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WO1997025431A1 - Compositions et procedes de traitement et de diagnostic du cancer - Google Patents

Compositions et procedes de traitement et de diagnostic du cancer Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1997025431A1
WO1997025431A1 PCT/US1997/000398 US9700398W WO9725431A1 WO 1997025431 A1 WO1997025431 A1 WO 1997025431A1 US 9700398 W US9700398 W US 9700398W WO 9725431 A1 WO9725431 A1 WO 9725431A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
seq
polypeptide
patient
cancer
sequence
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PCT/US1997/000398
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English (en)
Inventor
Tony N. Frudakis
John M. Smith
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Corixa Corporation
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Priority to AU15756/97A priority Critical patent/AU1575697A/en
Publication of WO1997025431A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997025431A1/fr

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/005—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from viruses
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
    • G01N33/53—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor
    • G01N33/574—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor for cancer
    • G01N33/57484—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor for cancer involving compounds serving as markers for tumor, cancer, neoplasia, e.g. cellular determinants, receptors, heat shock/stress proteins, A-protein, oligosaccharides, metabolites
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2740/00—Reverse transcribing RNA viruses
    • C12N2740/00011—Details
    • C12N2740/10011—Retroviridae
    • C12N2740/10022—New viral proteins or individual genes, new structural or functional aspects of known viral proteins or genes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2333/00—Assays involving biological materials from specific organisms or of a specific nature
    • G01N2333/005—Assays involving biological materials from specific organisms or of a specific nature from viruses
    • G01N2333/08—RNA viruses
    • G01N2333/15—Retroviridae, e.g. bovine leukaemia virus, feline leukaemia virus, feline leukaemia virus, human T-cell leukaemia-lymphoma virus

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to the detection and therapy of cancer.
  • the invention is more specifically related to nucleotide sequences that are preferentially expressed in a tumor tissue and to polypeptides encoded by such nucleotide sequences.
  • the invention is more particularly related to nucleotide sequences comprising at least a portion of a human endogenous retroviral sequence that is preferentially expressed in a tumor tissue, and to polypeptides encoded by such nucleotide sequences.
  • the nucleotide sequences and polypeptides may be used in vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for the prevention and treatment of cancer.
  • the polypeptides may also be used for the production of compounds, such as antibodies, useful for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of cancer in a patient.
  • tumor markers which may be useful for the diagnosis of particular cancers, for predicting the outcome of the disease or for developing a therapy in a patient-specific manner.
  • oncogenes which are normal cellular genes whose expression has been altered (e.g., by gene amplification, increased transcription, alteration of mRNA splicing or mutation within the coding region) such that otherwise normal cells assume neoplastic growth behavior.
  • oncogenes which are normal cellular genes whose expression has been altered (e.g., by gene amplification, increased transcription, alteration of mRNA splicing or mutation within the coding region) such that otherwise normal cells assume neoplastic growth behavior.
  • the established markers have had a limited utility, and their use often leads to a result that is difficult to interpret.
  • isolated DNA molecules comprising: (a) a human endogenous retroviral sequence, wherein the retroviral sequence is preferentially expressed in a tumor tissue; (b) a variant of the human endogenous retroviral sequence that contains one or more nucleotide substitutions, deletions, insertions and/or modifications at no more than 20% (preferably no more than 5%) of the nucleotide positions, such that the antigenic and/or immunogenic properties of the polypeptide encoded by the human endogenous retroviral sequence are retained; or (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding an epitope of a polypeptide encoded by at least one of the above sequences.
  • Isolated DNA and RNA molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to a DNA molecule as described above are also provided.
  • the present invention provides an isolated DNA molecule encoding an epitope of a polypeptide, the polypeptide being encoded by: (a) a nucleotide sequence transcribed from the sequence of SEQ ID NO:l l ; or (b) a variant of the nucleotide sequence that contains one or more nucleotide substitutions, deletions, insertions and/or modifications at not more than 20% of the nucleotide positions, such that the antigenic and/or immunogenic properties of the polypeptide encoded by the nucleotide sequence are retained.
  • Isolated DNA and RNA molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to a DNA molecule as described above are also provided.
  • the present invention provides recombinant expression vectors comprising a DNA molecule as described above and host cells transformed or transfected with such expression vectors.
  • polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a DNA molecule as described above, and monoclonal antibodies that bind to such polypeptides are provided.
  • methods are provided for determining the presence of a cancer in a patient.
  • the method comprises detecting, within a biological sample obtained from a patient, a polypeptide as described above.
  • the method comprises detecting, within a biological sample, an RNA molecule encoding a polypeptide as described above.
  • the method comprises (a) intradermally injecting a patient with a polypeptide as described above; and (b) detecting an immune response on the patient's skin and therefrom detecting the presence of a cancer in the patient.
  • diagnostic kits useful in the determination of breast cancer generally comprise one or more monoclonal antibodies as described above, and a detection reagent.
  • the diagnostic kit comprises a first polymerase chain reaction primer and a second polymerase chain reaction primer, the first and second primers each comprising at least about 10 contiguous nucleotides of an RNA molecule encoding a polypeptide as described above.
  • the diagnostic kit comprises at least one oligonucleotide probe, the probe comprising at least about 15 contiguous nucleotides of a DNA molecule as described above.
  • the present invention provides methods for monitoring the progression of a cancer in a patient.
  • the method comprises: (a) detecting an amount, in a biological sample, of a polypeptide as described above; (b) subsequently repeating step (a); and (c) comparing the amounts of polypeptide detected in steps (a) and (b), and therefrom monitoring the progression of cancer in the patient.
  • the method comprises (a) detecting an amount, within a biological sample, of an RNA molecule encoding a polypeptide as described above; (b) subsequently repeating step (a); and (c) comparing the amounts of RNA molecules detected in steps (a) and (b), and therefrom monitoring the progression of cancer in the patient.
  • compositions which comprise a polypeptide as described above and a physiologically acceptable carrier, and vaccines, which comprise a polypeptide as described above and an immune response enhancer are provided.
  • the present invention provides methods for inhibiting the development of a cancer in a patient, comprising administering to a patient a pharmaceutical composition or vaccine as described above.
