The present invention provides a method for diagnosing and detecting cancer. The present invention provides one or more proteins or fragments thereof, peptides or nucleic acid molecules differentially expressed in cancer (podocalyxin) and antibodies that bind podocalyxins. The present invention provides that podocalyxins are used as targets for screening agents that modulate podocalyxin activities. Further the present invention provides methods for treating diseases associated with podocalyxin expression.