Neoplasm-specific polypeptides and their uses

Abstract

The present invention features novel polypeptides and methods of using these polypeptides in the diagnosis, detection, monitoring, and treatment of neoplasms in a mammal, e.g., a human.

1 . A method of treating a proliferative disorder in a mammal, said method comprising the step of contacting a cell with a purified polypeptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:28 or SEQ ID NO:29 or a fragment thereof, wherein binding of said purified polypeptide to said cell results in the induction of apoptosis of said cell. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said purified polypeptide comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:28 and SEQ ID NO:29. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fragment comprises amino acids 11-18, 36-43, and 82-104 of SEQ ID NO:28. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fragment comprises amino acids 28-32, 51-53, and 90-100 of SEQ ID NO:29. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said purified polypeptide is an antibody. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said proliferative disorder is selected from the group consisting of Barrett's tumors and tumors of the esophagus, stomach, intestine, rectum, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, lungs, bronchi, breast, cervix, prostate, heart, ovary, and uterus. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said proliferative disorder is selected from the group consisting of dysplasia of the gastric mucosa, interstitial metaplasia of the stomach, inflammation of the gastric mucosa which is associated with the bacteria  Helicobacter pylori , tubular and tubulovillous adenomas of the stomach, tubular adenoma of the colon, villous adenoma of the colon, dysplasia in ulcerative colitis, Barrett's dysplasia, Barrett's metaplasia of the esophagus, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia I, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia II, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia III, squamous epithelial metaplasia, squamous epithelial dysplasia of the bronchus, low grade and high grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), breast ductal carcinoma in situ (D-CIS), and breast lobular carcinoma in situ (L-CIS). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said proliferative disorder is a stomach adenocarcinoma. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mammal is a human. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is conjugated to a detectable agent selected from the group consisting of a radionuclide, a fluorescent marker, an enzyme, a cytotoxin, a cytokine, and a growth inhibitor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is conjugated to a protein purification tag. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said protein purification tag is cleavable. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said contacting comprises injection of said purified polypeptide into said mammal. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said injection is intravenous injection.