Prostate-specific membrane antigen and uses thereof

Abstract

This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding an alternatively spliced human prostate-specific membrane antigen. This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid comprising a promoter sequence normally associated with the transcription of a gene encoding a human prostate-specific membrane antigen. This invention provides an isolated polypeptide having the biological activity of an alternatively spliced prostate-specific membrane antigen. This invention provides a method of detecting a nucleic acid encoding an alternatively spliced human prostate-specific membrane antigen and a method of detecting a prostate tumor cell in a subject. Lastly, this invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound in a therapeutically effective amount and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a method of making prostate cells susceptible to a cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent.

1 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A method of detecting cancerous kidney, colon or bladder cells of a subject with cancer comprising:
 (A) contacting an endothelial cell of the neovasculature of the kidney, colon or bladder of the subject with an antibody or administering the antibody to the subject, wherein the antibody binds to the extracellular domain of prostate specific membrane antigen under conditions effective to permit binding of the antibody to the endothelial cell so as to form a complex and the antibody has bound thereto an imaging agent, and (B) detecting the complex, wherein detection of the complex indicates cancerous kidney, colon or bladder cells in the subject.   
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the subject is human. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the imaging agent is a radioactive, a colorimetric, a luminescent, or a fluorescent agent or a standard pharmacophore. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said administering is carried out intravenously. 
     
     
         55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody or a polyclonal antibody. 
     
     
         57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the antibody is in a composition further comprising a physiologically acceptable carrier, excipient, or stabilizer. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the antibody is in a composition further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, or stabilizer. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said contacting is carried out in a sample of urine. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said contacting is carried out in a tissue sample.