  • Figure 1 shows the differential display PCR products, separated by gel electrophoresis. obtained from cDNA prepared from normal breast tissue (lanes 1 and 2) and from cDNA prepared from breast tumor tissue from the same patient (lanes 3 and 4). The arrow indicates the band corresponding to B 18 Ag 1.
  • Figure 2 is a northern blot comparing the level of B18Agl mRNA in breast tumor tissue (lane 1) with the level in normal breast tissue.
  • Figure 3 shows the level of B18Agl mRNA in breast tumor tissue compared to that in various normal and non-breast tumor tissues as determined by RNase protection assays.
  • Figure 4 is a genomic clone map showing the location of additional retroviral sequences (provided in SEQ ID NO:3 - SEQ ID NO: 10) relative to B18Agl.
  • Figures 5A and 5B show the sequencing strategy, genomic organization, and predicted open reading frame for the retroviral element containing B18Agl .
  • Figure 6 shows the nucleotide sequence of the representative human endogenous retroviral element Bl ⁇ Agl.
  • compositions described herein include polypeptides, nucleic acid sequences and antibodies.
  • Polypeptides of the present invention generally comprise at least a portion of a protein that is encoded by a human endogenous retroviral sequence, wherein the human endogenous retroviral sequence is expressed at substantially greater levels in a human tumor tissue than in normal tissue (i.e., the level of RNA encoding the polypeptide is at least two fold higher, and preferably at least five fold higher, in a tumor tissue than in normal tissue).
  • Such sequences are said to be "preferentially expressed" in a tumor tissue.
  • any cancer characterized by increased expression of a human endogenous retroviral sequence within a tumor may be detected and/or treated according to the present invention.
  • Representative cancers include breast cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma.
  • polypeptide encompasses amino acid chains of any length, including full length proteins (and epitopes thereof) encoded by a human endogenous retroviral sequence.
  • Nucleic acid sequences of the subject invention generally comprise a DNA or RNA sequence that encodes a polypeptide as described above, or that is complementary to such a sequence.
  • Antibodies are generally immune system proteins, or fragments thereof, that are capable of binding to a portion of a polypeptide as described above.
  • Antibodies can be produced by cell culture techniques, including the generation of monoclonal antibodies as described herein, or via transfection of antibody genes into suitable bacterial or mammalian cell hosts, in order to allow for the production of recombinant antibodies.
  • Polypeptides within the scope of this invention include, but are not limited to, polypeptides (and epitopes thereof) encoded by the human endogenous retroviral sequences described herein.
  • sequences include the sequence designated B18Agl (SEQ ID NO:l) as well as other sequences such as those recited in SEQ ID NO:3-SEQ ID NO: 10, found within the retroviral genome containing B 18Agl (SEQ ID NO: 1 1).
  • B18Agl has homology to the P30 gene of the endogenous human retroviral element S71, as described in Werner et al., Virology 174:225-22 (1990).
  • polypeptide encompasses amino acid chains of any length, including full length proteins encoded by a human endogenous retroviral element.
  • a polypeptide comprising an epitope of a human endogenous retroviral element may consist entirely of the epitope, or may contain additional sequences.
  • the additional sequences may be derived from the native protein or may be heterologous, and such sequences may (but need not) possess immunogenic or antigenic properties.
  • epitope is a portion of a polypeptide that is recognized (i.e., specifically bound) by a B-cell and/or T-cell surface antigen receptor. Epitopes may generally be identified using well known techniques, such as those summarized in Paul, Fundamental Immunology, 3rd ed., 243-247 (Raven Press, 1993) and references cited therein. Such techniques include screening polypeptides derived from the native polypeptide for the ability to react with antigen-specific antisera and/or T-cell lines or clones.
  • An epitope of a polypeptide is a portion that reacts with such antisera and/or T-cells at a level that is similar to the reactivity of the full length polypeptide (e.g., in an ELISA and/or T-cell reactivity assay).
  • Such screens may generally be performed using methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as those described in Hariow and Lane, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1988.
  • B-cell and T-cell epitopes may also be predicted via computer analysis.
  • Polypeptides comprising an epitope of a polypeptide that is preferentially expressed in a tumor tissue (with or without additional amino acid sequence) are within the scope ofthe present invention.
  • compositions and methods of the present invention also encompass variants of the above polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences encoding such polypeptides.
  • a polypeptide "variant,” as used herein, is a polypeptide that differs from the native polypeptide in substitutions and/or modifications such that the antigenic and/or immunogenic properties of the polypeptide are retained. Such variants may generally be identified by modifying one of the above polypeptide sequences and evaluating the reactivity of the modified polypeptide with antisera and/or T-cells as described above. Nucleic acid variants may contain one or more substitutions, deletions, insertions and/or modifications such that the antigenic and/or immunogenic properties of the encoded polypeptide are retained.
  • One preferred variant of a human endogenous retroviral sequence, or an epitope thereof is a variant that contains nucleotide substitutions, deletions, insertions and/or modifications at no more than 20% of the nucleotide positions within the native polypeptide sequence.
  • a variant contains conservative substitutions.
  • a "conservative substitution” is one in which an amino acid is substituted for another amino acid that has similar properties, such that one skilled in the art of peptide chemistry would expect the secondary structure and hydropathic nature of the polypeptide to be substantially unchanged.
  • the following groups of amino acids represent conservative changes: (l) ala, pro, gly, glu, asp, gin, asn, ser, thr; (2) cys, ser, tyr, thr; (3) val, ile, leu, met, ala, phe; (4) lys, arg, his; and (5) phe, tyr, trp, his.
  • Variants may also (or alternatively) be modified by, for example, the deletion or addition of amino acids that have minimal influence on the immunogenic or antigenic properties, secondary structure and hydropathic nature of the polypeptide.
  • a polypeptide may be conjugated to a signal (or leader) sequence at the N- terminal end of the protein which co-translationally or post-translationally directs transfer of the protein.
  • the polypeptide may also be conjugated to a linker or other sequence for ease of synthesis, purification or identification of the polypeptide (e.g., poly-His), or to enhance binding of the polypeptide to a solid support.
