Modified Antibody

Abstract

Recombinant antibody-based molecules that trigger both T-cell and B-cell immune responses are disclosed. The recombinant molecules are comprised by at least one targeting unit and at least one antigenic unit connected through a dimerization motif. Also disclosed are nucleic acid molecules encoding the recombinant antibody-based molecule and methods of treating multiple myeloma or lymphoma in a patient using the recombinant antibody-based molecules or the nucleic acid molecules.

1 . A method of treating multiple myeloma or lymphoma in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the patient, a recombinant antibody-based molecule comprising two targeting units and two antigenic units connected through a dimerization motif, or a nucleic acid encoding said recombinant antibody-based molecule. 
     
     
         2 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one targeting unit is a ligand. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said ligand is a chemokine. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said chemokine is RANTES or MIP-1α. 
     
     
         11 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the targeting units have the ability to target antigen presenting cells (APC). 
     
     
         15 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antigenic unit(s) is/are an antigenic scFv. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the antigenic scFv is derived from a monoclonal Ig produced by myeloma or lymphoma. 
     
     
         20 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dimerization motif comprises a hinge region and an immunoglobulin domain. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the hinge region has the ability to form one or several covalent bonds. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the immunoglobulin domain is a carboxyterminal C domain, or a sequence that is substantially homologous to said C domain. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the immunoglobulin domain has the ability to homodimerize. 
     
     
         34 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising administering the nucleic acid to the patient to induce production of the recombinant antibody-based molecule. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A recombinant antibody-based molecule comprising two targeting units and two antigenic units connected through a dimerization motif, or a nucleic acid encoding said recombinant antibody-based molecule. 
     
     
         39 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . The recombinant molecule of  claim 38 , wherein at least one targeting unit is a ligand. 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The recombinant molecule of  claim 43 , wherein said ligand is a chemokine. 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The recombinant molecule of  claim 45 , wherein said chemokine is MIP-1α. 
     
     
         48 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . The recombinant molecule of  claim 38 , wherein at least one antigenic unit is derived from a bacterium. 
     
     
         59 . The recombinant molecule of  claim 58 , wherein the bacterium derived antigenic unit(s) is/are a tuberculosis antigen. 
     
     
         60 . The recombinant molecule of  claim 38 , wherein at least one antigenic unit is derived from a virus. 
     
     
         61 - 75 . (canceled) 
     
     
         76 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a recombinant molecule of  claim 38  and a physiologically acceptable diluent or carrier. 
     
     
         77 - 82 . (canceled)