ErbB surface receptor complexes as biomarkers
The invention is directed to a new class of biomarker in patient samples comprising dimers of ErbB cell surface membrane receptors. In one aspect, the invention includes a method of determining the status of a disease or healthful condition by correlating such condition to amounts of one or more dimers of ErbB cell surface membrane receptors measured directly in a patient sample, in particular a fixed tissue sample. In another aspect, the invention includes a method of determining a status of a cancer in a specimen from an individual by correlating measurements of amounts of one or more dimers of ErbB cell surface membrane receptors in cells of the specimen to such status, including presence or absence of a pre-cancerous state, presence or absence of a cancerous state, prognosis of a cancer, or responsiveness to treatment. Preferably, methods of the invention are implemented by using sets of binding compounds having releasable molecular tags that are specific for multiple components of one or more types of receptor dimers. After binding, molecular tags are released and separated from the assay mixture for analysis.
1 . A flexible connector comprising:
a length of corrugated tubing having a distal end;
a polymeric sleeve surrounding the length of corrugating tubing and aligned with the distal end thereof,
a length of mesh tubing having a distal end;
the length of mesh tubing surrounding the length of corrugated tubing and the polymeric sleeve and having its distal end substantially aligned with the distal end of the length of corrugated tubing;
an integral structure comprising an end piece adapted to secure the flexible connector to an adjacent component and a sleeve for receiving the length of corrugated tubing, the polymeric sleeve, and the length of mesh tubing;
the sleeve being crimped to permanently retain the length of corrugated tubing, the sleeve, and the length of mesh tubing in engagement with the end piece.
2 . (canceled)
3 . A flexible connector comprising:
a length of corrugated tubing having a distal end;
a length of heat shrink tubing surrounding the length of corrugated tubing and aligned with the distal end thereof;
an integral structure comprising an end piece having a proximal end adapted to secure the flexible connector to an adjacent component and a sleeve for receiving the length of corrugated tubing and the length of heat shrink tubing;
the length of heat shrink tubing heat being shrunk into rigid engagement with the length of the corrugated tubing; and
the sleeve being crimped to permanently retain the length of corrugated tubing and length of heat shrink tubing in engagement with the end piece.
4 . The flexible connector according to claim 3 further comprising:
a length of mesh tubing having a distal end;
the length of mesh tubing surrounding the length of corrugated tubing and the length of heat shrink tubing;
the distal end of the mesh tubing substantially aligned with the distal end of the length of corrugated tubing.
5 . A flexible connector comprising:
a length of corrugated tubing having a distal end;
a length of polymeric tubing surrounding the length of corrugated tubing and aligned with the distal end thereof;
the length of polymeric tubing being heat shrunk into rigid engagement the length of the corrugated tubing after having heat applied thereto;
a length of mesh tubing having a distal end;
the length of mesh tubing surrounding the length of corrugated tubing and the length of polymeric tubing;
the distal end of the mesh tubing substantially aligned with the distal end of the length of corrugated tubing;
an integral structure comprising an end piece adapted to secure the flexible connector to an adjacent component and a sleeve for receiving the length of corrugated tubing, the length of polymeric tubing, and the length of mesh tubing; and
the sleeve being crimped to permanently retain the length of corrugated tubing, the length of polymeric tubing, and the length of mesh tubing in engagement with the end piece.
6 . A flexible connector comprising:
a length of corrugated tubing having a distal end;
a length fo flexible tubing having a distal end;
the length of flexible tubing surrounding the length of corrugated tubing and having its distal end substantially aligned with the distal end of the length of corrugated tubing;
a length of mesh tubing having a distal end;
the length of mesh tubing surrounding the length of flexible tubing and the length of corrugated tubing and having its distal end substantially aligned with the distal end thereof,
a metal sleeve surrounding the length of corrugating tubing, the length of flexible tubing, and the length of mesh tubing and aligned with the distal end thereof;
an integral structure comprising an end piece adapted to secure the flexible connector to an adjacent component and a proximal end having corrugations for receiving the length of corrugated tubing, the length of flexible tubing, the length of mesh tubing, and the metal sleeve;
the sleeve being crimped to permanently retain the length of corrugated tubing, the length of flexible tubing, the length of mesh tubing, and the metal sleeve in engagement with the end piece.