Binding member which binds to both lewis-y and lewis-b haptens, and its use for treating cancer

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of a binding member which binds to Lewis y and Lewis b haptens in the treatment of tumours and leukaemia. The binding member may be an antibody which binds to Lewis y and Lewis b haptens and cancer cells and induces cells death.

1 . A method for treating cancer in a subject, comprising: 
 administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a naked binding member which binds to both Lewis y  and Lewis b  haptens, or of a nucleic acid encoding such a binding member.    
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the binding member is selected from the group consisting of an antibody and an antigen binding fragment thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the binding member comprises one or more of the CDRs of the antibody produced by the cell line deposited as ECACC Accession No. 01050118.  
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the binding member comprises a human constant region.  
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the binding member is the antibody produced by the cell line deposited as ECACC Accession No. 01050118, or a fragment or derivative thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the binding member binds to both Lewis y  and Lewis b  haptens in extended form.  
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cancer is a tumour or is leukaemia.  
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the tumour is selected from the group consisting of colorectal, breast, ovarian, gastric, lung, liver, skin and myeloid tumour.  
     
     
         9 . A pharmaceutical composition, comprising: 
 a combined treatment of an active agent and a naked binding member which binds to both Lewis y  and Lewis b  haptens; and    a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.    
     
     
         10 . A pharmaceutical composition as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the active agent is a chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         11 . A pharmaceutical composition as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of Doxorubicin, taxol, 5-Fluorouracil, Irinotecan and Cisplatin.  
     
     
         12 .- 15 . (canceled)  
     
     
         16 . An antibody produced by the cell line deposited as ECACC Accession No.  
     
     
         17 . (canceled)  
     
     
         18 . A screening method comprising: 
 screening a library of candidate agents for the ability to inhibit the binding of a naked binding member which binds to Lewis y  and Lewis b  haptens.    
     
     
         19 . The screening method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 selecting an agent which has the ability to inhibit the binding of said naked binding member to Lewis y  and Lewis b  haptens, and optionally modifying the agent to optimise the agent for administration as a medicament.    
     
     
         20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the myeloid tumour is a bone marrow tumour.  
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the subject is a mammal.  
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the subject is a human.