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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one targeting unit is a ligand. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said ligand is a chemokine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said chemokine is RANTES or MIP-1α. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the targeting units have the ability to target antigen presenting cells (APC). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antigenic unit(s) is/are an antigenic scFv. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the antigenic scFv is derived from a monoclonal Ig produced by myeloma or lymphoma. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dimerization motif comprises a hinge region and an immunoglobulin domain. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the hinge region has the ability to form one or several covalent bonds. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the immunoglobulin domain is a carboxyterminal C domain, or a sequence that is substantially homologous to said C domain. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the immunoglobulin domain has the ability to homodimerize. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising administering the nucleic acid to the patient to induce production of the recombinant antibody-based molecule. 
     
     
         13 . 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. 
     
     
         14 . The recombinant molecule of  claim 13 , wherein at least one targeting unit is a ligand. 
     
     
         15 . The recombinant molecule of  claim 14 , wherein said ligand is a chemokine. 
     
     
         16 . The recombinant molecule of  claim 15 , wherein said chemokine is MIP-1α. 
     
     
         17 . The recombinant molecule of  claim 13 , wherein at least one antigenic unit is derived from a bacterium. 
     
     
         18 . The recombinant molecule of  claim 17 , wherein the bacterium derived antigenic unit(s) is/are a tuberculosis antigen. 
     
     
         19 . The recombinant molecule of  claim 13 , wherein at least one antigenic unit is derived from a virus. 
     
     
         20 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a recombinant molecule of  claim 13  and a physiologically acceptable diluent or carrier.