Immune reactivity to HER-2/neu protein for diagnosis and treatment 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.
Claims6
A method for treating a malignancy in a human, wherein a HER-2/neu oncogene is associated with the malignancy, comprising immunizing a human with a HER-2/neu peptide recognized by T cells, said peptide not being the extracellular domain of the protein expression product of a HER-2/neu oncogene.
A method for eliciting or enhancing in a human an immune response to the protein expression product of a HER-2/neu oncogene, comprising immunizing a human with a HER-2/neu peptide recognized by T cells, said peptide not being the extracellular domain of the protein expression product of a HER-2/neu oncogene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.