Cytotoxicity mediation of cells evidencing surface expression of CD44

Abstract

This invention relates to the diagnosis and treatment of cancerous diseases, particularly to the mediation of cytotoxicity of tumor cells; and most particularly to the use of cancerous disease modifying antibodies (CDMAB) or derivatives thereof, optionally in combination with one or more chemotherapeutic agents, as a means for initiating the cytotoxic response. The invention further relates to binding assays which utilize the CDMABs of the instant invention.

1 . A method of treating a human tumor in a mammal, wherein said human tumor expresses at least one epitope of an antigen which specifically binds to the isolated monoclonal antibody produced by the hybridoma deposited with the ATCC as accession number PTA-4621 or a CDMAB derivative thereof, which CDMAB or derivative is characterized by an ability to competitively inhibit binding of said isolated monoclonal antibody to its target antigen, comprising administering to said mammal said monoclonal antibody or CDMAB derivative thereof in conjunction with at least one chemotherapeutic agent in an amount effective to result in a reduction of said mammal's tumor burden. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said isolated monoclonal antibody is conjugated to a cytotoxic moiety. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said cytotoxic moiety is a radioactive isotope. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said isolated monoclonal antibody or CDMAB derivative thereof activates complement. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said isolated monoclonal antibody or CDMAB derivative thereof mediates cellular cytotoxicity. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said isolated monoclonal antibody is humanized. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said isolated monoclonal antibody is chimeric. 
     
     
         8 . Use of monoclonal antibodies for reduction of human tumor burden, wherein said human tumor expresses at least one epitope of an antigen which specifically binds to the isolated monoclonal antibody produced by the hybridoma deposited with the ATCC as accession number PTA-4621 or a CDMAB derivative thereof, which CDMAB or derivative is characterized by an ability to competitively inhibit binding of said isolated monoclonal antibody to its target antigen, comprising administering to said mammal said monoclonal antibody or CDMAB derivative thereof; in conjunction with at least one chemotherapeutic agent in an amount effective to result in a reduction of said mammal's human tumor burden. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said isolated monoclonal antibody is conjugated to a cytotoxic moiety. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said cytotoxic moiety is a radioactive isotope. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said isolated monoclonal antibody or CDMAB derivative thereof activates complement. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said isolated monoclonal antibody or CDMAB derivative thereof mediates cellular cytotoxicity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said isolated monoclonal antibody is humanized. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said isolated monoclonal antibody is chimeric.