Diagnosis and treatment of malignant neoplasms

Abstract

The invention features a method for diagnosing a malignant neoplasm in a mammal by contacting a bodily fluid from the mammal with an antibody which binds to an human aspartyl (asparaginyl) beta-hydroxylase (HAAH) polypeptide and methods of treating malignant neoplasms by inhibiting HAAH.

1 . A method for diagnosing a malignant neoplasm in a mammal, comprising contacting a bodily fluid from said mammal with an antibody or fragment thereof which binds to an human aspartyl (asparaginyl) beta-hydroxylase (HAAH) polypeptide under conditions sufficient to form an antigen-antibody complex and detecting the antigen-antibody complex, wherein an increase in antigen-antibody complex indicates an increase in HAAH level compared to a normal noncancerous control, said increase being indicative of a malignant neoplasm and wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody produced by hybridoma ATCC designation 3386. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neoplasm is derived from endodermal tissue. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neoplasm is selected from the group consisting of colon cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and cancer of the bile ducts. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neoplasm is a cancer of the central nervous system (CNS). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said bodily fluid is selected from the group consisting of a CNS-derived bodily fluid, blood, serum, urine, saliva, sputum, lung effusion, and ascites fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said bodily fluid is serum. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen-antibody complex is detected by a label selected from consisting of an enzymatic label, a fluorescent label, a chemiluminescent label, a radioactive label, and a dye label. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fragment of said monoclonal antibody is a single chain Fv molecule. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neoplasm is a hepatocellular carcinoma. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neoplasm is a cholangiocarcinoma. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neoplasm is a glioblastoma. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neoplasm is a neuroblastoma. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neoplasm is a pancreatic cancer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tumor is a neuroectodermal tumor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody comprises a first HAAH-specific antibody and a second HAAH-specific antibody. 
     
     
         16 . A method for prognosis of a malignant neoplasm of a mammal, comprising:
 contacting a bodily fluid from said mammal with an antibody or fragment thereof which binds to an HAAH polypeptide under conditions sufficient to form an antigen-antibody complex and detecting the antigen-antibody complex;   quantitating the amount of complex to determine the level of HAAH in said fluid; and   comparing the level of HAAH in said fluid with a normal noncancerous control level of HAAH, wherein increasing levels of HAAH over time indicates an adverse prognosis, and wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody produced by hybridoma ATCC designation 3386.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said fragment of said monoclonal antibody is a single chain Fv molecule. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the antigen-antibody complex is detected by a label selected from consisting of an enzymatic label, a fluorescent label, a chemiluminescent label, a radioactive label, and a dye label. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neoplasm is a cancer of the central nervous system (CNS). 
     
     
         20 . A method for diagnosing a malignant neoplasm in a mammal, comprising contacting a bodily tissue from said mammal with an antibody or fragment thereof which binds to an human aspartyl (asparaginyl) beta-hydroxylase (HAAH) polypeptide under conditions sufficient to form an antigen-antibody complex and detecting the antigen-antibody complex, wherein an increase in antigen-antibody complex indicates an increase in HAAH level compared to a normal noncancerous control, said increase being indicative of a malignant neoplasm, wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody produced by hybridoma ATCC designation 3386, and wherein said fragment of said monoclonal antibody is a single chain Fv molecule.