Diagnostic and treatment methods for cancer based on immune inhibitors
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University
InventorsMathias Oelke, Jonathan Schneck, Tonya Webb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors, in particular ovarian tumors, using GD3 and GD3 inhibitors. Also provided are methods of modulating the immune system of a mammal by the administration of a GD3 and GD3 inhibitors.
Claims53
A method of diagnosis of a malignant tumor comprising measuring the level of GD3 in a biological sample obtained from a subject, and comparing the level to a control value, wherein an increase in the level of GD3 compared to the control value is indicative of a likelihood that the subject suffers from a malignant tumor.
A method of treating a malignant tumor comprising administering an effective amount of a GD3 antagonist or antibody to GD3, or a compound that inhibits or suppresses the production of GD3, to a subject in need of treatment.
A method of screening for an anti-cancer agent, comprising contacting a test compound with test cells comprising GD3 receptors in the presence of GD3, and comparing GD3 binding or an immune activity of the test cells to GD3 binding or the immune activity of control cells in which GD3 but no test compound is present, wherein a decrease in GD3 binding or increase in immune activity of the test cells compared to the control cells is indicative of a potential anti-cancer agent.
A method of screening for an anti-cancer agent, comprising the steps of
- a) contacting a test compound and GD3 with CD1d to obtain treated CD1d;
- b) contacting the treated CD1d with NKT cells;
- and
- c) measuring the level of activation of the NKT cells;
- wherein increased activation of NKT cells by the treated CD1d compared to a comparable control sample of untreated CD1d is indicative of a potential anti-cancer agent.
A method of modulating the immune system of a subject, comprising administering an effective amount of GD3 to the subject in order to suppress immune system function.
A method of monitoring treatment and/or predicting outcome in a subject afflicted with a malignant tumor comprising measuring the level of GD3 in a biological sample obtained from the subject, and comparing the level with the level measured in a comparable sample obtained at a previous time, wherein a decrease in the level of GD3 in the more recent sample is indicative of effective treatment and/or a favorable prognosis.
A method of monitoring treatment and/or predicting outcome in a subject afflicted with a malignant tumor comprising measuring level of inhibition of NKT activity caused by a biological sample obtained from a subject, or an extract thereof, and comparing the level of inhibition to that in a comparable sample obtained at a previous time, wherein a decrease in the level in the more recent sample is indicative of effective treatment and/or a favorable prognosis.
A method of diagnosis of a malignant tumor comprising measuring the amount of inhibition of NKT activity caused by a biological sample obtained from a subject, or an extract thereof, and comparing the amount of inhibition to a control value, wherein an increase in the amount of inhibition compared to the control value is indicative of a likelihood that the subject suffers from a malignant tumor.
A method of screening for an anti-cancer agent, comprising culturing ascites cells and/or tumor cells with a test drug to inhibit GD3 production, and measuring the inhibitory activity of the culture supernatant on NKT cells or other immune cells, wherein a reduction in inhibitory activity of the supernatant from the culture with the test drug compared to a control culture without the test drug is indicative of the presence of a potential anti-cancer drug.
A method of treating a malignant tumor comprising administering an effective amount of a substance that increases NKT activity by either directly stimulating NKT cell activation or by suppressing production of inhibitors of NKT cells made by tumors to a subject in need of treatment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.