Reagents and methods for inducing an immune response to prostate specific antigen

Abstract

The invention is an apparatus and method for the treatment of prostate cancer, and involves administering an antibody that specifically binds with prostate antigen.

1 . A composition for the treatment of prostate cancer comprising a composition comprising a binding agent that specifically binds to circulating prostate specific antigen and induces a therapeutic immune response. 
     
     
         2 . A method for treating prostate cancer comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising a binding agent that specifically binds to circulating prostate specific antigen and induces a therapeutic immune response. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the binding agent binds to an epitope of prostate specific antigen comprising amino acid sequences 139 to 163. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises a binding agent that has ATCC Accession No. 12526. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the therapeutic immune response comprises a humoral and cellular immune response. 
     
     
         6 . A composition for treating prostate cancer comprising a binding agent that specifically binds to an epitope of circulating prostate specific antigen, the binding agent being capable of binding to the antigen to form an immunogenic binding agent-antigen complex. 
     
     
         7 . A composition for inducing an immune response comprising a binding agent that specifically binds to an epitope of circulating prostate specific antigen, the binding agent being capable of binding to the antigen to form an immunogenic binding agent-antigen complex. 
     
     
         8 . A composition for increasing the immunogenicity of an antigen comprising a binding agent that specifically binds to an epitope of circulating prostate specific antigen, the binding agent being capable of binding to the antigen to form an immunogenic binding agent-antigen complex. 
     
     
         9 . A composition for the treatment of prostate cancer wherein the composition comprises a binding agent that binds to the same epitope as the epitope bound by an antibody produced by the hybridoma that has ATCC Accession No. 12526. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the binding agent is conjugated to an immunogenic carrier. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein the immunogenic carrier is keyhole limpet hemocyanin. 
     
     
         12 . A method for treating prostate cancer comprising administering a composition comprising a binding agent that specifically binds to circulating prostate specific antigen and inducing a therapeutic immune response to the antigen. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the binding agent binds to an epitope of prostate specific antigen comprising amino acid sequences 139 to 163. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the composition comprises a binding agent that has ATCC Accession No. 12526. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the therapeutic immune response comprises a humoral and cellular immune response. 
     
     
         16 . A method for treating prostate cancer comprising administering a binding agent that specifically binds to an epitope of circulating prostate specific antigen, the binding agent being capable of binding to the antigen to form an immunogenic binding agent-antigen complex. 
     
     
         17 . A method for inducing an immune response comprising administering a binding agent that specifically binds to an epitope of circulating prostate specific antigen, the binding agent being capable of binding to the antigen to form an immunogenic binding agent-antigen complex. 
     
     
         18 . A method or increasing the immunogenicity of an antigen comprising administering a binding agent that specifically binds to an epitope of circulating prostate specific antigen, the binding agent being capable of binding to the antigen to form an immunogenic binding agent-antigen complex. 
     
     
         19 . A method for the treatment of prostate cancer wherein the composition comprises a binding agent that binds to the same epitope as the epitope bound by an antibody produced by the hybridoma that has ATCC Accession No. 12526. 
     
     
         20 . The methods of  claim 12  wherein the binding agent is conjugated to an immunogenic carrier. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the immunogenic carrier is keyhole limpet hemocyanin. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 23  wherein the binding agent binds to an epitope of prostate specific antigen comprising amino acid sequences 135 to 150. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 23  wherein the binding agent binds to an epitope of prostate specific antigen consisting essentially of amino acid sequences 135 to 150. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the binding agent binds to an epitope of prostate specific antigen comprising amino acid sequences 135 to 150. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the binding agent binds to an epitope of prostate specific antigen consisting essentially of amino acid sequences 135 to 150. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the binding agent is conjugated to an immunogenic carrier. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the binding agent is conjugated to an immunogenic carrier.