Colon and pancreas cancer specific antigens and antibodies

Abstract

This invention relates to NPC-1 antigen on the MUC5AC protein and 16C3 antigen on CEACAM5 and CEACAM6 proteins, and 31.1 epitope on the A33 protein are differentially expressed in cancers including, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreas cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer, and diagnostic and therapeutic usages. Further, NPC-1, 16C3, and/or 31.1 epitope specific antibodies and diagnostic and therapeutic methods of use.

We claim: 
     
         1 - 182 . (canceled) 
     
     
         183 . A method for treating cancer comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprising at least two of the following:
 (a) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, that binds a NPC-1 epitope;   (b) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, that recognizes 16C3 epitope, and   (c) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, that recognizes an 31.1 epitope.   
     
     
         184 . The method of  claim 183 , wherein said composition comprises three of said antibodies. 
     
     
         185 - 186 . (canceled) 
     
     
         187 . A method for promoting tumor regression in a subject in need thereof comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising at least two of the following:
 (a) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, that binds a NPC-1 epitope;   (b) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, that recognizes 16C3 epitope, and   (c) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, that recognizes an 31.1 epitope.   
     
     
         188 . The method of  claim 187 , wherein three of said antibodies are administered. 
     
     
         189 . A method for detecting a tumor-associated NPC-1 epitope in a patient in need thereof comprising
 (a) contacting a test sample with a composition comprising at least two of the following:
 (i) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, that binds a NPC-1 epitope; 
 (ii) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, that recognizes 16C3 epitope, and 
 (iii) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, that recognizes an 31.1 epitope, and 
   (b) assaying for antibody-epitope complexes, wherein the presence of said epitope is indicative of a carcinoma.   
     
     
         190 . The method of  claim 189 , wherein three of said antibodies are administered. 
     
     
         191 - 199 . (canceled) 
     
     
         200 . The method of  claim 183 , wherein said antibody or fragment is recombinant. 
     
     
         201 . The method of  claim 183 , wherein said fragment is a Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2, Fv, chimeric, humanized, anti-idiotypic, single-chain, bifunctional, co-specific paratope, or portion of an antibody that is capable of binding the antigen. 
     
     
         202 . The method of  claim 183 , wherein any of said antibodies or fragments thereof is conjugated, directly or indirectly, to a cytotoxic agent, a therapeutic agent, label, or an immunosuppressive agent. 
     
     
         203 . The conjugate of  claim 202 , wherein the cytotoxic agent is a moiety that inhibits DNA, RNA, or protein synthesis, a radionuclide, or ribosomal inhibiting protein. 
     
     
         204 . The conjugate of  claim 202 , wherein the cytotoxic agent is  212 Bi,  131 I,  188 Re,  90 Y, vindesine, methotrexate, doxorubicin, cisplatin, pokeweed antiviral protein,  Pseudomonas  exotoxin A, ricin, diphtheria toxin, ricin A chain, or cytotoxic phospholipase enzyme. 
     
     
         205 . The method of  claim 183 , wherein said cancer is lung, breast, pancreas, uterine, esophageal, colorectal, or liver cancer. 
     
     
         206 . The method of  claim 187 , wherein said antibody or fragment is recombinant. 
     
     
         207 . The method of  claim 187 , wherein said fragment is a Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2, Fv, chimeric, humanized, anti-idiotypic, single-chain, bifunctional, co-specific paratope, or portion of an antibody that is capable of binding the antigen. 
     
     
         208 . The method of  claim 187 , wherein any of said antibodies or fragments thereof is conjugated, directly or indirectly, to a cytotoxic agent, a therapeutic agent, label, or an immunosuppressive agent. 
     
     
         209 . The method of  claim 189 , wherein any of said antibodies or fragments thereof is conjugated to a label. 
     
     
         210 . The method of  claim 212 , wherein said label is a chemiluminescent label, paramagnetic label, an Mill contrast agent, fluorescent label, bioluminescent label, or radioactive label. 
     
     
         211 . The method of  claim 210 , wherein said paramagnetic label is aluminum, manganese, platinum, oxygen, lanthanum, lutetium, scandium, yttrium, or gallium. 
     
     
         212 . The method of  claim 189 , wherein said patient is at risk of cancer. 
     
     
         213 . The method of  claim 189 , wherein the antibody-epitope complex is detected by an assay selected from the group consisting of Western blots, radioimmunoassays, ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), “sandwich” immunoassays, immunoprecipitation assays, precipitation reactions, gel diffusion precipitation reactions, immunodiffusion assays, agglutination assays, complement-fixation assays, immunohistochemical assays, fluorescent immunoassays, and protein A immunoassays.