title: Human tissue kallikrein gene family: a rich source of novel disease biomarkers.
abstract: The organization of the human tissue kallikrein gene family has now been fully elucidated. This family contains 15 genes encoding secreted serine proteases, which share significant homologies at both the DNA and amino acid level. Two members of the human kallikrein gene family, prostate-specific antigen and human kallikrein 2, have already found important clinical application as prostate cancer biomarkers. In this review, we examine the diagnostic and prognostic value of the 15 human kallikrein genes and proteins. It is clear that at least a few members show promise of becoming novel cancer and other disease biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada. ediamandis@mtsinai.on.ca
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Diamandis
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Yousef
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D002888:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D005810:Multigene Family; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007610:Kallikreins