The present invention provides progastrin-binding molecules specific for progastrin that do not bind
gastrin-17(G17),
gastrin-34(G34),
glycine-extended
gastrin-17(G17-Gly), or
glycine-extended gastrin-34(G34-Gly). Further, the invention provides
monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) selective for sequences at the N-terminus and the C-terminus of the gastrin precursor molecule, progastrin and the hybridomas that produce these MAbs. Also provided are panels of MAbs useful for the detection and quantitation of progastrin and gastrin
hormone species in immuno-detection and quantitation assays. These assays are useful for diagnosing and monitoring a gastrin-promoted
disease or condition, or for monitoring the progress of a course of therapy. The invention further provides
solid phase assays including immunohistochemical (IHC) and
immunofluorescence (IF) assays suitable for detection and
visualization of gastrin species in
solid samples, such as
biopsy samples or tissue slices. The progastrin-binding molecules are useful therapeutically for passive immunization against progastrin in progastrin-promoted diseases or conditions. Also provided are surrogate reference standard (SRS) molecules that are
peptide chains of from about 10 to about 35 amino acids, wherein the SRS molecule comprises at least two epitopes found in a
protein of interest of greater than about 50 amino acids. Such SRS molecules are useful as standards in place of authentic proteins of interest.