  • a polypeptide may be conjugated to an immunoglobulin Fc region.
  • Human endogenous retroviral sequences that are expressed at substantially greater levels in a human tumor tissue than in normal tissue may be prepared using any of several techniques.
  • the human endogenous retroviral sequence designated B18Agl ( Figure 6 and SEQ ID NO:l) may be cloned on the basis of its breast tumor specific expression, using differential display PCR. This technique compares the amplified products from poly A+ or total RNA template prepared from normal and breast tumor tissue.
  • cDNA may be prepared by reverse transcription of RNA using a (dT) 12 AG primer.
  • a band corresponding to an amplified product specific to the tumor RNA may be cut out from a silver stained gel and subcloned into a suitable vector (e.g., the T-vector, Novagen, Madison, WI).
  • a suitable vector e.g., the T-vector, Novagen, Madison, WI.
  • the B18Agl gene (or a portion thereof) may be amplified from human genomic DNA, or from breast tumor cDNA, via polymerase chain reaction.
  • B18Agl sequence-specific primers may be designed based on the sequence provided in SEQ ID NOT, and may be purchased or synthesized.
  • One suitable primer pair for amplification from breast tumor cDNA is (5'ATG GCT ATT TTC GGG GGC TGA CA) (SEQ ID NO:14) and (5'CCG GTA TCT CCT CGT GGG TAT T) (SEQ ID NO: 15).
  • An amplified portion of B18Agl may then be used to isolate the full length gene from a human genomic DNA library or from a breast tumor cDNA library, using well known techniques such as those described in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, Cold Spring Harbor, NY (1989).
  • Other sequences within the retroviral genome containing B18Agl, such as those recited in SEQ ID NO:3 - SEQ ID NO:10, may be similarly prepared by screening human genomic libraries using Bl ⁇ Agl -specific sequences as probes.
  • human endogenous retroviral sequences that are expressed at substantially greater levels in a human tumor tissue than in normal tissue may be prepared using methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, such sequences may be identified using low stringency hybridization, followed by PCR to identify conserved motifs. The level of expression in tumor tissue may generally be evaluated using the methods described herein, such as PCR and Northern blot analysis.
  • Recombinant polypeptides encoded by the DNA sequences described above may be readily prepared from the DNA sequences.
  • supernatants from suitable host/vector systems which secrete recombinant polypeptide into culture media may be first concentrated using a commercially available filter.
  • the concentrate may be applied to a suitable purification matrix such as an affinity matrix or an ion exchange resin.
  • a suitable purification matrix such as an affinity matrix or an ion exchange resin.
  • one or more reverse phase HPLC steps can be employed to further purify a recombinant polypeptide.
  • any of a variety of expression vectors known to those of ordinary skill in the art may be employed to express recombinant polypeptides of this invention.
  • Expression may be achieved in any appropriate host cell that has been transformed or transfected with an expression vector containing a DNA molecule that encodes a recombinant polypeptide.
  • Suitable host cells include prokaryotes, yeast and higher eukaryotic cells.
  • the host cells employed are E. coli, yeast or a mammalian cell line such as COS or CHO.
  • variants of a native polypeptide may generally be prepared using standard mutagenesis techniques, such as oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis, and sections of the DNA sequence may be removed to permit preparation of truncated polypeptides. Portions and other variants having fewer than about 100 amino acids, and generally fewer than about 50 amino acids, may also be generated by synthetic means, using techniques well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • polypeptides may be synthesized using any of the commercially available solid-phase techniques, such as the Merrifield solid-phase synthesis method, where amino acids are sequentially added to a growing amino acid chain. See Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 55:2149-2146, 1963. Equipment for automated synthesis of polypeptides is commercially available from suppliers such as Applied BioSystems, Inc., Foster City, CA, and may be operated according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  • polypeptides of the present invention encompass polypeptides encoded by a human endogenous retroviral sequence that is expressed at substantially greater levels in a human tumor tissue than in normal tissue (such as the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO:l), variants of such polypeptides that are encoded by DNA molecules containing one or more nucleotide substitutions, deletions, insertions and/or modifications at no more than 20% of the nucleotide positions, and epitopes of the above polypeptides.
  • Polypeptides within the scope of the present invention also include polypeptides (and epitopes thereof) encoded by DNA sequences that hybridize to the above sequences under stringent conditions, wherein the DNA sequences are at least 80% identical in overall sequence to the sequence recited in SEQ ID NO: 1 , and wherein RNA corresponding to said nucleotide sequence is expressed at a greater level in human tumor tissue than in the corresponding normal tissue.
  • stringent conditions refers to prewashing in a solution of 6X SSC, 0.2% SDS; hybridizing overnight at 65°C in 6X SSC, 0.2% SDS; followed by washing twice at 65° C for 30 minutes each with IX SSC, 0.1% SDS, and then washing twice at 65°C for 30- 60 minutes each with 0.1X SSC, 0.1% SDS.
  • DNA molecules according to the present invention include molecules that encode any ofthe above polypeptides.
  • antibodies are provided. Such antibodies may be prepared by any of a variety of techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art. See, e.g., Hariow and Lane, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1988.
  • an immunogen comprising the polypeptide is initially injected into any of a wide variety of mammals (e.g., mice, rats, rabbits, sheep or goats).
  • the polypeptides of this invention may serve as the immunogen without modification.
  • a superior immune response may be elicited if the polypeptide is joined to a carrier protein, such as bovine serum albumin or keyhole limpet hemocyanin.
  • the immunogen is injected into the animal host, preferably according to a predetermined schedule incorporating one or more booster immunizations, and the animals are bled periodically.
  • Polyclonal antibodies specific for the polypeptide may then be purified from such antisera by, for example, affinity chromatography using the polypeptide coupled to a suitable solid support.
  • Monoclonal antibodies specific for the antigenic polypeptide of interest may be prepared, for example, using the technique of Kohler and Milstein, Eur. J. Immunol. (5:51 1-519, 1976, and improvements thereto. Briefly, these methods involve the preparation of immortal cell lines capable of producing antibodies having the desired specificity (i.e., reactivity with the polypeptide of interest). Such cell lines may be produced, for example, from spleen cells obtained from an animal immunized as described above. The spleen cells are then immortalized by, for example, fusion with a myeloma cell fusion partner, preferably one that is syngeneic with the immunized animal. A variety of fusion techniques may be employed.
