Anti-h7cr antibodies

Abstract

Antibodies and humanized variants thereof and their antigen-binding fragments and other molecules that are capable of immunospecifically binding to the B7-H7 counter-receptor, and their uses in enhancing immune responses and the treatment and diagnosis of cancer and other diseases are provided.

1 .- 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method of stratifying a subject into a patient population that has or that is at risk of having a disease associated with cellular or tissue H7CR expression, the method comprising:
 contacting a cell or tissue sample obtained from a subject with an anti-H7CR antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds to human H7CR, wherein the anti-H7CR antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises:   (A) three light chain CDRs having SEQ ID NOS: 29, 32, 45 and three heavy chain CDRs having SEQ ID NOS: 49, 52, and 56;   (B) three light chain CDRs having SEQ ID NOS: 30, 32, 46 and three heavy chain CDRs having SEQ ID NOS: 50, 53, and 57;   (C) three light chain CDRs having SEQ ID NOS: 29, 32, 47 and three heavy chain CDRs having SEQ ID NOS: 50, 54, and 58;   (D) a light chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOS: 17-22; and a heavy chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOS: 23-28; or   (E) a light chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOS: 33-38; and a heavy chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOS: 39-44;   detecting and measuring the binding of the anti-H7CR antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof to the subject's sample;   stratifying the subject into a patient population that has or that is at risk of having a disease associated with H7CR expression when the anti-H7CR antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof specifically binds to the subject's sample relative to a control.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the H7CR that is specifically bound by the anti-H7CR antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof is arrayed on the surface of a cell. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the anti-H7CR antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof is detectably labeled or is directly or indirectly coupled to a detectable substance. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the anti-H7CR antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof is directly or directly coupled to a detectable substance selected from one or more of an enzyme, prosthetic group, fluorescent material, luminescent material, bioluminescent material, radioactive material, positron emitting metal, or a nonradioactive paramagnetic metal ion. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the anti-H7CR antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof is attached to or immobilized on a solid support. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the binding of the anti-H7CR antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof to the subject's sample is detected by an immunoassay. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the disease associated with cellular or tissue expression of H7CR is selected from cancer, an infectious disease, a chronic viral disease, or a disease affecting T cell number and growth. 
     
     
         48 . A method of treating an H7CR-associated disease in a subject who is diagnosed with said disease, the method comprising: administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a physiologically acceptable carrier or excipient and an anti-H7CR antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds to human H7CR, wherein the antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises:
 (A) three light chain CDRs having SEQ ID NOS: 29, 32, 45 and three heavy chain CDRs having SEQ ID NOS: 49, 52, and 56;   (B) three light chain CDRs having SEQ ID NOS: 30, 32, 46 and three heavy chain CDRs having SEQ ID NOS: 50, 53, and 57;   (C) three light chain CDRs having SEQ ID NOS: 29, 32, 47 and three heavy chain CDRs having SEQ ID NOS: 50, 54, and 58;   (D) a light chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOS: 17-22; and a heavy chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOS: 23-28; or   (E) a light chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOS: 33-38; and a heavy chain variable region having the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOS: 39-44; thereby treating the H7CR-associated disease in the subject.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the subject has a disease selected from cancer, an infectious disease, a chronic viral disease, or a disease affecting T cell number and growth. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the anti-H7CR antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof is a humanized or chimeric antibody.