Novel immunotherapy

Abstract

Disclosed are treatment agents and methods of treatment utilizing the agents directed toward diseases in which the disease causing pathogen includes α6β1 integrin receptors and/or α6β4 integrin receptors on the surface of the pathogen. In one embodiment, the disease can be breast cancer. The therapeutic agents disclosed include a polypeptide comprising at least a portion of the G domain of the laminin-5 α3 chain that has been shown to bind α6β1 integrin receptors and α6β4 integrin receptors. In one embodiment, the therapeutic agents can be fused or chimeric materials in which the laminin-5 α3 chain polypeptide has been chemically bound to another material that can be useful in the destruction or neutralization of the pathogen.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . A therapeutic agent comprising: 
 a fused or chimeric polypeptide comprising 
 a first component comprising a polypeptide that specifically binds to at least one of α6β1 integrin receptor and α6β4 integrin receptor, wherein the polypeptide comprises the G3 subdomain of the laminin-5 α3 chain or a fragment, mutant, homolog, ortholog, analog, or allele thereof, and  
 a second component chemically bound to said first component, wherein said second component comprises an agent for use in the destruction or neutralization of a pathogen comprising at least one of α6 β1 integrin receptors and α6 β4 integrin receptors on the surface of the pathogen.  
   
     
     
         16 . The therapeutic agent of  claim 15 , wherein the second component is a polypeptide.  
     
     
         17 . The therapeutic agent of  claim 15 , wherein the second component is a non-protein agent.  
     
     
         18 . The therapeutic agent of  claim 15 , wherein the second component is selected from the group consisting of IL-2, IL-3 IL-15, IL-12, IFN-γ, GM-CSF, CD40, CD40 ligand (CD40L), C3 Complement components, CD80, CD86, FAS, FAS ligand (FASL), superantigens, muramyl dipeptide (MDP), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or mannose  
     
     
         19 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 15 , wherein the first component comprises at least about 70% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         20 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 15 , wherein the first component comprises at least about 70% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         21 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 15 , wherein the first component comprises at least about 70% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:6.  
     
     
         22 - 42 . (canceled)  
     
     
         43 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 15 , wherein the first component comprises at least about 90% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         44 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 15 , wherein the first component comprises at least about 90% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         45 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 15 , wherein the first component comprises at least about 90% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:6.  
     
     
         46 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 15 , wherein the first component consists of SEQ ID NO:6.  
     
     
         47 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 15 , wherein the first component comprises a segment consisting of SEQ ID NO:6.  
     
     
         48 . A fused or chimeric polypeptide comprising 
 a first component comprising a polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide comprises at least a segment of the G-domain of a laminin-5 α3 chain and the polypeptide specifically binds to at least one of α6 β1 integrin receptor and α6 β4 integrin receptor that specifically binds to a polypeptide comprising a segment consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, and    a second component chemically bound to said first component.    
     
     
         49 . The fused or chimeric polypeptide of  claim 48 , wherein the second component is a polypeptide.  
     
     
         50 . The therapeutic agent of  claim 48  wherein the second component is a non-protein agent.  
     
     
         51 . A fused or chimeric polypeptide comprising 
 a first component comprising a polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide comprises at least a segment of the G-domain of a laminin-5 α3 chain and the polypeptide specifically binds to at least one of α6 β1 integrin receptor and α6 β4 integrin receptor that specifically binds to a polypeptide comprising a segment consisting of SEQ ID NO:4, and    a second component chemically bound to said first component.    
     
     
         52 . The fused or chimeric polypeptide of  claim 51 , wherein the second component is a polypeptide.  
     
     
         53 . The therapeutic agent of  claim 51  wherein the second component is a non-protein agent.  
     
     
         54 . A fused or chimeric polypeptide comprising 
 a first component comprising a polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide comprises at least a segment of the G-domain of a laminin-5 α3 chain and the polypeptide specifically binds to at least one of α6 β1 integrin receptor and α6 β4 integrin receptor that specifically binds to a polypeptide comprising a segment consisting of SEQ ID NO:6, and    a second component chemically bound to said first component.    
     
     
         55 . The fused or chimeric polypeptide of  claim 54 , wherein the second component is a polypeptide.  
     
     
         56 . The therapeutic agent of  claim 54  wherein the second component is a non-protein agent.