Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of receptor-mediated leukemogenesis
AssigneesCalifornia Institute of Technology, The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Jr. University
InventorsMichael S. McGrath, Irving L. Weissman
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Abstract
Specific binding members are provided for binding to lymphocytic cell surface receptors, which receptors are involved in the activation of a cell from the G.sub.0 state into the cell division cycle to proliferate. The cell surface receptors are further characterized by binding to envelope proteins of neoplasia-causing retroviruses, and/or to intact retroviral particles.
Claims12
A method for detecting the presence of tumor cells in a warm-blooded animal host, said method comprising:
- combining a physiological sample suspected of containing a cell surface membrane receptor (CSMR) with a compound capable of binding to said CSMR, where said CSMR is characterized by:
- (1) being involved in the activation of cells from the resting phase to the cell division cycle;
- and (2) capable of specifically binding to a binding site of a transforming retrovirus;
- and
- determining the level of complex formation between said compound and said CSMR as compared to a predetermined value, as indicative of the presence of tumor cells.
A method for detecting lymphoma or leukemia in a mammalian host, which comprises:
- combining a physiological sample from said host containing lymphocytic cell surface membrane receptors, wherein said receptors are characterized by:
- (1) being the recognition receptor for the lymphocyte;
- and (2) specifically binding to a slow transforming retrovirus antigen binding site, with a monoclonal antibody specific for the variable region of said recognition receptor, under conditions permitting complex formation between said receptor and said monoclonal antibody;
- and
- determining whether the level of complex formation is elevated as compared to a predetermined value, where said elevation is indicative of abnormal cellular proliferation.
A method for treating a host suspected of having a tumor caused by a transforming retrovirus, said method comprising:
- administering to said host a growth retarding amount of a compound which specifically binds to a cell surface membrane receptor of said tumor cell, wherein said receptor is characterized by:
- (1) being involved in the activation of a cell from the resting phase to the cell division cycle;
- and (2) specifically binding to an antigen of said retrovirus;
- whereby the proliferation of said cells having said cell surface membrane receptor is retarded.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.