Identification of Tumor-Associated Antigens for Diagnosis and Therapy

Abstract

The invention relates to genetic products the expression of which is associated with cancer diseases. The invention also relates to the therapy and diagnosis of diseases in which the genetic products are expressed or aberrantly expressed, in particular cancer diseases.

1 .- 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A method of treating a patient having prostate cancer characterized by expression of or abnormal expression of a tumor-associated antigen encoded by SEQ ID NO: 5, the method comprising:
 administering to the patient a composition comprising a nucleic acid molecule having a sequence that encodes a tumor-associated antigen of SEQ ID NO: 6, or a fragment thereof selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, and 57.   
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 49 , further comprising a therapeutic agent that is not the expressed tumor-associated antigen. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of anticancer agents, radioactive iodine-labeled compounds, toxins, and cytostatic or cytolytic drugs. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is present in a vector. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is present in a virus or host cell. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the virus is selected from the group consisting of adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, pox viruses, vaccinia virus, attenuated pox viruses, Semliki Forest virus, retroviruses, Sindbis virus, and Ty virus-like particles. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the composition further comprises an adjuvant. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the administering comprises injection. 
     
     
         57 . A method of treating a patient having prostate cancer that is characterized by expression or abnormal expression of a tumor-associated antigen encoded by SEQ ID NO: 5, which method comprises the steps of:
 (i) providing a sample containing immunoreactive cells,   (ii) contacting said sample with a host cell expressing said tumor-associated antigen of SEQ ID NO: 6, or a fragment thereof selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, and 57, under conditions which favor production of cytolytic or cytokine-releasing T cells against said tumor-associated antigen or said fragment thereof, and   (iii) introducing the cytolytic or cytokine-releasing T cells into the patient in an amount suitable for lysing prostate cancer cells expressing the tumor-associated antigen or a fragment thereof.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , in which the host cell recombinantly or endogenously expresses an MHC molecule binding to the tumor-associated antigen or to a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , in which the host cell endogenously expresses an MHC molecule binding to the tumor-associated antigen or to a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         60 . A method of inducing an immune response in a patient suffering from prostate cancer that is characterized by expression of or abnormal expression of a tumor-associated antigen encoded by SEQ ID NO: 5, the method comprising
 administering to the patient a composition comprising a nucleic acid molecule having a sequence that encodes a tumor-associated antigen of SEQ ID NO: 6, or a fragment thereof selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, and 57.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the method induces cytotoxic or T helper cell response. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is present in a vector. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is present a virus or host cell. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the virus is selected from the group consisting of adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, pox viruses, vaccinia virus, attenuated pox viruses, Semliki Forest virus, retroviruses, Sindbis virus, and Ty virus-like particles. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the composition further comprises an adjuvant. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the administering comprises injection. 
     
     
         67 . A method of vaccinating a subject against prostate cancer that is characterized by expression of or abnormal expression of a tumor-associated antigen encoded by SEQ ID NO: 5, the method comprising
 administering to the patient a vaccine composition comprising a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence which comprises a sequence that encodes a tumor-associated antigen of SEQ ID NO: 6, or a fragment thereof selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, and 57.   
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the vector comprises a virus or host cell. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the virus is selected from the group consisting of adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, pox viruses, vaccinia virus, attenuated pox viruses, Semliki Forest virus, retroviruses, Sindbis virus, and Ty virus-like particles. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the composition further comprises an adjuvant. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the administering comprises injection.