Method and kit for imaging and treating organs and tissues

Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Treating material introduced into or removed from body...

Reexamination Certificate

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C604S020000, C424S001490

Reexamination Certificate

active

06331175

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1- Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for imaging and treating hypoplastic, absent, anatomically displaced or ectopic tissues and organs and to a kit suitable for use therefor.
The invention also relates to methods for detecting the condition of adjacent organs and detecting tissue retained after surgical removal of an organ.
The invention also relates to methods of treating and ablating hypoplastic and ectopic tissues or normal tissues.
The invention also relates to methods for protecting normal tissue during radiation or chemotherapy of cancer, and composition and kits useful in the method.
2- Description of the Prior Art
There is a need for a method that clearly delineates hypoplastic, absent, anatomically displaced or ectopic tissue or organs and for a method for treating conditions involving such tissues or organs.
It is important in certain clinical situations to detect the presence or absence of particular tissues or organs. Moreover, it is often necessary to determine whether an organ is anatomically correct and whether it has pathology by a non-invasive technique. It would be desirable to have an organ imaging method using organ-specific imaging agents that would make it possible to obtain a “positive” image of the organ, when normal, and a defect in organ visualization if pathology is present. Such a method would provide a new approach to scintigraphic and magnetic resonance imaging of organs and tissues in the body based upon their immunological specificity.
Normal tissues and organs have been imaged by magnetic resonance imaging techniques, but not with the use of imaging-enhancing contrast agents, and not with antibody-conjugated imaging agents.
Methods of imaging tumors and infectious lesions using labeled antibodies and antibody fragments which specifically bind markers produced by or associated with tumors or infectious lesions have been disclosed, inter alia, in Hansen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,927,193 and Goldenberg, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,331,647, 4,348,376, 4,361,544, 4,468,457, 4,444,744, 4,460,459 and 4,460,561, and in related pending applications U.S. Ser. Nos. 609, 607 and 633,999, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference. See also DeLand et al., J. Nucl. Med., 20, 1243═50(1979).
These methods use radiolabeled antibodies which specifically bind to markers produced by or associated with tumors or infectious lesions, and result in a “positive” image, i.e., uptake of radioactivity attached to the antibody in the structure involved with tumor or infectious lesion and having the appropriate antibody target, thus permitting a visualization of the involved structure. Further improvements in the specificity and resolution of these methods is achieved by the use of various substraction techniques which are also disclosed in the aforementioned references, and which enable background, non-specific radioactivity to be distinguished from specific uptake by the tumor or lesion.
Antibody conjugates comprising organ-specific and tissue-specific antibodies and addends for scintigraphic detection or magnetic resonance image enhancement have not been used as organ imaging reagents.
A need continues to exist for imaging and therapeutic methods which are more sensitive and specific and for organ imaging and therapeutic reagents and methods with high specificity for differentiation of particular organs and tissues from surrounding structures.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a method for obtaining scintigraphic images that permits higher resolution and greater specificity for hypoplastic, absent, anatomically displaced or ectopic tissues and organs.
Another object of the invention is to provide organ- and tissue-specific methods and agents for scintigraphic and magnetic resonance imaging.
Another object of the invention is to provide reagents and kits suitable for use in the imaging methods of the invention.
Another object of the invention is to provide methods for detecting the condition of adjacent organs and detecting tissue retained after surgical removal of an organ.
Another object of the invention is to provide methods and agents for treatment of normal organs and tissues that are hypoplastic, remnants, or anatomically displaced.
Another object of the invention is to provide methods and agents for ablating normal cells and tissues as part of a therapeutic intervention.
Another object of the invention is to provide methods for protecting normal tissue during radiation or chemotherapy of cancer, and composition and kits useful in the method.
Another object of the invention is to provide methods for altering the functions of a cell or tissue, especially hormone end organs.
Upon further study of the specification and appended claims, further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, the invention provides an imaging method for positive imaging of an hypoplastic, absent, anatomically displaced or ectopic tissue or organ in a mammal. The method comprises the steps of (a) parenterally injecting a mammalian subject, at a locus and by a route providing access to said tissue or organ, with an amount of a scintigraphic imaging agent or magnetic resonance image enhancing agent sufficient to permit a scintigraphic image or an enhanced magnetic resonance image of said structure to be effected; and (b) obtaining a scintigraphic image or an enhanced magnetic resonance image of said structure, at a time after injection of said agent sufficient for said agent to accrete in said structure. The imaging agent comprises an antibody/fragment which specifically binds to said organ or tissue, and which is labeled with a radioisotope or a magnetic resonance enhancing agent.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for treating hypoplastic, ectopic or remnant tissue or organ in a mammal. The method comprises parenterally injecting a mammalian subject, at a locus and by a route providing access to said tissue or organ, with a pharmaceutically effective amount of an antibody/fragment which specifically binds to said organ or tissue. The antibody/fragment is conjugated with a therapeutic agent.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for detecting organ tissue retained after surgical removal of a portion of the organ, wherein the organ tissue produces or is associated with a marker substance. The method comprises injecting a human subject parenterally with an antibody specific to the marker substance and radiolabeled with a pharmacologically inert radioisotope capable of detection using a photoscanning device.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for determining in a mammal, a first organ's condition and integrity, the first organ producing or being associated with a marker substance and being adjacent to a second organ which has been surgically removed from the mammal. The method comprises injecting the mammal parenterally with an antibody specific to the marker substance and radiolabeled with a pharmacologically inert radioisotope capable of detection using a photoscanning device.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for treating hypoplastic or ectopic tissue which produces or is associated with a marker substance. The method comprises injecting a human subject parenterally with an antibody specific to the marker substance and conjugated with a cytotoxic agent.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for destroying bone-marrow cells in a patient prior to regrafting with normal bone marrow cells. The method comprises treating the patient with a cytotoxic amount of an antibody or antibody fragment specific to a marker associated with or produced by bone marrow cells and which is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent.
In another embodiment, the invention provides an improved method of therapy of cancer, wherein a human patient suffering from a cancer susceptible to treatment with radiatio

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