Imaging, diagnosis and treatment of disease

Abstract

The present invention relates to endothelial cell-specific genes and encoded polypeptides and materials and uses thereof in the imaging, diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the vascular endothelium.

1 .- 86 . (canceled) 
     
     
         87 . An antibody or fragment thereof that selectively binds to the ECSM4 polypeptide, wherein said antibody or fragment thereof is useful in the diagnosis and/or treatment of cancer. 
     
     
         88 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 87 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof selectively binds to the extracellular domain of the ECSM4 polypeptide. 
     
     
         89 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 87 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof selectively binds to a region of the ECSM4 polypeptide consisting of residues 1-467. 
     
     
         90 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 87 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof selectively binds to a region of the ECSM4 polypeptide consisting of GGDSLLGGRGSL, LLQPPARGHAHDGQALSTDL, EPQDYTEPVE, TAPGGQGAPWAEE or ERATQEPSEHGP. 
     
     
         91 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 87 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof selectively binds to a region of the ECSM4 polypeptide consisting of residues 474-933. 
     
     
         92 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 87 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof selectively binds to a region of the ECSM4 polypeptide consisting of residues 648-941. 
     
     
         93 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 87 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof selectively binds to a region of the ECSM4 polypeptide consisting of LSQSPGAVPQALVAWRA, DSVLTPEEVALCLEL, TYGYISVPTA, or KGGVLLCPPRPCLTPT. 
     
     
         94 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 87  which is a polyclonal antibody. 
     
     
         95 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 87  which is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         96 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 87  which is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a chimeric antibody;   (b) a humanized antibody;   (c) a single chain antibody; and   (d) a Fab fragment   
     
     
         97 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 87  which is labeled. 
     
     
         98 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 87  wherein said polypeptide bound by said antibody or fragment thereof is glycosylated. 
     
     
         99 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 87  wherein said antibody or fragment thereof specifically binds to said polypeptide in a Western blot. 
     
     
         100 . An isolated cell that produces the antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 87 . 
     
     
         101 . A hybridoma that produces the antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 87 . 
     
     
         102 . A method of detecting ECSM4 in a biological sample comprising:
 (a) contacting the biological sample with the antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 87 ;   (b) allowing a complex to form between ECSM4 and said antibody of  claim 87 ; and,   (c) detecting said complex.   
     
     
         103 . An antibody or fragment thereof that binds to the ECSM4 polypeptide, wherein said antibody or fragment thereof is useful in the diagnosis and/or treatment of cancer. 
     
     
         104 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 103 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof binds to the extracellular domain of the ECSM4 polypeptide. 
     
     
         105 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 103 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof binds to a region of the ECSM4 polypeptide consisting of residues 1-467. 
     
     
         106 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 103 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof binds to a region of the ECSM4 polypeptide consisting of GGDSLLGGRGSL, LLQPPARGHAHDGQALSTDL, EPQDYTEPVE, TAPGGQGAPWAEE or ERATQEPSEHGP. 
     
     
         107 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 103 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof binds to a region of the ECSM4 polypeptide consisting of residues 474-933. 
     
     
         108 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 103 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof binds to a region of the ECSM4 polypeptide consisting of residues 648-941. 
     
     
         109 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 103 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof binds to a region of the ECSM4 polypeptide consisting of LSQSPGAVPQALVAWRA, DSVLTPEEVALCLEL, TYGYISVPTA, or KGGVLLCPPRPCLTPT. 
     
     
         110 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 103  which is a polyclonal antibody. 
     
     
         111 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 103  which is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         112 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 103  which is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a chimeric antibody;   (b) a humanized antibody;   (c) a single chain antibody; and   (d) a Fab fragment   
     
     
         113 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 103  which is labeled. 
     
     
         114 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 103  wherein said polypeptide bound by said antibody or fragment thereof is glycosylated. 
     
     
         115 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 103  wherein said antibody or fragment thereof specifically binds to said polypeptide in a Western blot. 
     
     
         116 . An isolated cell that produces the antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 103 . 
     
     
         117 . A hybridoma that produces the antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 103 . 
     
     
         118 . A method of detecting ECSM4 in a biological sample comprising:
 (a) contacting the biological sample with the antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 103 ;   (b) allowing a complex to form between ECSM4 and said antibody of  claim 103 ; and,   (c) detecting said complex.