Monoclonal antibodies, compositions and methods for detecting mucin-like protein (MLP) as a biomarker for ovarian and pancreatic cancer

1. An isolated monoclonal antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, that specifically binds to an epitope in the C-terminal region of human mucin-like protein, set forth as SEQ ID NO:4, wherein the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment comprises:

(i) a heavy chain variable region comprising a CDR-H1 set forth as SEQ ID NO:3; a CDR-H2 set forth as SEQ ID NO:20, wherein X at position 9 is T or P and wherein X at position 10 is S or T; and a CDR-H3 set forth as SEQ ID NO:36, wherein X at position 14 is S or F; and a light chain variable region comprising a CDR-L1 set forth as SEQ ID NO:28, wherein X at position 9 is T or S; a CDR-L2 set forth as SEQ ID NO:22 and a CDR-L3 set forth as SEQ ID NO:23; or

(ii) a heavy chain variable region comprising a CDR-H1 set forth as SEQ ID NO:17; a CDR-H2 set forth as SEQ ID NO:18; a CDR-H3 set forth as SEQ ID NO:19 and a light chain variable region comprising a CDR-L1 set forth as SEQ ID NO:25; a CDR-L2 set forth as SEQ ID NO:26 and a CDR-L3 set forth as SEQ ID NO:27.

2. The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following applies:

(i) the antibody is a recombinant, humanized or chimeric antibody; or

(ii) the antibody is a fully human antibody.

3. The antibody of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following applies:

said antibody according to (i) comprising a variable region of the heavy chain comprising or consisting of a sequence which is at least 90% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8 and a variable region of the light chain comprising or consisting of a sequence which is at least 90% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO: 11; or

said antibody according to (ii) comprising a variable region of the heavy chain comprising or consisting of a sequence which is at least 90% identical to an amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:9 and a light chain comprising or consisting of a sequence which is at least 90% identical to an amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:12.

4. The antibody of claim 1 , wherein said antibody is labeled with a detectable moiety and/or wherein said antibody is coupled to a therapeutic agent.

5. The antibody of claim 1 , wherein said antibody is immobilized on a substrate.

6. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 (i), wherein said antibody or antigen binding fragment comprises:

a heavy chain variable region comprising CDR-H1 set forth as SEQ ID NO: 13, CDR-H2 set forth as SEQ ID NO:14 and CDR-H3 set forth as SEQ ID NO:15 and comprising a light chain variable region

comprising CDR-L1 set forth as SEQ ID NO:21, CDR-L2 set forth as SEQ ID NO:22 and CDR-L3 set forth as SEQ ID NO:23.

7. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of claim 1 (i), wherein said antibody or antigen binding fragment comprises:

a heavy chain variable region comprising CDR-H1 set forth as SEQ ID NO: 13; CDR-H2 set forth as SEQ ID NO:16 and CDR-H3 set forth as SEQ ID NO:35 and comprising a light chain variable region comprising CDR-L1 set forth as SEQ ID NO:24, CDR-L2 set forth as SEQ ID NO:22 and CDR-L3 set forth as SEQ ID NO:23.

8. The antibody of claim 1 , wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is selected from the group consisting of a Fab, a Fab′ fragment, a F(ab′)2 fragment, a whole antibody, a single chain antibody, an ScFv, and a univalent antibody lacking a hinge region.

9. A composition comprising an anti-MLP antibody as set forth in claim 1 .

10. A kit for detecting the presence of MLP in a biological sample, said kit comprising (a) at least one container, and (b) at least one anti-MLP antibody as set forth in claim 1 .