Compositions and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of tumor

Abstract

The present invention is directed to compositions of matter useful for the diagnosis and treatment of tumor in mammals and to methods of using those compositions of matter for the same.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of killing a cancer cell that expresses a polypeptide having at least 80% amino acid sequence identity to: 
 (a) the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3) or FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4); or    (b) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleotide sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1) or FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), said method comprising contacting said cancer cell with an antibody, oligopeptide or organic molecule that binds to said polypeptide on said cancer cell, thereby killing said cancer cell.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is an antibody fragment.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a chimeric or a humanized antibody.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody, oligopeptide or organic molecule is conjugated to a growth inhibitory agent.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody, oligopeptide or organic molecule is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cytotoxic agent is selected from the group consisting of toxins, antibiotics, radioactive isotopes and nucleolytic enzymes.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cytotoxic agent is a toxin.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the toxin is selected from the group consisting of maytansinoid and calicheamicin.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the toxin is a maytansinoid.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is produced in bacteria.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is produced in CHO cells.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancer cell is further exposed to radiation treatment or a chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancer cell is selected from the group consisting of a breast cancer cell, an ovarian cancer cell and a uterine cancer cell.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancer cell overexpresses said polypeptide as compared to a normal cell of the same tissue origin.