Monoclonal antibodies and vaccine development directed to human

Abstract

A vaccine and method to prevent growth and replication of cancer cells that express a core structure of a mucin-type glycoprotein is disclosed. The vaccine comprises: (a) a pharmaceutically effective amount of an antigen comprising a purified mucin-type glycoprotein or a chemically synthesized mucin-type glycoprotein carbohydrate determinant conjugated to a carrier peptide or macromolecule, wherein said mucin-type glycoprotein expresses or carries the core structure of a mucin-type glycoprotein expressed on said cancer cells; and (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier including natural or synthetic adjuvants. The method comprises administering the above-described vaccine to a host. A medicament and method for treating cancer wherein the cancer cells express a core structure of a mucin-type glycoprotein is disclosed. The medicament comprises: (a) a pharmaceutically effective amount of an anti-cancer antibody or fragment comprising a binding site thereof, said anti-cancer antibody having been produced against a purified core structure of a mucin-type glycoprotein; and (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient. The method comprises administering the above-described medicament to a host.