Immune reactivity to HER-2/neu protein for diagnosis of malignancies in which the HER-2/neu oncogene is associated
AssigneeUniversity of Washington
InventorsMartin A. Cheever, Mary L. Disis
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Abstract
Methods for the detection, monitoring and treatment of malignancies in which the HER-2/neu oncogene is associated are disclosed. Detection of specific T cell activation (e.g., by measuring the proliferation of T cells) in response to in vitro exposure to the HER-2/neu protein, or detection of immunocomplexes formed between the HER-2/neu protein and antibodies in body fluid, allows the diagnosis of the presence of a malignancy in which the HER-2/neu oncogene is associated. The present invention also discloses methods and compositions, including peptides, for treating such malignancies.
Claims7
A method of screening for the presence of a malignancy in a warm-blooded animal, wherein a HER-2/neu oncogene is associated with the malignancy, comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining peripheral blood cells from said warm-blooded animal;
- (b) incubating said cells with HER-2/neu protein;
- and
- (c) detecting the presence or absence of specific activation of CD4.sup.+ T cells, wherein the presence of specific activation is indicative of the presence of malignancy.
A method for the detection of T cells, from a warm-blooded animal, that recognize HER-2/neu protein, comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining peripheral blood cells from said warm-blooded animal;
- (b) incubating said cells with HER-2/neu protein;
- and
- (c) detecting the presence or absence of specific activation of T cells, wherein the presence of specific activation is indicative of the presence of T cells that recognize HER-2/neu protein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.