Detection and treatment of breast disease

Abstract

An isolated chemokine is disclosed. The isolated chemokine is expressed preferentially in breast tissue or can be detected in breast milk. It includes from about 100 to about 132 amino acids, has a deduced molecular weight of from about 10 to about 16 kDa, and has a deduced isoionic point of from about pH 10.1 to about pH 10.7. Antibodies and binding portions thereof recognizing the subject chemokine and peptides which include the antigenic portions of the subject chemokines are described. DNA molecules which encode the subject chemokines as well as nucleic acid molecules which, under stringent conditions, hybridize to nucleic acid molecules encoding the subject chemokines or to a complement thereof are also disclosed. The chemokines, peptides, antibodies and binding portions thereof, and nucleic acid molecules can be used to detect and treat breast disease, such as inflammations, infections, mastitis, benign cystitis, benign hyperplasias, cancer and other malignancies as well as other pathological states of the mammary gland.

1 . A method for treating breast disease in a patient in need thereof, which method comprises administering to the patient an effective amount of a chemokine, which chemokine has about 105 to about 127 amino acids, has a molecular weight of from about 12 to about 14 kD, has an isoionic point of from about pH 10.1 to about pH 10.7, and comprises at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, and SEQ ID NO:5; wherein the breast disease is selected from the group consisting of benign cystitis, benign hyperplasia, cancer and malignancies.  
     
     
         2 . A method for treating breast disease in a patient in need thereof, which method comprises administering to the patient an effective amount of a chemokine, which chemokine has about 105 to about 127 amino acids, has a molecular weight of from about 12 to about 14 kD, has an isoionic point of from about pH 10.1 to about pH 10.7, and has the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOS:3, 4, and 5; wherein the breast disease is selected from the group consisting of benign cystitis, benign hyperplasia, cancer and malignancies.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the chemokine has an amino acid sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO:1.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is administered orally, parenterally, subcutaneously, intravenously, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, intraocularly, intraarterially, by intranasal instillation, by intracavitary instillation, by intravesical instillation, or by application to mucous membranes.  
     
     
         5 - 8 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         9 . A method for treating breast disease in a patient in need thereof, which method comprises administering a dosage unit form comprising a chemokine, which chemokine has about 105 to about 127 amino acids, has a molecular weight of from about 12 to about 14 kD, has an isoionic point of from about pH 10.1 to about pH 10.7, and comprises at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, and SEQ ID NO:5, and is present in an amount effective to treat breast disease, and at least one component selected from the group consisting of carriers, excipients, diluents, binders, disintegrating agents, lubricants, adjuvants, surfactants, propellants, and stabilizers.