Methods of enhancing t cell responsiveness

Abstract

The invention features methods of enhancing the responsiveness of a T cell. Such methods involve interfering with the interaction between a T cell and a B7-H1 molecule.

1 . A method of enhancing T cell responsiveness in a mammal, the method comprising:
 (a) identifying a mammal with, or at risk of developing, cancer, wherein the cells of the cancer are identified as expressing B7-H1 molecules on their surfaces; and   (b) administering to the subject a compound comprising an agent that interferes with an interaction between B7-H1 and a T cell.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agent is an antibody that binds to B7-H1. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agent is B7-H1 or a functional fragment of B7-H1. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agent is a receptor for B7-H1 or a functional fragment of a receptor for B7-H1. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the compound is a fusion protein. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the fusion protein further comprises all, or part, of an immunoglobulin constant region. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of a hematological cancer, a neurological cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, a gastrointestinal cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, a genitourinary cancer, a bone cancer, and a vascular cancer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering an immunogenic stimulus to the mammal. 
     
     
         10 . A method of enhancing the responsiveness of a T cell, the method comprising culturing, together, a T cell, a cancer cell identified as expressing B7-H1, and a compound comprising an agent that interferes with an interaction between B7-H1 and a T cell. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the agent is an antibody that binds to B7-H1. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the agent is a receptor for B7-H1 or a functional fragment of a receptor for B7-H1. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the cancer cell is of a cancer selected from the group consisting of a hematological cancer, a neurological cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, a gastrointestinal cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, a genitourinary cancer, a bone cancer, and a vascular cancer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the T cell is a CD8+ T cell. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the T cell is a CD4+ T cell. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the agent is B7-H1 or a functional fragment of B7-H1. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the culture further comprises an immunogenic stimulus.