Method of treating malignant mesothelioma

Abstract

The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent for malignant mesothelioma comprising a substance which inhibits binding of CD26 to extracellular matrix such as an siRNA targeting CD26 cDNA or an anti-CD26 antibody. The present invention also relates to a method of treating malignant mesothelioma, which comprises administering the substance to a patient in need thereof.

1 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, or other malignancies associated with CD26 expression, comprising a substance which inhibits binding of CD26 to extracellular matrix. 
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises a growth-inhibitory agent for treating malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, or other malignancies associated with CD26 expression. 
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance is an siRNA targeting CD26 cDNA. 
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance is an anti-CD26 antibody. 
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the anti-CD26 antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the anti-CD26 antibody is 14D10. 
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the anti-CD26 antibody is humanized. 
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the humanized antibody comprises a variable region derived from 14D10. 
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the humanized antibody is produced by a strain designated s604069YST-pABMC148 (x411) with American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) accession number PTA-7695. 
     
     
         10 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 4 , further comprising an effector cell specific to the antibody. 
     
     
         11 . A kit for treating malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, or other malignancies associated with CD26 expression, comprising an anti-CD26 antibody and an effector cell specific to the antibody. 
     
     
         12 . A method for inhibiting growth of a malignant mesothelioma cell, lung cancer cell, renal cancer cell, liver cancer cell, or other malignant cell expressing CD26, which comprises contacting a malignant mesothelioma cell, lung cancer cell, renal cancer cell, liver cancer cell, or other malignant cell expressing CD26 with a substance that inhibits binding of CD26 to extracellular matrix. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the substance is an anti-CD26 antibody or an siRNA targeting CD26 cDNA. 
     
     
         14 . A method for inhibiting growth of a malignant mesothelioma cell, lung cancer cell, renal cancer cell, liver cancer cell, or other malignant cell expressing CD26, which comprises contacting the malignant mesothelioma cell, lung cancer cell, renal cancer cell, liver cancer cell, or other malignant cell expressing CD26 and an effector cell with an anti-CD26 antibody, wherein the effector cell is a cell specific to the antibody. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the substance is an anti-CD26 antibody or an siRNA targeting CD26 cDNA. 
     
     
         16 . A method for lysing a malignant mesothelioma cell, lung cancer cell, renal cancer cell, liver cancer cell, or other malignant cell expressing CD26, which comprises contacting the malignant mesothelioma cell, lung cancer cell, renal cancer cell, liver cancer cell, or other malignant cell expressing CD26 and an effector cell with an anti-CD26 antibody, wherein lysis of the cell is caused by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and wherein the effector cell is a cell specific to the antibody. 
     
     
         17 . A method for detecting malignant transformation of mesothelioma, lung cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, or other malignancies associated with CD26 expression, which comprises collecting a sample from a patient with mesothelioma, lung cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, or other malignancies associated with CD26 expression, and measuring the expression level of CD26 in the sample. 
     
     
         18 . A diagnostic agent for malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, or other malignancies associated with CD26 expression, comprising an anti-CD26 antibody. 
     
     
         19 . A kit for diagnosing malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, or other malignancies associated with CD26 expression, comprising an anti-CD26 antibody. 
     
     
         20 . A method of screening for a substance for treating malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, or other malignancies associated with CD26 expression, which comprises contacting a CD26-positive cell with a test substance, and measuring the expression level of p27 in the cell. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, or other malignancies associated with CD26 expression, comprising administering an effective amount of a substance according to  claim 1  to a subject in need thereof.