  • the spleen cells and myeloma cells may be combined with a nonionic detergent for a few minutes and then plated at low density on a selective medium that supports the growth of hybrid cells, but not myeloma cells.
  • a preferred selection technique uses HAT (hypoxanthine, aminopterin, thymidine) selection. After a sufficient time, usually about 1 to 2 weeks, colonies of hybrids are observed. Single colonies are selected and their culture supernatants tested for binding activity against the polypeptide. Hybridomas having high reactivity and specificity are preferred. Monoclonal antibodies may be isolated from the supernatants of growing hybridoma colonies.
  • various techniques may be employed to enhance the yield, such as injection ofthe hybridoma cell line into the peritoneal cavity of a suitable vertebrate host, such as a mouse.
  • Monoclonal antibodies may then be harvested from the ascites fluid or the blood.
  • Contaminants may be removed from the antibodies by conventional techniques, such as chromatography, gel filtration, precipitation, and extraction.
  • the polypeptides of this invention may be used in the purification process in, for example, an affinity chromatography step.
  • Antibodies may be used, for example, in methods for detecting a cancer (such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, lymphoma or Kaposi's sarcoma) in a patient. Such methods involve using one or more antibodies to detect the presence or absence of a polypeptide as described herein in a suitable biological sample.
  • suitable biological samples include tumor or normal tissue biopsy, mastectomy, blood, lymph node, serum and urine samples or other tissue, homogenate or extract thereof, obtained from a patient. It will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art that, following detection of a polypeptide within a non-biopsy sample, additional tumor markers may be employed to identify the particular type of cancer.
  • the assay may be performed in a Western blot format, wherein a protein preparation from the biological sample is submitted to gel electrophoresis, transferred to a suitable membrane and allowed to react with antibody. The presence of antibody on the membrane may then be detected using a suitable detection reagent, as described below.
  • the assay involves the use of an antibody immobilized on a solid support to bind to the polypeptide and remove it from the remainder of the sample.
  • the bound polypeptide may then be detected using a second antibody that binds to the binding partner/polypeptide complex and contains a reporter group.
  • a competitive assay may be utilized, in which a polypeptide is labeled with a reporter group and allowed to bind to the immobilized antibody after incubation of the antibody with the sample.
  • the extent to which components of the sample inhibit the binding ofthe labeled polypeptide to the antibody is indicative ofthe reactivity of the sample with the immobilized antibody, and as a result is indicative of the concentration of polypeptide in the sample.
  • the solid support may be any material known to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the antibody may be attached.
  • the solid support may be a test well in a microtiter plate or a nitrocellulose filter or other suitable membrane.
  • the support may be a bead or disc, such as glass, fiberglass, latex or a plastic material such as polystyrene or polyvinylchloride.
  • the support may also be a magnetic particle or a fiber optic sensor, such as those disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,359,681.
  • the antibody may be immobilized on the solid support using a variety of techniques known to those in the art, which are amply described in the patent and scientific literature.
  • immobilization refers to both noncovalent association, such as adsorption, and covalent attachment (which may be a direct linkage between the antigen and functional groups on the support or may be a linkage by way of a cross-linking agent). Immobilization by adsorption to a well in a microtiter plate or to a membrane is preferred. In such cases, adsorption may be achieved by contacting the antibody, in a suitable buffer, with the solid support for a suitable amount of time. The contact time varies with temperature, but is typically between about 1 hour and 1 day.
  • contacting a well of a plastic microtiter plate (such as polystyrene or polyvinylchloride) with an amount of antibody ranging from about 10 ng to about 1 ⁇ g, and preferably about 100-200 ng, is sufficient to immobilize an adequate amount of polypeptide.
  • a plastic microtiter plate such as polystyrene or polyvinylchloride
  • Covalent attachment of antibody to a solid support may generally be achieved by first reacting the support with a bifunctional reagent that will react with both the support and a functional group, such as a hydroxyl or amino group, on the antibody.
  • a bifunctional reagent that will react with both the support and a functional group, such as a hydroxyl or amino group, on the antibody.
  • the antibody may be covalently attached to supports having an appropriate polymer coating using benzoquinone or by condensation of an aldehyde group on the support with an amine and an active hydrogen on the binding partner (see, e.g. , Pierce Immunotechnology Catalog and Handbook (1991) at A12-A13).
  • the assay is a two-antibody sandwich assay.
  • This assay may be performed by first contacting an antibody that has been immobilized on a solid support, commonly the well of a microtiter plate, with the biological sample, such that the polypeptide within the sample are allowed to bind to the immobilized antibody. Unbound sample is then removed from the immobilized polypeptide-antibody complexes and a second antibody (containing a reporter group) capable of binding to a different site on the polypeptide is added. The amount of second antibody that remains bound to the solid support is then determined using a method appropriate for the specific reporter group.
  • the immobilized antibody is then incubated with the sample, and polypeptide is allowed to bind to the antibody.
  • the sample may be diluted with a suitable diluent, such as phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) prior to incubation.
  • PBS phosphate-buffered saline
  • an appropriate contact time i.e., incubation time is that period of time that is sufficient to detect the presence of polypeptide within a sample obtained from an individual with breast cancer.
  • the contact time is sufficient to achieve a level of binding that is at least 95% of that achieved at equilibrium between bound and unbound polypeptide.
  • the time necessary to achieve equilibrium may be readily determined by assaying the level of binding that occurs over a period of time. At room temperature, an incubation time of about 30 minutes is generally sufficient.
  • Unbound sample may then be removed by washing the solid support with an appropriate buffer, such as PBS containing 0.1% Tween 20TM.
  • the second antibody which contains a reporter group, may then be added to the solid support.
  • Preferred reporter groups include enzymes (such as horseradish peroxidase), substrates, cofactors, inhibitors, dyes, radionuclides, luminescent groups, fluorescent groups and bio tin.
