Immunological compositions as cancer biomarkers and/or therapeutics

Abstract

The present invention concerns antibodies that react immunologically with anti-tumor antigen antibodies and compositions and methods related thereto. In particular, the antibodies that react immunologically with the anti-tumor antigen antibodies are employed in therapeutic, diagnostic, and prognostic embodiments related to cancer, including breast cancer, for example.

1 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A kit comprising one or more components capable of detecting an antibody that binds to an anti-cancer antigen antibody or fragment thereof. 
     
     
         40 . The kit of  claim 39 , wherein the antibody fragment is a synthetic or enzymatically-derived anti-cancer antigen antibody fragment. 
     
     
         41 . The kit of  claim 39 , wherein the detected antibody is further defined as an antibody that reacts immunologically with said anti-cancer antigen antibody or said fragment thereof. 
     
     
         42 . The kit of  claim 39 , where the said anti-cancer antigen antibody and fragments thereof are further defined as a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a recombinant ScFv (single chain fragment variable) antibody fragment, Fab fragment, F(ab′) 2  fragment, Fc fragment, Fv fragment, or a VL chain or VH chain or fragments thereof. 
     
     
         43 . The kit of  claim 39 , wherein said anti-cancer antigen antibody binds to HER2, HER1, HER3, HER4, VEGFR, CD20, or EpCAM. 
     
     
         44 . The kit of  claim 39 , wherein said anti-cancer antigen antibody comprises trastuzumab, cetuximab, rituximab, bevacizumab, edrecolomab, panitumumab or alemtuzumab. 
     
     
         45 . The kit of  claim 39 , further comprising one or more of a wash solution, a blocking agent, a reporter molecule, and/or a solid surface support suitable for performing antibody binding assays. 
     
     
         46 . The kit of  claim 45 , wherein said solid surface support is a microplate. 
     
     
         47 . The kit of  claim 45 , wherein said reporting molecule is selected from the group consisting of an enzyme, a radiolabel, a hapten, a fluorescent label, a phosphorescent molecule, a chemiluminescent molecule, a chromophore, a luminescent molecule, a photoaffinity molecule, a colored particle or ligand. 
     
     
         48 . The kit of  claim 39 , further comprising said anti-cancer antigen antibody or an antibody binding to said anti-cancer antigen antibody. 
     
     
         49 . The kit of  claim 48 , wherein said anti-cancer antigen antibody binds to HER2, HER1, HER3, HER4, VEGFR, CD20, or EpCAM. 
     
     
         50 . The kit of  claim 48 , wherein said anti-cancer antigen antibody comprises trastuzumab, cetuximab, rituximab, bevacizumab, edrecolomab, panitumumab or alemtuzumab. 
     
     
         51 . The kit of  claim 45 , wherein said detected antibody in a sample is immobilized on said solid surface support. 
     
     
         52 . The kit of  claim 39  where the detected antibody or antibodies in a sample are IgM, IgG, IgA, IgE, IgD individually or as a plurality or any combination of these antibodies.