Plexin d1 as a target for tumor diagnosis and therapy

Abstract

The present invention relates to plexin D1 for use as a targetable protein in the treatment or diagnosis of disorders that involve expression of plexin D1. Diagnosis is suitably effected by detecting the presence of plexin D1 in the body or a bodily tissue or fluid, whereas treatment is effected by targeting plexin D1 for delivery of therapeutics to the site where treatment is needed. The invention further relates to the use of molecules that bind plexin D1, a nucleic acid encoding plexin D1 or a ligand of plexin D1 for the preparation of a therapeutical composition for the treatment or diagnosis of disorders that involve expression of plexin D1. The disorders comprise disorders in which plexin D1 is expressed on tumor cells, tumor blood vessels or activated macrophages.

1 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method for detecting the expression of plexin D1, the method comprising:
 providing a sample from a subject comprising tumor cells and/or activated macrophages;   contacting the sample with an antibody or antibody fragment specific for plexin D1 in vitro; and   detecting binding of the antibody or antibody fragment to the tumor cells and/or activated macrophages.   
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the tumor cells are from a tumor selected from the group consisting of brain tumors, astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, hemangioblastomas, colon carcinomas, ductal carcinomas of the colon, prostate carcinomas, renal cell carcinomas, renal clear cell carcinomas, ovary carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, melanomas, lung carcinomas, small-cell lung carcinomas, non-small cell lung carcinomas, and soft tissue sarcomas. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the tumor cells are from a tumor selected from the group consisting of prostate carcinomas, renal cell carcinomas, renal clear cell carcinomas, ovary carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, melanomas, lung carcinomas, small-cell lung carcinomas, non-small cell lung carcinomas, and soft tissue sarcomas. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the binding of the antibody or the antibody fragment to the tumor cells and/or activated macrophages indicates the presence of a disorder selected from the group consisting of brain tumors, astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, hemangioblastomas, colon carcinomas, ductal carcinomas of the colon, prostate carcinomas, renal cell carcinomas, renal clear cell carcinomas, ovary carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, melanomas, lung carcinomas, small-cell lung carcinomas, non-small cell lung carcinomas, and soft tissue sarcomas. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the binding of the antibody or the antibody fragment to the tumor cells and/or activated macrophages indicates the presence of a disorder selected from the group consisting of prostate carcinomas, renal cell carcinomas, renal clear cell carcinomas, ovary carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, melanomas, lung carcinomas, small-cell lung carcinomas, non-small cell lung carcinomas, and soft tissue sarcomas. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is labeled with a detectable marker. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein the detectable marker is selected from the group consisting of a radioactive label, a paramagnetic label, a fluorescent label, and a chemiluminescent label. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the sample is from bodily tissue or fluid. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the tumor cells are ovarian carcinoma cells.