Passive targeting of cytotoxic agents

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of treating cancer cells comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a non-specific antibody conjugated to a cytotoxin, wherein the cancer cells do not express an antigen to which the non-specific antibody binds. In one embodiment, the non-specific antibody is an anti-CD33 antibody (e.g., hp67.6), an anti-CD22 antibody (e.g., g5/44), or an anti-CD20 antibody (e.g., rituximab). In another embodiment, the non-specific antibody does not bind a human antigen. The cancer cells treated can be, e.g., gastric, colon, non-small cell lung (NSCLC), breast, epidermoid, or prostate carcinoma cells. In one embodiment, the cytotoxin is calicheamicin. Calicheamicin can be conjugated to the non-specific antibody using a 4-(4′-acetylphenoxy)butanoic acid (AcBut) or (3-Acetylphenyl)acetic acid (AcPAc) linker. In another embodiment, the antibody to the non-specific antigen conjugated to a cytotoxin is administered in combination with a bioactive agent, e.g., an anti-cancer agent.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.