparation including the thermolysin according to the present invention as an active ingredient has a high utility value in the field of regenerative medicine.