  • the conjugation of antibody to reporter group may be achieved using standard methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • the second antibody is then incubated with the immobilized antibody- polypeptide complex for an amount of time sufficient to detect the bound polypeptide.
  • An appropriate amount of time may generally be determined by assaying the level of binding that occurs over a period of time. Unbound second antibody is then removed and bound second antibody is detected using the reporter group.
  • the method employed for detecting the reporter group depends upon the nature of the reporter group. For radioactive groups, scintillation counting or autoradiographic methods are generally appropriate. Spectroscopic methods may be used to detect dyes, luminescent groups and fluorescent groups. Biotin may be detected using avidin, coupled to a different reporter group (commonly a radioactive or fluorescent group or an enzyme).
  • Enzyme reporter groups may generally be detected by the addition of substrate (generally for a specific period of time), followed by spectroscopic or other analysis of the reaction products.
  • the signal detected from the reporter group that remains bound to the solid support is generally compared to a signal that corresponds to a predetermined cut-off value.
  • the cut-off value is the average mean signal obtained when the immobilized antibody is incubated with samples from patients without cancer.
  • a sample generating a signal that is three standard deviations above the predetermined cut-off value may be considered positive for a cancer.
  • the cut-off value is determined using a Receiver Operator Curve, according to the method of Sackett et al., Clinical Epidemiology: A Basic- Science for Clinical Medicine, p. 106-7 (Little Brown and Co., 1985). Briefly, in this embodiment, the cut-off value may be determined from a plot of pairs of true positive rates (i.e., sensitivity) and false positive rates (100%-specificity) that correspond to each possible cut-off value for the diagnostic test result.
  • true positive rates i.e., sensitivity
  • false positive rates (100%-specificity
  • the cut-off value on the plot that is the closest to the upper left-hand corner is the most accurate cut-off value, and a sample generating a signal that is higher than the cut-off value determined by this method may be considered positive.
  • the cut-off value may be shifted to the left along the plot, to minimize the false positive rate, or to the right, to minimize the false negative rate.
  • a sample generating a signal that is higher than the cut-off value determined by this method is considered positive for a cancer.
  • the assay is performed in a flow-through or strip test format, wherein the antibody is immobilized on a membrane, such as nitrocellulose.
  • the polypeptide within the sample binds to the immobilized antibody as the sample passes through the membrane.
  • a second, labeled antibody then binds to the antibody-polypeptide complex as a solution containing the second antibody flows through the membrane.
  • the detection of bound second antibody may then be performed as described above.
  • one end of the membrane to which antibody is bound is immersed in a solution containing the sample.
  • the sample migrates along the membrane through a region containing second antibody and to the area of immobilized antibody. Concentration of second antibody at the area of immobilized antibody indicates the presence of breast cancer.
  • the concentration of second antibody at that site generates a pattern, such as a line, that can be read visually.
  • the amount of antibody immobilized on the membrane is selected to generate a visually discernible pattern when the biological sample contains a level of polypeptide that would be sufficient to generate a positive signal in the two-antibody sandwich assay, in the format discussed above.
  • the amount of antibody immobilized on the membrane ranges from about 25 ng to about l ⁇ g, and more preferably from about 50 ng to about l ⁇ g. Such tests can typically be performed with a very small amount of biological sample.
  • the presence or absence of a cancer in a patient may also be determined by evaluating the level of mRNA encoding a polypeptide of the present invention within the biological sample (e.g., a biopsy, mastectomy and/or blood sample from a patient) relative to a predetermined cut-off value.
  • a biological sample e.g., a biopsy, mastectomy and/or blood sample from a patient
  • Such an evaluation may be achieved using any of a variety of methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art such as, for example, in situ hybridization and amplification by polymerase chain reaction.
  • polymerase chain reaction may be used to amplify sequences from cDNA prepared from RNA that is isolated from one of the above biological samples.
  • Sequence-specific primers for use in such amplification may be designed based on a cDNA or genomic sequence, such as a sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO:3 - SEQ ID NO: 10, and may be purchased or synthesized.
  • a cDNA or genomic sequence such as a sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO:3 - SEQ ID NO: 10, and may be purchased or synthesized.
  • one suitable primer pair is (5'ATG GCT ATT TTC GGG GGC TGA CA) (SEQ ID NO: 14) and (5'CCG GTA TCT CCT CGT GGG TAT T) (SEQ ID NO: 15).
  • the PCR reaction products may then be separated and visualized using gel electrophoresis, according to methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • Amplification is typically performed on samples obtained from matched pairs of tissue (tumor and non-tumor tissue from the same individual) or from unmatched pairs of tissue (tumor and non-tumor tissue from different individuals).
  • the amplification reaction is preferably performed on several dilutions of cDNA spanning two orders of magnitude. A two-fold or greater increase in expression in several dilutions of the tumor sample as compared to the same dilution of the non-tumor sample is considered positive.
  • probes e.g., digoxygenin
  • labelled antibodies e.g., enzyme fluorescent, radioactive antibodies
  • a skin test is any assay performed directly on a patient in which a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction (such as swelling, reddening or dermatitis) is measured following intradermal injection of one or more polypeptides as described above.
  • DTH delayed-type hypersensitivity
  • Such injection may be achieved using any suitable device sufficient to contact the polypeptide or polypeptides with dermal cells of the patient, such as a tuberculin syringe or 1 mL syringe.
  • the reaction is measured at least 48 hours after injection, more preferably 48-72 hours.
  • the DTH reaction is a cell-mediated immune response, which is greater in patients that have been exposed previously to a test antigen (i.e., an immunogenic portion of a polypeptide employed, or a variant thereof).
  • the response may measured visually, using a ruler.
  • a response that is greater than about 0.5 cm in diameter, preferably greater than about 1.0 cm in diameter is a positive response, indicative of a cancer.
  • additional tumor markers may be employed, using methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art, to identify the type of cancer present.
  • polypeptides of this invention are preferably formulated, for use in a skin test, as pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one polypeptide and a physiologically acceptable carrier, such as water, saline, alcohol, or a buffer.
  • a physiologically acceptable carrier such as water, saline, alcohol, or a buffer.
