Abstract:
Provided herein are targetable constructs that are multivalent carriers of bi-specific antibodies, i.e., each molecule of a targetable construct can serve as a carrier of two or more bi-specific antibodies. Also provided are targetable complexes formed by the association of a targetable construct with two or more bi-specific antibodies. The targetable constructs and targetable complexes of the invention are incorporated into biosensors, kits and pharmaceutical compositions, and are used in a variety of therapeutic and other methods.
Abstract:
Human breast tumors contain heterogeneous cancer cells. Using an animal xenograft model in which human breast cancer cells were grown in immunocompromised mice, we found that only a small minority of breast cancer cells had the capacity to form new tumors. The ability to form new tumors was not a stochastic property, rather certain populations of cancer cells were depleted for the ability to form new tumors, while other populations were enriched for the ability to form new tumors. Tumorigenic cells could be distinguished from non-tumorigenic cancer cells based on surface marker expression. We prospectively identified and isolated the tumorigenic cells as CD44 + CD24 -/lo LINEAGE - . As few as 100 cells from this population were able to form tumors the animal xenograft model, while tens of thousands of cells from non-tumorigenic populations failed to form tumors. The tumorigenic cells could be serially passaged, each time generating new tumors containing an expanded numbers of CD44 + CD24 -/low Lineage?- ¿tumorigenic cells as well as phenotypically mixed populations of non-tumorigenic cancer cells. This is reminiscentof the ability of normal stem cells to self-renew and differentiate. The expression of potential therapeutic targets also differed between the tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic populations. Notch activation promoted the survival of the tumorigenic cells, and a blocking antibody against Notch4 induced tumorigenic breast cancer cells to undergo apoptosis.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a method for targeting boron atoms to tumor cells in a patient. The method includes the steps of: (A) administering a targeting composition comprising a conjugate of: (i) at least one first antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment which selectively binds to an antigen produced by or associated with the tumor cells and present at the tumor cells, and (ii) at least one second antibody or antibody fragment which specifically binds to a hapten on a boron compound; (B) optionally, a clearing composition; (C) said boron compound; and (D) optionally, a second clearing composition. The method may further comprise the step of irradiating the boron atoms of the boron compound, thereby effecting BNCT of the tumor cells. Compositions and kits for carrying out the method also are provided.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a method for targeting boron atoms to tumor cells in a patient. The method includes the steps of: (A) administering a targeting composition comprising a conjugate of: (i) at least one first antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment which selectively binds to an antigen produced by or associated with the tumor cells and present at the tumor cells, and (ii) at least one second antibody or antibody fragment which specifically binds to a hapten on a boron compound; (B) optionally, a clearing composition; (C) said boron compound; and (D) optionally, a second clearing composition. The method may further comprise the step of irradiating the boron atoms of the boron compound, thereby effecting BNCT of the tumor cells. Compositions and kits for carrying out the method also are provided.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a bi-specific antibody or antibody fragment having at least one arm that specifically binds a targeted tissue and at least one other arm that specifically binds a targetable conjugate. The targetable conjugate comprises a carrier portion which comprises or bears at least one epitope recognizable by at least one arm of said bi-specific antibody or antibody fragment. The targetable conjugate further comprises one or more therapeutic or diagnostic agents or enzymes. The invention provides constructs and methods for producing the bi-specific antibodies or antibody fragments, as well as methods for using them.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a drug delivery system with two-step targeting, which comprises a combination: (a) a lipid carrier provided with cell targeting agent(s) to target the drug delivery system to specific cells or tissues; and (b) a drug enclosed in said lipid carrier and provided with a DNA targeting agent to target the drug to the nuclei of specific target cells. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of cancer therapy in which the above drug delivery system is administered to a cancer patient. The goal is to treat or analyse both large tumour masses as well as small tumour cell clusters and single spread tumour cells. According to the invention, drug uptake in tumours will be markedly increased at the same time as the interaction of the drug with healthy organs and tissues can be minimized. The invention gives potential to convert palliative into curative treatment.
Abstract:
Uses of compositions in methods for detecting and/or treating targeted lesions in a patient are provided. The compositions used are comprised of a targeting composition comprising a biotin and targeting protein conjugate or an avidin and targeting protein conjugate; optionally, a clearing composition comprised of avidin, when the targeting composition is a biotin conjugate, or biotin, when the targeting composition is an avidin conjugate; a detection or therapeutic composition comprised of a conjugate of avidin or biotin with a targeting protein and detection or therapeutic agent; and, optionally, another detection or therapeutic composition comprised of avidin or biotin conjugated to a detection or therapeutic agent. The compositions, methods of use, and kits for use are also provided.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an advancement in provoked chemical cleavage. Thereby the invention provides the use of a diene as a chemically cleavable group attached to a Construct, and the use of a dienophile to provoke the release of the Construct by allowing the diene to react with a dienophile capable of undergoing an inverse electron demand Diels Alder reaction with the diene. The invention includes a kit for releasing a Construct C A bound to a Trigger T R , the kit comprising a tetrazine and a dienophile, wherein the Trigger is the tetrazine. The invention also includes the use of the formation of a pyridazine by reacting a tetrazine comprising a Construct C A bound thereto and a dienophile, as a chemical tool for the release, in a chemical, biological or physiological environment, of said Construct.
Abstract:
Described herein are Tz/TCO-based pretargeting strategies using an Al[ 18 F]-NOTA-labeled tetrazine radioligand. This imaging strategy enables delineation of cancer at earlier time points compared to other imaging strategies and further decreases the radiation dose to healthy tissues compared to directly labeled antibodies. Al-based 18 F imaging of small molecules, such as tetrazine, has not been previously achieved due to the decomposition of tetrazine during radiofluorination. Radiofluorination is advantageous over other radiolabeling methods because, in addition to having a shorter half-life, 18 F is more readily available to produce and therefore integrated into hospital workflows.
Abstract:
Described herein are multi-specific binding agents that bind A33 and 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid. Also provided herein are methods of using multi-specific binding agents or compositions thereof for the detection, prevention, and/or therapeutic treatment of diseases characterized by expression of the A33 glycoprotein antigen, in particular, colorectal cancer.