Methods of using flt3-ligand in the treatment of cancer

Abstract

Ligands for flt3 receptors capable of transducing self-renewal signals to regulate the growth, proliferation or differentiation of progenitor cells and stem cells are disclosed. The invention is directed to Flt3-ligand as an isolated protein, the DNA encoding the Flt3-ligand, host cells transfected with cDNAs encoding Flt3-ligand, compositions comprising Flt3-ligand and methods of using Flt3-ligand in hematopoietic cell transplantation.

1 . A method for treating cancer in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to a patient afflicted with a cancer, an effective amount of flt3-ligand, wherein said flt3-ligand comprises amino acids 28-160 of SEQ ID NO:6, and wherein the polypeptide retains the capacity to bind flt3. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flt3-ligand is human flt3-ligand. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flt3-ligand is soluble human flt3-ligand. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the soluble human flt3-ligand is recombinant flt3 ligand. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flt3-ligand comprises amino acids 28-182 of
 SEQ ID NO:6.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flt3-ligand comprises amino acids 1-235 of SEQ ID NO:6. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is a tumor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of as breast cancer, lymphoma, small cell lung cancer, multiple myeloma, neuroblastoma, acute leukemia, testicular tumors and ovarian cancer. 
     
     
         9 . A method for treating cancer in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to a patient afflicted with a cancer, an effective amount of flt3-ligand, wherein said flt3-ligand comprises an amino acid sequence which is at least 90% identical to amino acids 28-160 of SEQ ID NO:6, and wherein the polypeptide retains the capacity to bind flt3. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the flt3-ligand is recombinant flt3 ligand. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the flt3-ligand comprises an amino acid sequence which is at least 90% identical to amino acids 28-182 of SEQ ID NO:6. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the flt3-ligand comprises an amino acid sequence which is at least 90% identical to amino acids 1-235 of SEQ ID NO:6. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the cancer is a tumor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of as breast cancer, lymphoma, small cell lung cancer, multiple myeloma, neuroblastoma, acute leukemia, testicular tumors and ovarian cancer.