Modified antibodies with human milk fat globule specificity

Abstract

An analogue peptide that comprises the variable regions of the light or heavy chains of an antibody of a first species selectively binding to a carcinoma antigen has 1 to 46 amino acids of the framework regions per chain substituted with amino acids such as those present in equivalent positions in antibodies of a species other than the first species, or fragments thereof comprising 1 to 3 variable region CDRs per chain and optionally flanking regions thereof of 1 to 10 or more amino acids, alone or with an N-terminal fragment of 1 to 10 or more amino acids, combinations or mixtures thereof. The polypeptide may also comprise an effector agent and/or be glycosylated, and is presented as a composition with a carrier. The analogue peptides are used in diagnostic kits for carcinomas and methods for in vivo imaging and treating a primary or metastasized carcinoma, and in vitro diagnosing a carcinoma, ex vivo purging neoplastic cells from a biological fluid. RNAs and DNAs encode the analogue peptide, and a hybrid vector carrying the nucleotides and transfected cells express the peptides and a method produces the analogue peptide. An anti-idiotype polypeptide comprises polyclonal antibodies raised against an anti-carcinoma antibody or the analogue peptide of this invention, monoclonal antibodies thereof, Fab, Fab', (Fab').sub.2, CDR, variable region, or analogues or fragments thereof, combinations thereof with an oligopeptide comprising a TRP trimer, tandem repeats thereof, or combination or mixtures thereof. An anti-idiotype hybrid polypeptide with an effector agent and the anti-idiotype polypeptide, an anti-carcinoma vaccine, an anti-carcinoma vaccination kit, a method of vaccinating against carcinoma and a method of lowering the serum concentration of a circulating antibody or polypeptide are provided.