Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or... – Involving antigen-antibody binding – specific binding protein...
Patent
1996-06-14
1999-08-17
Huff, Sheela
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or...
Involving antigen-antibody binding, specific binding protein...
436 63, 436 64, 53038835, G01N 33574, G01N 3348, C07K 1600
Patent
active
059392770
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to newly discovered antigens associated with breast and gynecological cancers and to immunoassay methods for detecting these antigens in biological samples, as well as immunotherapeutic methods for treating these cancers with antibodies that bind to these antigens. More specifically, the invention relates to the discovery of immunological cross-reactivity between antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-I) envelope protein gp120 and certain breast and gynecological carcinoma cell surface and chromatin antigens. This cross-reactivity results in the formation of new immunocomplexes which are useful in the immunodiagnostic methods of this invention.
2. Background
Breast carcinoma, together with carcinoma of the ovary, account for one-third of all cancers occurring in women, and together are responsible for approximately one-quarter of cancer-related deaths in females. Cancer of the female genital tract accounts for almost 80,000 cases of invasive cancer each year in the United States, with the majority of these being one of three neoplasms; carcinoma of the cervix, endometrial carcinoma, and celomic epithelial carcinoma of the ovary. Except for cervical cancer, which is definitely linked with Human Papilloma Virus infection, etiological agents involved in malignant transformation of breast, ovarian, or endometrial cells remain unclear. It has been established that susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer is inherited in some families. Between 5% and 10% of breast cancer and ovarian cancer can be linked with inheritance of a gene conferring high risk, followed by genetic changes in epithelial cells. The gene which is believed to be responsible for inherited breast-ovarian cancer has been localized on the chromosome 17q12-21 and named locus BRCA 1; however, the sequences of the gene located in this locus are completely unknown. Approximately one in 200 women--600,000 women in the United States--have inherited susceptibility to breast cancer which is not only associated with BRCA1, but also with mutations in other genes like P53, Her2/erbB2, estrogen receptor and others. Genetic counseling for families with inherited susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer and prophylactic mastectomy or oophorectomy represent a widely discussed subject.
Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy represent three basic methods which are used in management of breast cancer and gynecologic cancer. High mortality of breast cancer and gynecologic cancer. High mortality of breast cancer and hynecologic cancer patients indicates that the currently available diagnostic and therapeutic methods are unsatisfactory.
Immunotherapy and immunodiagnosis with monoclonal antibodies (MAb) represents another approach which has been extensively developing and improving during the past few years. In direct approaches, MAb IgG2a and IgG3 mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and/or exert complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Most frequently used is radio-immunotherapy with radioactively labeled MAb. Immunotoxins, which are the conjugates of MAb with the subunit A of the ricin or diphtheria toxin, exhibit high tumoricidal potential, however have a restricted application due to high cytotoxicity.
Recently, a high number of monoclonal antibodies directed against breast, ovarian, and cervical cancer have been developed and efforts have been undertaken to use those MAbs as immunodiagnostic and immunotherapeutic agents. However, no significant progress has been reported in management of malignancies of the female reproductive tract using these techniques.
A number of HIV-1 peptides and proteins have been identified which elicit neutralizing antibodies in animals. EP-A-33504 describes chemically synthesized amino acid peptides having the sequence of amino acids from the HIV-1 virus which may be used to induce the production of HIV inhibiting antibodies for the treatment of AIDS and AIDS-related complex. However, the prior art has not disclosed a a means of synthesizing and using
REFERENCES:
Rakowicz-Szulczynska, E., et al., "Internalization of Anti-gp 120 Monoclonal Antibody and Human Antibodies by HIV-1-Infected T Lymphocytes," Antibody Immunoconjugates, and Radiopharmaceuticals 6(4):209-218 (1993).
Eyler Yvonne
Huff Sheela
LandOfFree
Detection and treatment of breast and gynecological cancer does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Detection and treatment of breast and gynecological cancer, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Detection and treatment of breast and gynecological cancer will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-314277