Immune reactivity to expressed activated oncogenes for diagnosis and treatment of malignancy

Abstract

Methods for the detection, monitoring and treatment of malignancies are disclosed. Detection of the proliferation of T cells in response to in vitro exposure to a protein expression product of an activated oncogene or cancer-related gene associated with a malignancy, or detection of immunocomplexes formed between the protein expression product and antibodies in body fluid, allows the diagnosis of the presence of a malignancy. The present invention also discloses methods and compositions for treating a malignancy.

1 - 23 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         24 . A method for treating a malignancy in a warm-blooded animal, wherein an activated oncogene or cancer-related gene is associated with the malignancy, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) isolating T cells from a warm-blooded animal;    (b) incubating the T cells in the presence of at least one protein expression product of an activated oncogene or cancer-related gene associated with the malignancy, such that the T cells proliferate; and    (c) administering to the warm-blooded animal an effective amount of the proliferated T cells.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the protein expression product of an activated oncogene is a protein encoded by an oncogene selected from the group consisting of ras, src, abl, fgr, rel, yes, fes, net, mos, raf, erb B, erb A, fms, neu, ros, kit, sea, sis, myc, myb, fos, ski, jun and ets.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the step of incubating the T cells is repeated one or more times.  
     
     
         27 - 33 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         34 . A method for eliciting or enhancing in a human a T cell response to the protein expression product of an activated oncogene or cancer-related gene associated with a malignancy, comprising immunizing the human with at least one protein expression product of an activated oncogene or cancer-related gene associated with a malignancy wherein the expression product is recognized by T cells, the cancer-related gene product having an altered primary sequence relative to the product expressed in non-malignant tissue of the human, and wherein the expression product of the activated oncogene or cancer-related gene has an altered primary sequence which occurs in nature when the oncogene or cancer-related gene is activated.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the protein expression product of an activated oncogene is a protein encoded by an oncogene selected from the group consisting of ras, src, abl, fgr, rel, yes, fes, met, mos, raf, erb B, erb A, fms, neu, ros, kit, sis, myc, myb, fos, jun and ets.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the step of immunizing comprises administering the protein expression product repetitively to the human.  
     
     
         37 . A method for prolonging the survival time of a human subsequently exposed or reexposed to a malignancy, wherein an activated oncogene or cancer-related gene is associated with the malignancy, comprising prior to exposure or reexposure to the malignancy immunizing the human with at least one protein expression product of an activated oncogene or cancer-related gene associated with the malignancy wherein the expression product is recognized by T cells, the cancer-related gene product having an altered primary sequence relative to the product expressed in non-malignant tissue of the human, and wherein the expression product of the activated oncogene or cancer-related gene has an altered primary sequence which occurs in nature when the oncogene or cancer-related gene is activated.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the protein expression product of an activated oncogene is a protein encoded by an oncogene selected from the group consisting of ras, src, abl, fgr, rel, yes, fes, met, mos, raf, erb B, erb A, fms, neu, ros, kit, sis, myc, myb, fos, jun and ets.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the step of immunizing comprises administering the protein expression product repetitively to the human.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the protein expression product of an activated oncogene is a protein encoded by a ras oncogene.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the protein expression product of an activated oncogene is a protein encoded by a bcr-abl oncogene.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the protein expression product of an activated oncogene is a protein encoded by a ras oncogene.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the protein expression product of an activated oncogene is a protein encoded by a bcr-abl oncogene.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the protein expression product is of an activated oncogene.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the protein expression is of an activated oncogene.