Biogen Idec Ma Inc.

Herman W T Van Vlijmen

Alexey Alexandrovich Lugovskoy

Jose William Saldanha

Paul H Weinreb

Kenneth J Simon

Shelia Marie Violette

Louise A Koopman

The present invention is in the fields of cell biology, immunology and oncology. The invention provides humanized antibodies that recognize &#x3b1;&#x3b2;integrins, which antibodies comprise a variable region of nonhuman origin and at least a portion of an immunoglobulin of human origin. The invention also provides methods for preparation of such antibodies, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and methods of treating, diagnosing and/or preventing various diseases and disorders by administering the humanized anti-&#x3b1;&#x3b2;antibodies of the invention. The invention also relates to the identification of differential expression of the integrin &#x3b1;&#x3b2;on the surfaces of tumor cells and tissues, the use of this differential expression in determining the metastatic potential of tumor cells, and methods of diagnosis and treatment/prevention of tumor metastasis and for elimination of residual metastatic tumor cells using ligands, particularly antibodies, that bind to integrin &#x3b1;&#x3b2;.

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Mechelen, Netherlands

Herman W T Van Vlijmen