Use of antibodies for the vaccination against cancer

Abstract

Described is the use of antibodies which are directed against human cellular membrane antigens for the vaccination against cancer diseases.

1 . A pharmaceutical composition for vaccination against cancer comprising at least one antibody directed against the cellular membrane antigen Ep-CAM. 
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is of animal origin. 
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 3 , wherein said antibody is a murine monoclonal antibody, wherein the variable region of the heavy chain is the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1 and wherein the variable region of the light chain is the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical composition of any one of  claims 1 - 3 , wherein said antibody has the same fine specificity of binding as the antibody defined in  claim 4 . 
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein said antibodies are directed against different epitopes of the membrane antigen. 
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one vaccine adjuvant. 
     
     
         8 . A method of vaccination against cancer comprising administering to a patient in need thereof the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1  at a dosage in the range of 0.01 to 4 mg antibody. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered by subcutaneous, intradermal or intramuscular injection.