  • Such compositions typically contain one or more of the above polypeptides in an amount ranging from about 1 ⁇ g to 100 ⁇ g, preferably from about 10 ⁇ g to 50 ⁇ g in a volume of 0.1 mL.
  • the carrier employed in such pharmaceutical compositions is a saline solution with appropriate preservatives, such as phenol and/or Tween 80TM.
  • the progression and/or response to treatment of a cancer may be monitored by performing any of the above assays over a period of time, and evaluating the change in the level ofthe response (i.e., the amount of polypeptide or mRNA detected or, in the case of a skin test, the extent of the immune response detected).
  • the assays may be performed every 1-2 months for a period of 1-2 years.
  • a cancer is progressing in those patients in whom the level of the response increases over time.
  • a cancer is not progressing when the signal detected either remains constant or decreases with time.
  • the compounds described herein may be used for the immunotherapy of a cancer.
  • the compounds (which may be polypeptides, antibodies or nucleic acid molecules) are preferably incorporated into pharmaceutical compositions or vaccines.
  • Pharmaceutical compositions comprise one or more such compounds and a physiologically acceptable carrier.
  • Vaccines may comprise one or more polypeptides and an immune response enhancer, such as an adjuvant or a liposome (into which the compound is incorporated).
  • Pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines may additionally contain a delivery system, such as biodegradable microspheres which are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,897,268 and 5,075,109.
  • Pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines within the scope of the present invention may also contain other compounds, including one or more separate polypeptides.
  • a vaccine may contain DNA encoding one or more of the polypeptides as described above, such that the polypeptide is generated in situ.
  • the DNA may be present within any of a variety of delivery systems known to those of ordinary skill in the art, including nucleic acid expression systems, bacteria and viral expression systems. Appropriate nucleic acid expression systems contain the necessary DNA sequences for expression in the patient (such as a suitable promoter and terminating signal).
  • Bacterial delivery systems involve the administration of a bacterium (such as Bacillus-Calmette-Guerrin) that expresses an immunogenic portion of the polypeptide on its cell surface.
  • the DNA may be introduced using a viral expression system (e.g., vaccinia or other pox virus, retro virus, or adenovirus), which may involve the use of a non-pathogenic (defective), replication competent virus.
  • a viral expression system e.g., vaccinia or other pox virus, retro virus, or adenovirus
  • a non-pathogenic (defective), replication competent virus e.g., vaccinia or other pox virus, retro virus, or adenovirus
  • a non-pathogenic (defective), replication competent virus e.g., vaccinia or other pox virus, retro virus, or adenovirus
  • Techniques for incorporating DNA into such expression systems are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • the DNA may also be "naked,” as described, for example, in Ulmer et al., Science 259: 1745-1749 (1993) and reviewed by Cohen, Science 25P: 1691 -1692 (1993).
  • the type of carrier will vary depending on the mode of administration.
  • the carrier preferably comprises water, saline, alcohol, a fat, a wax or a buffer.
  • any of the above carriers or a solid carrier such as mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharine, talcum, cellulose, glucose, sucrose, and magnesium carbonate, may be employed.
  • Biodegradable microspheres e.g., polylactate polyglycolate
  • adjuvants may be employed in the vaccines of this invention to nonspecifically enhance the immune response.
  • Most adjuvants contain a substance designed to protect the antigen from rapid catabolism, such as aluminum hydroxide or mineral oil, and a nonspecific stimulator of immune responses, such as lipid A, Bordella pertussis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis-de ⁇ ved proteins.
  • Suitable adjuvants are commercially available as, for example, Freund's Incomplete Adjuvant and Complete Adjuvant (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, MI), Merck Adjuvant 65 (Merck and Company, Inc., Rahway, NJ), alum, biodegradable microspheres, monophosphoryl lipid A and quil A.
  • Cytokines such as GM-CSF or interleukin-2, -7, or -12, may also be used as adjuvants.
  • the above pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines may be used, for example, for the therapy of cancer in a patient.
  • a "patient” refers to any warm-blooded animal, preferably a human. A patient may or may not be afflicted with a cancer. Accordingly, the above pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines may be used to prevent the development of a cancer or to treat a patient afflicted with a cancer.
  • a pharmaceutical composition or vaccine comprising one or more polypeptides as described herein (or naked, plasmid or viral vector DNA encoding such a polypeptide) may be administered to a patient.
  • the pharmaceutical composition or vaccine may comprise one or more polypeptides, antibodies or nucleic acid molecules complementary to DNA encoding a polypeptide as described herein (e.g., antisense RNA or antisense deoxyribonucleotide oligonucleotides).
  • tumor cells that express a polypeptide as described herein may be preferentially killed by administering to a patient a conjugate in which a cytotoxic agent or "prodrug" is linked to antisense RNA, an antisense deoxyribonucleotide oligonucleotide or an antibody that binds to such a polypeptide.
  • a cytotoxic agent or "prodrug” refers to a group that is not itself toxic to the cell, but that can be rendered toxic after the conjugate is directed to the target cell by the addition of a second activating compound, such as an enzyme that can convert the prodrug into an active drug.
  • cytotoxic agent including radionuclides
  • prodrug include boron, doxifluridine, or the prodrug precursor of palytoxin.
  • Routes and frequency of administration, as well as dosage, will vary from individual to individual.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines may be administered by injection (e.g., intracutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous or subcutaneous), intranasally (e.g., by aspiration) or orally. Between 1 and 10 doses may be administered for a 52 week period. Preferably, 6 doses are administered, at intervals of one month, and booster vaccinations may be given periodically thereafter. Alternate protocols may be appropriate for individual patients.
  • a suitable dose is an amount of a compound that, when administered as described above, is capable of promoting an anti-tumor immune response. Such a response can be monitored by measuring the level of anti-tumor antibodies in a patient or by vaccine- dependent generation of cytolytic effector cells capable of killing the patient's tumor cells in vitro.
  • a suitable dose should also be capable of causing an immune response that leads to an improved clinical outcome (e.g., more frequent remissions, complete or partial or longer disease-free survival) in vaccinated patients as compared to non- vaccinated patients..
  • the amount of each polypeptide present in a dose ranges from about 100 ⁇ g to about 5 mg. Suitable dose sizes will vary with the size of the patient, but will typically range from about 0.1 mL to about 5 mL.
