Oculospanin as a tumor specific antigen and methods and compositions utilizing same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of detecting cancer by use of an oncogene, a method of screening for an active compound useful to treat and/or prevent cancer, and a pharmaceutical composition for treatment and/or prevention of cancer. More specifically, the present invention provides a method of detecting cancer based on the expression of the human oculospanin gene as a marker and a pharmaceutical composition containing an antibody capable of specifically

1 . An antibody which: 
 a) specifically binds to a human oculospanin protein selected from at least one member of the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:4, and    b) has cytotoxic activity against a cell expressing said oculospanin protein.    
     
     
         2 . An antibody according to  claim 1  wherein said antibody is a chimeric antibody.  
     
     
         3 . An antibody according to  claim 1  wherein said antibody is a humanized antibody.  
     
     
         4 . An antibody according to  claim 1  wherein said antibody is a human antibody.  
     
     
         5 . An antibody according to  claim 1  wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         6 . An antibody according to  claim 1  wherein said antibody is an IgG antibody.  
     
     
         7 . An antibody according to  claim 6  wherein said IgG antibody is an IgG1 antibody.  
     
     
         8 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody according to  claim 1  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         9 . A method of screening for binding to human oculospanin comprising: 
 a) contacting a human oculospanin protein with a library of candidate agents; and    b) determining the presence or absence of binding of at least one candidate agent and said protein.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said protein is immobilized on a solid support.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein said solid support comprises microspheres.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said candidate agents are labeled.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein said label is a fluorophore.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said candidate agents are immobilized on a solid support.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein said solid support comprises microspheres.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said oculospanin protein is labeled.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein said label is a fluorophore.  
     
     
         18 . A method of screening for cytotoxicity induction in a population of cells expressing a human oculospanin protein comprising: 
 a) contacting said cells with a candidate agent to form a mixture; and    b) assaying for cytotoxicity.    
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein said cells are contacted with a library of candidate agents.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein said candidate agents are antibodies.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein said assaying step includes adding effector cells to said mixture.  
     
     
         22 . A method of inducing cytotoxicity in a cell expressing human oculospanin comprising adding an agent that inhibits oculospanin activity such that cytotoxicity is induced.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein said agent is an antibody.  
     
     
         24 . A method of detecting cancer comprising: 
 a) measuring the amount of nucleic acid encoding oculospanin from a human test sample;    b) measuring the amount of nucleic acid encoding oculospanin from a human healthy sample; and    c) comparing the difference in said amounts to determine the presence of cancer in said test sample.    
     
     
         25 . A method of detecting cancer comprising: 
 a) measuring the amount of oculospanin protein from a human test sample;    b) measuring the amount of oculospanin protein from a human healthy sample; and    c) comparing the difference in said amounts to determine the presence of cancer in said test sample.