Method and composition for reconforming multi-epitopic antigens to initiate an immune response

Abstract

The invention concerns methods and compositions for intiating and/or enhancing an immune response by contacting a binding reagent with a soluble antigen, wherein the binding reagent-antigen pair generates an immune response to the antigen.

1 . A method for treating cancer comprising 
 contacting a multi-epitopic tumor-associated antigen expressed in the host serum with a composition comprising a binding reagent that specifically binds to a single epitope on the tumor-associated antigen; and    allowing the binding reagent to bind to the antigen to form a reagent-antigen pair, whereby the formation of the reagent-antigen pair elicits a host immune response.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the binding reagent comprises a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the target multi-epitopic tumor associated antigen is CA 125.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the target multi-epitopic tumor associated antigen is CA 19.9.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the target multi-epitopic tumor associated antigen is CA 15.3.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tumor-associated antigen is an ovarian tumor antigen.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the host immune response is a cellular immune response.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the host immune response is a humoral immune response.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the host immune response is both a humoral immune response and a cellular response.  
     
     
         10 . A method for eliciting an immune response comprising 
 contacting a multi-epitopic tumor-associated antigen expressed in the host serum with a composition comprising a binding reagent that specifically binds to a single epitope on the tumor-associated antigen; and    allowing the binding reagent to bind to the antigen to form a reagent-antigen pair, whereby the formation of the reagent-antigen pair elicits a host immune response.    
     
     
         11 . A method for increasing the immunogenicity of an antigen comprising 
 contacting a multi-epitopic tumor-associated antigen expressed in the host serum with a composition comprising a binding reagent that specifically binds to a single epitope on the tumor-associated antigen; and    allowing the binding reagent to bind to the antigen to form a reagent-antigen pair, whereby the formation of the reagent-antigen pair elicits a host immune response.    
     
     
         12 . A method for re-conforming a multi-epitopic tumor associated antigen expressed in a host serum and for recognizing and initiating an immune response, comprising contacting a multi-epitopic tumor-associated antigen expressed in the host serum with a composition comprising a binding reagent that specifically binds to a single epitope on the tumor-associated antigen; and 
 allowing the binding reagent to bind to the antigen to form a reagent-antigen pair, whereby the formation of the reagent-antigen pair elicits a host immune response.    
     
     
         13 . A delivery system for a multi-epitopic tumor associated antigen expressed in a host serum, and for recognizing and initiating an immune response, comprising a composition comprising a binding reagent that specifically binds to a single epitope on a multi-epitopic tumor-associated antigen.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the formation of the reagent-antigen pair elicits a host immune resposne that overcomes tolerance of the antigen.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the contacting step is ex vivo or in vivo.