Columbia University

George Vlad

Nicole Suciu-Foca

Raffaello Cortesini

Luigi Scotto

Chih-Chao Chang

Zhuoru Liu

Seunghee Kim-Schulze

Adriana Ioana Colovai

Zheng Xu

It has now been discovered that activated lymphocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM)&#x2014;also known as CD166&#x2014;is the ligand of the innate immune receptor ILT3 that is expressed by DC and monocytes. It has been further discovered that the specific binding of ILT3 to its ligand CD166 on the surface of CD166-expressing cancer cells, arrested cancer cell growth and initiated apoptosis. Therefore, certain embodiments relate to methods and compositions for treating CD166-expressing cancers by administering ILT3Fc, full-length ILT3 or any CD166 ligand-binding fragment thereof.

Methods of treating CD166-expressing cancer

The present invention relates to methods of using the expression of ILTL3 ligand or ILT3 on certain types of cancer cells as a diagnostic tool. Methods are provided for treating ILT3-ligand expressing cancers, such as T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia), for example by administering ILT3, the extracellular domain of ILT3 or ILT3Fc conjugated to a cytotoxic agent to kill the targeted cancer cell. Other methods are provided for treating cancers that express ILT3 on their surface, such as monocytic forms of AML, for example by administering anti-ILT3 antibodies conjugated to a cytotoxic agent.

Diagnosis and treatment of cancer expressing ILT3 or ILT3 ligand

This invention provides a method for inhibiting the rejection of transplanted islet cells, comprising administering to the subject a polypeptide comprising all or a portion of the extracellular domain of ILT3, wherein the polypeptide is water soluble. This invention further provides a method of treating diabetes, by inhibiting the rejection of transplanted islet cells through the administration of the polypeptide to the subject.

ILT3 polypeptides and uses thereof

This invention provides a first polypeptide comprising all or a portion of the extracellular domain of ILT3, wherein the polypeptide is water-soluble and does not comprise the Fc portion of an immunoglobulin. This invention also provides a second polypeptide comprising (i) all or a portion of the extracellular domain of ILT3 operable affixed to (ii) the Fc portion of an immunoglobulin, wherein the Fc portion of the immunoglobulin comprises a function-enhancing mutation, and wherein the polypeptide is water-soluble. This invention further provides a third polypeptide comprising (i) all or a portion of the extracellular domain of ILT3 operable affixed to (ii) a transmembrane domain. This invention further provides related nucleic acids, expression vectors, host vector systems, compositions, and articles of manufacture and therapeutic and prophylactic methods using the polypeptides of the invention.

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Forest Hills, NY, United States of America

George Vlad