Complexes of alpha (2) macroglobulin and antigenic molecules for immunotherapy

Abstract

The present invention relates to complexes of alpha (2) macroglobulin associated with antigenic molecules for use in immunotherapy. The invention relates to methods for using such compositions in the diagnosis and treatment of immune disorders, proliferative disorders, and infectious diseases.

1 .- 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method of treating cancer in an individual having a type of cancer, comprising administering to the individual a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of purified molecular complexes, which are at least 65% noncovalent complexes of an alpha-2-macroglobulin and an antigenic molecule, said purified molecular complexes comprising an alpha-2-macroglobulin associated with an antigenic molecule of an antigen overexpressed in a cancer cell of said type of cancer relative to its expression in a noncancerous cell of the same cell type as the cancer cell. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the antigenic molecule is a tumor-specific antigen or a tumor-associated antigen. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the cells of said type of cancer is a metastasis. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said administering of said composition is repeated at weekly intervals. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said administering of said composition is repeated at the same site of the individual. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said administering of said composition is intradermally or subcutaneously. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the individual is a human individual. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the individual is a human individual. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the type of cancer is fibrosarcoma, myxosarcoma, liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, chordoma, angiosarcoma, endotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, synovioma, mesothelioma, Ewing's tumor, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, colon carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sweat gland carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinomas, cystadenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, bronchogenic carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, hepatoma, bile duct carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, Wilms' tumor, cervical cancer, testicular tumor, lung carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, epithelial carcinoma, glioma, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, pinealoma, hemangioblastoma, acoustic neuroma, oligodendroglioma, meningioma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, acute lymphocytic leukemia, myeloblastic, promyelocytic, myelomonocytic, monocytic, erythroleukemia, chronic myelocytic, leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, polycythemia vera, Hodgkin's disease lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's disease lymphoma, multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, or heavy chain disease. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the composition comprises one or more adjuvants. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the composition comprises an adjuvant selected from the group consisting of aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, calcium phosphate, lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsions, keyhole limpet hemocyanins, and dinitrophenol, cytokines, saponins, muramyl dipeptides, tripeptide derivatives, CpG dinucleotides, CpG oligonucleotides, monophosphoryl Lipid A, polyphosphazenes, emulsions, liposomes, virosomes, cochleates, Freund's complete adjuvant, Freund's incomplete adjuvant, bacille Calmette-Guerin, and  corynebacterium parvum.