Scios Inc.

Berlex Laboratories, Inc.

Other

Xoma Corporation

Ronald P Mischak

Jan Marian Scardina

Garrett A Lim

John J Monahan

Elaina Mann

Laura K Shawver

John W Brandis

Patrick J Scannon

Barbara Cordell

Lynn E Spitler

Guy Rautmann

Miriam E Hancock

Rebecca Pruss

John Huggins

Russell T Kawahata

Howard M Lee

Miriam Ec Hancock

Garret A Lim

This invention is directed toward novel synergistic combinations of ligand-mimicking agents specific to the c-erbB-2 protein and anti-neoplastic drugs or agents, which can be used to treat a mammalian host, usually a human, suspected of having cancer or tumor cells by administering the combination in a therapeutically- or synergistically-effective amount. The drug combinations cytotoxic to tumor cells comprise an anti-neoplastic agent and a molecule, that is not conjugated to the anti-neoplastic agent, that binds the tumor cells and induces an increase in the phosphorylation of c-erbB-2 protein when placed in contact with the tumor cells. Alternatively, the drug combination cytotoxic to tumor cells may comprise an anti-neoplastic agent and a molecule, that is not conjugated to the anti-neoplastic agent, that binds the tumor cells and causes down modulation or internalization of c-erbB-2 protein. The anti-neoplastic drug is preferably an alkylating agent, most preferably cisplatin. This combination is particularly effective for inhibiting the growth of breast and ovarian tumor cells. Methods for killing target tumor cells are contemplated by contacting the target cells with the novel drug combinations, methods for treating mammals by administering therapeutic amounts of the drug combinations are also contemplated.

Use of ligand-mimicking agents and anti-neoplastic drugs in cancer therapy

The invention relates to the design, construction and use of eukaryotic cell lines useful in the identification of inhibitors of &bgr;-amyloid processing. More specifically, the invention relates to in vitro assays capable of identifying or quantifying a 4.2 kDa &bgr;-amyloid protein. The present invention also provides for DNA and protein molecules for the design, construction and use of eukaryotic cell lines useful in the identification of inhibitors of &bgr;-amyloid processing.

Assays for &bgr;-amyloid processing

The present invention provides reagents and assays for the quantification of hBNP in biological fluid samples such as plasma or serum. Antibodies are provided which are monospecific to epitopes comprising the amino acid sequences 5-13, 1-10 and 15-25 of hBNP. These antibodies, and peptide fragments containing these sequences, can be employed in the assays of the invention, which may be carried out in a sandwich format or a competition format.

Assay and reagents for quantifying hBNp

Human BNP-specific antibodies

Anti-neoplastic drugs in cancer therapy

Human brain natriuretic peptides

Conjugates of monoclonal antibodies specific to human melanoma and the A chain of a toxic lectin such as ricin or an equivalent ribosomal inhibiting protein. The conjugate is synthesized by a novel process employing anti-toxic lectin B chain antibodies to remove lectin B chain impurities and provide a highly purified conjugate that is non-toxic to cells other than melanoma. The conjugates are used to treat human melanoma. The hybridomas XMMME-001 and XMMME-002 were deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (A.T.C.C.) on Mar. 26, 1985, and given A.T.C.C. Accession Nos. HB8759 and HB8760, respectively.

Human melanoma specific immunotoxins

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Ronald P Mischak