Amphiregulin antibodies and their use to treat cancer and psoriasis

Abstract

The present invention is directed to anti-AR antibodies, preferably humanized monoclonal antibodies having the amino acid sequences disclosed herein. The present invention includes a pharmaceutical composition comprising such antibodies. The present invention includes a method of inhibiting cancer cell growth comprising administering such antibodies into a subject. The present invention also provides a method of treating cancer or psoriasis in a subject in need of such a treatment by administering such antibodies to said subject in a pharmaceutically effective amount.

1 . A method for inhibiting cell proliferation by administering a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-amphiregulin antibody. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cell proliferation is amphiregulin-mediated cell proliferation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:2 and a light chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:3. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:4 and a light chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:5. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:12 and a light chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:14. 
     
     
         6 . A method for treating psoriasis comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-amphiregulin antibody. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:12 and a light chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:14. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:2 and a light chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:3. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:4 and a light chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:5. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said antibody is conjugated to an effector moiety. 
     
     
         11 . A method for inhibiting cancer cell growth comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-amphiregulin antibody. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said cancer cells are epidermal cancer cells or pancreatic cancer cells. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:12 and a light chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:14. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:2 and a light chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:3. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:4 and a light chain variable region defined by SEQ ID NO:5. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said antibody is conjugated to an effector moiety.