Abstract
The University of Central Florida invention relates to a two-step, blood-based cancer screening test. The first step screens for elevated levels of Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 (FGF19) via a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Patients with elevated levels of FGF19 continue with a second/follow-up test using oral cholestyramine as a “suppression” drug to verify that the FGF19 is originating from cancer and not from the normal secretion site, the terminal ileum. Serum levels of FGF19 that remain elevated after cholestyramine treatment may be suggestive of cancer.