  • This Example illustrates the preparation of cDNA and genomic DNA molecules encoding B18Agl using a differential display screen.
  • Tissue samples were prepared from breast tumor and normal tissue of a patient with breast cancer that was confirmed by pathology after removal from the patient.
  • Normal RNA and tumor RNA was extracted from the samples and mRNA was isolated and converted into cDNA using a (dT) ]2 AG anchored 3' primer.
  • Differential display PCR was then executed using a randomly chosen primer (CTTCAACCTC) (SEQ ID NO: 16).
  • Amplification conditions were standard buffer containing 1.5 mM MgCl 2 , 20 pmol of primer, 500 pmol dNTP, and 1 unit of Taq DNA polymerase (Perkin-Elmer, Branchburg, NJ).
  • RNA fingerprint containing 76 amplified products was obtained. Although the RNA fingerprint of breast tumor tissue was over 98% identical to that of the normal breast tissue, a band was repeatedly observed to be specific to the RNA fingerprint pattern of the tumor. This band was cut out of a silver stained gel and subcloned into the T-vector (Novagen, Madison, WI) and sequenced.
  • B18Agl The sequence of the cDNA, referred to as B18Agl , is provided in SEQ ID NO:l .
  • S71 which is a truncated retroviral element homologous to the Simian Sarcoma Virus (SSV).
  • S71 contains a complete gag gene, a portion of the pol gene and an LTR-like structure at the 3' terminus (see Werner et al., Virology 174:225-238 (1990)).
  • B18Agl is also 64% identical to SSV in the region corresponding to the P30 (gag) locus.
  • B18Agl contains three separate and incomplete reading frames covering a region which shares considerable homology to a wide variety of gag proteins of retroviruses which infect mammals.
  • the homology to S71 is not just within the gag gene, but spans several kb of sequence including an LTR.
  • B18Agl -specific PCR primers were synthesized using computer analysis guidelines. RT-PCR amplification (94°C, 30 seconds; 60°C ⁇ 42°C, 30 seconds; 72°C, 30 seconds, for 40 cycles) confirmed that B18Agl represents an actual mRNA sequence present at relatively high levels in the patient's breast tumor tissue.
  • the primers used in amplification were B18Agl-l (CTG CCT GAG CCA CAA ATG) (SEQ ID NO: 17) and B18Agl-4 (CCG GAG GAG GAA GCT AGA GGA ATA) (SEQ ID NO: 18) at a 3.5 mM magnesium concentration and a pH of 8.5, and B18Agl-2 (ATG GCT ATT TTC GGG GGC TGA CA) (SEQ ID NO: 14) and B18Agl-3 (CCG GTA TCT CCT CGT GGG TATT) (SEQ ID NO: 15) at 2 mM magnesium at pH 9.5.
  • B18Agl-2 ATG GCT ATT TTC GGG GGC TGA CA
  • B18Agl-3 CCG GTA TCT CCT CGT GGG TATT
  • RT-PCR experiments were then used to show that B18Agl mRNA is present in nine other breast tumor samples (from Brazilian and American patients) but absent in, or at exceedingly low levels in, the normal breast tissue corresponding to each cancer patient.
  • RT-PCR analysis has also shown that the B18Agl transcript is not present in various normal tissues (including lymph node, myocardium and liver) and present at relatively low levels in PBMC and lung tissue.
  • the presence of B18Agl mRNA in breast tumor samples, and its absence from normal breast tissue, has been confirmed by Northern blot analysis, as shown in Figure 2.
  • FIG. 1 shows the level of B18Agl mRNA in various tissue types as determined in four different RNase protection assays.
  • Lanes 1 - 12 represent various normal breast tissue samples, lanes 13-25 represent various breast tumor samples; lanes 26-27 represent normal prostate samples; lanes 28-29 represent prostate tumor samples; lanes 30-32 represent colon tumor samples; lane 33 represents normal aorta; lane 34 represents normal small intestine; lane 35 represents normal skin, lane 36 represents normal lymph node; lane 37 represents normal ovary; lane 38 represents normal liver; lane 39 represents normal skeletal muscle; lane 40 represents a first normal stomach sample, lane 41 represents a second normal stomach sample; lane 42 represents a normal lung; lane 43 represents normal kidney; and lane 44 represents normal pancreas.
  • SEQ ID NO:3 shows the location ofthe sequence labeled 10 in Figure 4
  • SEQ ID NO:4 shows the location of the sequence labeled 1 1-29
  • SEQ ID NO:5 shows the location of the sequence labeled 3
  • SEQ ID NO:6 shows the location of the sequence labeled 6
  • SEQ ID NO:7 shows the location of the sequence labeled 12
  • SEQ ID NO: 8 shows the location of the sequence labeled 13
  • SEQ ID NO:9 shows the location of the sequence labeled 14
  • SEQ ID NO: 10 shows the location ofthe sequence labeled 11-22.
  • FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of the retroviral element containing B18Agl depicting the organization of viral genes within the element.
  • the open boxes correspond to predicted reading frames, starting with a methionine, found throughout the element. Each of the six likely reading frames is shown, as indicated to the left of the boxes, with frames 1-3 corresponding to those found on the sense strand.
  • SEQ ID NO: 12 a longer cDNA was obtained (SEQ ID NO: 12) which contains minor nucleotide differences (less than 1%) compared to the genomic sequence shown in SEQ ID NOT 1.
  • This example illustrates the preparation of B18Agl DNA by amplification from human genomic DNA.
  • B18Agl DNA may be prepared from 250 ng human genomic DNA using 20 pmol of B18Agl specific primers, 500 pmol dNTPS and 1 unit of Taq DNA polymerase (Perkin Elmer, Branchburg, NJ) using the following amplification parameters: 94°C denaturing for 30 seconds, 30 second 60°C to 42°C touchdown annealing in 2°C increments every two cycles and 72°C extension for 30 seconds. The last increment (a 42°C annealing temperature) should cycle 25 times.
  • Primers (B18Agl-l, B18Agl-2, B18Agl-3 and B18Agl-4) were selected using computer analysis. Primers synthesized were. Primer pairs that may be used are 1+3, 1+4, 2+3, and 2+4.
