Prostate-specific membrane antigen

Abstract

This invention provides for an isolated mammalian nucleic acid molecule encoding a mammalian prostate-specific membrane antigen. This invention provides for nucleic acid probes which specifically hybridize with the nucleic acid molecule encoding said antigen. This invention provides for a method of detecting hematogenous micrometastic tumor cells of a subject performing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on samples of the subject using primers of said antigen. This invention provides for methods to identify ligands which bind to said antigen. This invention provides for the prevention and/or treatment of prostate tumor growth.

1 . An isolated mammalian nucleic acid molecule encoding a mammalian prostate-specific membrane antigen.  
     
     
         2 - 23 . (canceled)  
     
     
         24 . Purified mammalian prostate-specific membrane antigen.  
     
     
         25 - 33 . (canceled)  
     
     
         34 . An antibody directed against the amino acid sequence of a mammalian prostate-specific membrane antigen.  
     
     
         35 . An antibody directed either to peptide Asp-Glu-Leu-Lys-Ala-Glu (SEQ ID No. 39), or Asn-Glu-Asp-Gly-Asn-Glu (SEQ ID No. 39), or Asn-Glu-Asp-Gly-Asn-Glu (SEQ ID No. 40) or Lys-Ser-Pro-Asp-Glu-Gly (SEQ ID No. 41) of the prostate-specific membrane antigen.  
     
     
         36 . A monoclonal antibody of  claim 34 .  
     
     
         37 - 48 . (canceled)  
     
     
         49 . A method of suppressing or modulating metastatic ability of prostate tumor cells, prostate tumor growth or elimination of prostate tumor cells, comprising introducing a DNA molecule encoding a prostate specific membrane antigen operatively linked to a 5′ regulatory element into a tumor cell of a subject, in a way that expression of the prostate specific membrane antigen is under the control of the regulatory element, thereby suppressing or modulating metastatic ability of prostate tumor cells, prostate tumor growth or elimination of prostate tumor cells.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the DNA molecule encoding prostate specific membrane antigen operatively linked to a 5′ regulatory element forms part of a transfer vector which is inserted into a cell or organism, and which vector is capable or replication and expression of prostate specific membrane antigen.  
     
     
         51 - 89 . (canceled)  
     
     
         90 . A monoclonal antibody of  claim 35.