Nkg2d-fc for immunotherapy

Abstract

Methods for cancer immunotherapy are provided. The methods involve the use of a chimeric molecule (e.g., fusion protein) comprising an NKG2D portion and an Fc portion, which binds one or more NKG2D ligands. The methods disclosed herein are useful for the treatment of cancer that is associated with abnormal expression of one or more NKG2D ligands.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating cancer comprising: administering to a subject having an NKG2D ligand expressing cancer a composition comprising a NKG2D-Fc chimera and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, in an amount effect to treat the cancer, wherein the NKG2D-Fc chimera binds a NKG2D ligand. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the NKG2D-Fc chimera comprises a linking molecule which is not a contiguous portion of either NKG2D or Fc and which covalently joins an amino acid of NKG2D to an amino acid of Fc. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the linking molecule is a peptide linker. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the peptide linker is an IEGR (SEQ ID NO:1) linker. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the NKG2D-Fc chimera comprises an NKG2D extracellular domain. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the NKG2D-Fc chimera is a recombinant fusion protein. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the NKG2D ligand expressing cancer is melanoma, lung cancer, plasma cell cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer or prostate cancer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising treating the subject with an additional cancer therapy that is not the NKG2D-Fc chimera, wherein the additional cancer therapy is an immunotherapy, a radiation therapy or chemotherapy. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the additional cancer therapy is a chemotherapy that damages DNA.