Diagnosis and treatment of malignant neoplasms

Abstract

The invention features a method for diagnosing and inhibiting growth of a malignant neoplasm in a mammal by contacting a cell or a bodily fluid of the mammal with an antibody which binds to an human aspartyl (asparaginyl) beta-hydroxylase (HAAH) polypeptide. Methods of immunization to generate an HAAH-specific immune response are also within the invention.

1 . A method for diagnosing a neoplasm in a mammal, comprising contacting a tissue of said mammal with a detectably-labeled monoclonal antibody which binds to human aspartyl (asparaginal) β-hydroxylase (HAAH), wherein an increase in the level of antibody binding at a tissue site compared to the level of binding to a normal nonneoplastic tissue indicates the presence of a neoplasm at said tissue site. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is labeled with a radioactive compound. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said radioactive compound is selected from the group consisting of  125 I and  99 Tc. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is labeled with Gd +++  or Fe ++ . 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is labeled with a colorimetric agent. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tissue is a lymphoid tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody binds to an extracellular domain of HAAH. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody binds to a catalytic domain of HAAH. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said catalytic domain comprises amino acids 650-700 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is FB50 or an HAAH-binding fragment thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is selected from FB50 (produced by the hybridoma of ATCC designation PTA 3386), 86A (produced by the hybridoma of ATCC designation 3385), 5C7 (produced by the hybridoma of ATCC designation 3383, or 19B (produced by the hybridoma ATCC designation 3384, or any HAAH-binding fragments thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a mixture of two or more antibodies, or HAAH-binding fragments thereof, wherein the two or more antibodies are selected from the group consisting of FB50, 86A, 5C7, and 19B. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a single chain antibody. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue is contacted with the antibody in vivo. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is produced by the hybridoma line HA386A of ATCC designation 3385. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is produced by the hybridoma line 15C7A of ATCC designation 3383. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is produced by the hybridoma line HA219B of ATCC designation 3384. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is produced by the hybridoma line FB501 of ATCC designation 3386.