A34 and a33-like 3 dna protein, antibodies thereto and methods of treatment using same

Abstract

Polynucleotide molecules and polypeptide molecules A34 and A33-like 3 are described, as well as antibodies to polypeptide molecules A34 and A33-like 3. Also described are methods of detecting cancers expressing these polypeptides, and methods and kits for diagnosing said cancers, and methods of inhibiting effects of a cancer in a patient.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method of reducing the effects in a patient of a cancer that expresses A34 antigen, comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of an immunoglobulin molecule which binds to A34 protein. 
     
     
         9 . A method of reducing the effects in a patient of a cancer that expresses A34 antigen, comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of an immunoglobulin which binds to A34 protein and is conjugated to an anti-cancer agent. 
     
     
         10 . An isolated polynucleotide molecule comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding A34 protein. 
     
     
         11 . An expression vector comprising the isolated polynucleotide molecule of  claim 10 , wherein said polynucleotide molecule is located in operable relation to at least one promoter. 
     
     
         12 . A host cell transformed or transfected with the isolated polynucleotide molecule of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         13 . A host cell transformed or transfected with the expression vector of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         14 . An isolated polypeptide molecule comprising A34, or an antigenic fragment of said A34. 
     
     
         15 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 14 , wherein said isolated polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 6. 
     
     
         16 . A polypeptide produced by recombinant expression of the isolated polynucleotide molecule of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         17 . A method of diagnosing cancer characterized by the presence of A34 antigen in cancer cells, comprising:
 obtaining a sample of cells of interest;   contacting said sample with an agent, which specifically binds A34 antigen, such that A34/agent complexes may be formed; and   detecting the presence or absence of said complexes, wherein the presence of said complexes indicates a positive cancer diagnosis.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the agent is an antibody, or immunologically active fragment thereof, wherein said antibody or fragment is specific for the A34 protein. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the agent is a nucleic acid molecule comprising contacting said sample with a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to all or part of the nucleic acid molecule of A34. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for determining regression, progression, or onset of a cancerous condition comprising monitoring a sample from a patient with said cancerous condition for the presence, absence, or change in expression level of A34 antigen comprising:
 obtaining a sample of interest;   contacting said sample with at least one agent, which specifically binds A34 antigen, such that A34/agent complexes may be formed; and   detecting the presence, absence or change in of said complexes, wherein the presence, absence, or change in expression level of said complexes indicates progression, regression or onset of cancer diagnosis.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one agent is an antibody, or immunologically active fragment thereof, wherein said antibody or fragment is specific for the A34 polypeptide. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the agent is a nucleic acid molecule comprising contacting said sample with a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to all or part of the nucleic acid molecule of A34. 
     
     
         24 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method for determining if cancer cells which express A34 are present in a sample, comprising:
 contacting a sample of interest with at least one oligonucleotide molecule which specifically hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule which encodes A34, wherein hybridization of said at least one oligonucleotide molecule to a nucleic acid molecule is indicative of cancer cells which express A34 in said sample; and   detecting the presence or absence of such hybridization, wherein the presence of said hybridization indicates the presence of cancer cells which express A34.   
     
     
         34 . An isolated polynucleotide molecule comprising a polynucleotide sequence which is an antisense sequence of A34. 
     
     
         35 - 47 . (canceled)