Treatment and diagnosis of prostate cancer

Abstract

The present invention is directed to the use of antibodies or binding portions thereof or probes which recognize an antigen of normal, benign, hyperplastic, and cancerous prostate epithelial cells or portions thereof. These antibodies or binding portions thereof or probes can be labeled and used for detection of such cells. They also can be used alone or bound to a substance effective to ablate or kill such cells as a therapy for prostate cancer. Also disclosed is a hybridoma cell line which produces a monoclonal antibody recognizing antigens of normal, benign, hyperplastic, and cancerous prostate epithelial cells or portions thereof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating, preventing, or delaying development or progression of prostate cancer comprising: 
 providing an antibody or antigen binding portion thereof which binds to an antigen expressed on the surface of prostate epithelial cells, said antigen including the epitope bound by an antibody of deposit HB11892, wherein the antibody is an IgG which binds viable cells and wherein the antibody or antigen binding portion thereof is conjugated to a cytotoxic drug; and    administering the antibody or antigen binding portion thereof to a subject under conditions effective to treat, prevent, or delay the development or progression of prostate cancer.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the prostate cancer is metastatic.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the metastatic prostate cancer involves a bone marrow or a lymph node metastasis.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the administering is carried out parenterally.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the administering is carried out intravenously.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the administering is carried out by intracavitary instillation.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody or antigen binding portion thereof is administered following a prostatectomy.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody or antigen binding portion thereof is selected from the group consisting of a Fab fragment, a F(ab′)2 fragment, and a Fv fragment.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cytotoxic drug is selected from the group consisting of a therapeutic drug, a compound emitting radiation, molecules of plant, fungal, or bacterial origin, biological proteins, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cytotoxic drug is a compound emitting radiation.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cytotoxic drug is a molecule of bacterial origin.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cytotoxic drug is a molecule of plant origin.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody or antigen binding portion thereof is in a composition further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, or stabilizer.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody or antigen binding portion thereof is administered in conjunction with a second therapeutic modality.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the second therapeutic modality is selected from the group consisting of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and hormone replacement.