  • This example illustrates the preparation of B18Agl DNA by amplification from human breast tumor cDNA.
  • First strand cDNA is synthesized from RNA prepared from human breast tumor tissue in a reaction mixture containing 500 ng poly A+ RNA, 200 pmol of the primer (T)12AG (i.e., TTT TTT TTT TTT AG) (SEQ ID NO: 19), IX first strand reverse transcriptase buffer, 6.7 mM DTT, 500 mmol dNTPs, and 1 unit AMV or MMLV reverse transcriptase (from any supplier, such as Gibco-BRL (Grand Island, NY)) in a final volume of 30 ⁇ l. After first strand synthesis, the cDNA is diluted approximately 25 fold and 1 ⁇ l is used for amplification as described in Example 2.
  • T primer
  • IX first strand reverse transcriptase buffer 6.7 mM DTT
  • 500 mmol dNTPs 500 mmol dNTPs
  • 1 unit AMV or MMLV reverse transcriptase from any supplier, such as Gibco-BRL (Grand Island,
  • This Example illustrates the identification of B18Agl epitopes.
  • the B18Agl sequence can be screened using a variety of computer algorithms. To determine B-cell epitopes, the sequence can be screened for hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity values using the method of Hopp, Prog. Clin. Biol. Res. 7725:367-77 (1985) or, alternatively, Cease et al., 164 J. Exp. Med. 1779-84 (1986) or Spouge et al., J. Immunol. 138:204-12 (1987). Additional Class II MHC (antibody or B-cell) epitopes can be predicted using programs such as AMPHI (e.g., Margalit et al., J Immunol. 735:2213 (1987)) or the methods of Rothbard and Taylor (e.g., EMBOJ. 7:93 (1988)).
  • AMPHI e.g., Margalit et al., J Immunol. 7
  • peptides 15-20 amino acids long
  • individual peptides can be synthesized using automated peptide synthesis equipment (available from manufacturers such as Applied BioSystems, Inc., Foster City, CA) and techniques such as Merrifield synthesis.
  • the peptides can used to screen sera harvested from either normal or breast cancer patients to determine whether patients with breast cancer possess antibodies reactive with the peptides. Presence of such antibodies in breast cancer patient would confirm the immunogenicity of the specific B-cell epitope in question.
  • the peptides can also be tested for their ability to generate a serologic or humoral immune in animals (mice, rats, rabbits, chimps etc.) following immunization in vivo. Generation of a peptide- specific antiserum following such immunization further confirms the immunogenicity of the specific B-cell epitope in question.
  • the B18Agl sequence can be screened using different computer algorithms which are useful in identifying 8-10 amino acid motifs within the B18Agl sequence which are capable of binding to HLA Class I MHC molecules, (see, e.g., Rammensee et al., Immunogenetics ⁇ 7:178-228 (1995)). Following synthesis such peptides can be tested for their ability to bind to class I MHC using standard binding assays (e.g., Sette et al., J. Immunol.
  • T-cells capable of killing autologous (bearing the same class I MHC molecules) tumor cells following in vitro peptide stimulation further confirms the immunogenicity of the B18Agl antigen.
  • such peptides may be used to generate murine peptide and B18Agl reactive cytotoxic T-cells following in vivo immunization in mice rendered transgenic for expression of a particular human MHC Class I haplotype (Vitiello et al., J. Exp. Med. 773:1007-15 (1991).
  • GAAAACTCAC CAGGAGAAAA GTGGGAAATT GACTTTACAG AAGTAAAACC ACACCGGGCT 360
  • ACGTCTCCCC AACAGGTANA AAAATCTNCT GCCCTTTTCA AGGAACCATC CCATCCATTC 900 CTNAACAAAA GGCCTGCCNT TCTTCCCCCA GTTAACTNTT T ⁇ TN ⁇ AAA AHCCCAAAA 960
  • AANGAACCNC CTGCTGGAAA AACNCCCCCC TCCAANCCCC GGCCNAAGNG GAAGGTTCCC 1020
  • CTGA ⁇ cNCN TGGGCc ⁇ CTC ⁇ TTCCC ⁇ GGG ⁇ G ⁇ TAAA ⁇ cc CAATGTCCCC 660
  • AACCCTFTAA A ⁇ TCCCCCT TGGCCGGCCC CCCM M MC CCCCC ⁇ TNG AAGGCAGGNR 900 02t? 333133NNNN NNN933NN1V 999913913V NN313NV9NN 333N3333331V919NN313

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Abstract

Cette invention concerne des compositions et des procédés qui sont utilisés dans la détection et la thérapie du cancer. Ces composés comportent des séquences rétrovirales endogènes humaines, lesquelles sont de préférence exprimées dans un tissu tumoral, ainsi que des polypeptides codés par de telles séquences de nucléotides. Cette invention concerne également des vaccins et des compositions pharmaceutiques comportant ces composés, lesquels peuvent utilisés, par exemple, dans la prévention et le traitement du cancer. Ces polypeptides peuvent également être utilisés dans la production d'anticorps qui sont eux-mêmes utiles dans le diagnostic et le contrôle de la progression du cancer.
PCT/US1997/000398 1996-01-10 1997-01-10 Compositions et procedes de traitement et de diagnostic du cancer WO1997025431A1 (fr)

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US7241876B2 (en) 1996-01-11 2007-07-10 Corixa Corporation Compositions and methods for the therapy and diagnosis of breast cancer
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WO2000061753A3 (fr) * 1999-04-09 2001-06-28 Corixa Corp Compositions et methodes de depistage et de traitement du cancer du sein
JP2002541803A (ja) * 1999-04-09 2002-12-10 コリクサ コーポレイション 乳癌の処置および診断のための組成物ならびに方法
WO2000061753A2 (fr) * 1999-04-09 2000-10-19 Corixa Corporation Compositions et methodes de depistage et de traitement du cancer du sein
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EP1696028A3 (fr) * 2000-05-24 2006-12-27 Corixa Corporation Compositions et méthodes pour la thérapie et le diagnostic du cancer du sein
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