Anti-cd20 combinations for treating tumors

Abstract

The present invention relates to therapeutic combinations and methods for treating cancers using combination therapy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination, comprising:
 (i) an effective amount of a CD20 binding antibody; and   (ii) an effective amount of an immunotherapeutic compound, wherein the immunotherapeutic compound is resiquimod;   wherein the CD20 binding antibody and the immunotherapeutic are not covalently linked.   
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said CD20 binding antibody is rituximab, ofatumumab, veltuzumab, ocrelizumab, AME-133v, PRO131921, GA101, tositumomab, or TRU-015. 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 1 , further comprising an effective amount of an additional therapeutic agent that is an anticancer agent. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 3 , wherein said additional therapeutic agent comprises an anticancer agent that is an antimetabolite, an inhibitor of topoisomerase I and II, an alkylating agent, a microtubule inhibitor, an antiandrogen agent, a GNRh modulator or mixtures thereof, or a chemotherapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of tamoxifen, raloxifene, anastrozole, exemestane, letrozole, imatanib, paclitaxel, cyclophosphamide, lovastatin, minosine, gemcitabine, cytarabine, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, docetaxel, goserelin, vincristine, vinblastine, nocodazole, teniposide etoposide, gemcitabine, epothilone, vinorelbine, camptothecin, daunorubicin, actinomycin D, mitoxantrone, acridine, doxorubicin, epirubicin, and idarubicin. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said immunotherapeutic is of an amount that is capable of:
 (1) inducing IFN-a in an enriched human blood DCs;   (2) inducing TNF-α in an enriched human blood DCs;   (3) inducing IL-12-α in an enriched human blood DCs;   (4) activating CD45+ immune cells in tumor microenvironment;   (5) activating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in tumor microenvironment;   (6) activating NK cells in tumor microenvironment;   (7) activating plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) and myeloid dendritic cells (mDc) in tumor microenvironment;   (8) activating macrophages and Monocytes in tumor microenvironment; and/or   (9) increasing migratory DCs in draining lymph nodes.   
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said effective amount is between about 0.005 mg/kg, 0.006 mg/kg, 0.007 mg/kg, 0.008 mg/kg, 0.009 mg/kg, 0.01 mg/kg, or 0.02 mg/kg, and about 0.025 mg/kg, all inclusive, twice daily, once daily, once every two, three, four, five or six days, or once, twice, or three times per week. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said effective amount is between about 0.005 mg/kg, and 0.006 mg/kg, 0.007 mg/kg, 0.008 mg/kg, 0.009 mg/kg, 0.01 mg/kg, 0.02 mg/kg, or 0.025 mg/kg, all inclusive, twice daily, once daily, once every two, three, four, five or six days, or once, twice, or three times per week. 
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 1 , suitable for administration orally, sublingually, intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, or intratumorally. 
     
     
         9 . A kit, comprising the combination of  claim 1 .