Methods for inhibiting brain tumor growth

Abstract

The present invention describes methods for inhibition of tumor growth in the brain, using antagonists of integrins such as α v β 3 and α v β 5 . Antagonists of the present invention can inhibit angiogenesis in brain tumor tissue. They can also inhibit vitronectin and tenascin-mediated cell adhesion and migration in brain tumor cells. They can further induce direct brain tumor cell death.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of inhibiting tumor growth in the brain of a host, comprising administering to the host in need of such an inhibition a therapeutically effective amount of an integrin antagonist which is selected from the group consisting of an antibody against α v β 3 , an antibody against α v β 5  and a combination of antibodies respectively against α v β 3  and α v β 5 .  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antagonist is a monoclonal antibody immunospecific for α v β 3 .  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the monoclonal antibody has the immunoreaction characteristics of a monoclonal antibody designated LM-609.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the combination of the antibodies respectively against α v β 3  and α v β 5  is a combination of a monoclonal antibody immunospecific to α v β 3  and a monoclonal antibody immunospecific to α v β 5 .  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the monoclonal antibody immunospecific to α v β 3  has the immunoreaction characteristics of a monoclonal antibody designated LM-609 and the monoclonal antibody immunospecific to α v β 5  has the immunoreaction characteristics of a monoclonal antibody designated P1-F6.