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AssigneeGentics Institute, Inc.
InventorsGordon J. Freeman, Lee M. Nadler, Gary S. Gray
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Tumor cells modified to express one or more T cell costimulatory molecules are disclosed. Preferred costimulatory molecules are B7-2 and B7-3. The tumor cells of the invention can be modified by transfection with nucleic acid encoding B7-2 and/or B7-3, by using an agent which induces or increases expression of B7-2 and/or B7-3 on the tumor cell or by coupling B7-2 and/or B7-3 to the tumor cell. Tumor cells modified to express B7-2 and/or B7-3 can be further modified to express B7. Tumor cells further modified to express MHC class I and/or class II molecules or in which expression of an MHC associated protein, the invariant chain, is inhibited are also disclosed. The modified tumor cells of the invention can be used in methods for treating a patient with a tumor, preventing or inhibiting metastatic spread of a tumor or preventing or inhibiting recurrence of a tumor. A method for specifically inducing a CD4+ T cell response against a tumor and a method for treating a tumor by modification of tumor cells in vivo are disclosed.
A method for treating a mammalian subject having a solid tumor, comprising direct injection of a nucleic acid molecule encoding B7-2 molecule in a form suitable for expression of the B7-2 molecule, into cells of the tumor, wherein the 87-2 molecule has the ability to costimulate a T cell and the ability to bind a CD28 or CTLA4 ligands, such that the growth of the tumor is inhibited.
A method for modifying cells of a solid tumor in vivo to express a B7-2 molecule, comprising direct injection of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a B7-2 molecule in a form suitable for expression of the B7-2 molecule, into the tumor cells, wherein the 87-2 molecule has the ability to costimulate a T cell and the ability to bind a CD28 or CTLA4 ligand, such that B7-2 is expressed by the tumor cells.
A method of increasing the immunogenicity of a cells of a solid tumor comprising, direct injection of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a B7-2 molecule in a form suitable for expression of the B7-2 molecule, into the tumor cells, wherein the B7-2 molecule has the ability to costimulate a T cell and the ability to bind a CD28 or CTLA4 ligand, such that B7-2 is expressed by the tumor cells, to thereby increase the immunogenicity of the tumor cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.