Compositions and methods for identifying and targeting cancer cells of alimentary canal origin

Abstract

Screening and diagnostic reagents, kits and methods for metastatic colorectal cancer or primary and/or metastatic stomach or esophageal cancer are disclosed. Vaccines compositions and methods of for treating and preventing metastatic colorectal cancer or primary and/or metastatic stomach or esophageal cancer are disclosed.

1 . An in vitro method of screening an individual for metastatic colorectal cancer cells or primary and/or metastatic stomach or esophageal cancer cells comprising the steps of examining a sample of extraintestinal tissue and/or body fluids from an individual to determine whether CDX2 is being expressed by cells in said sample wherein expression of said CDX2 indicates a possibility of metastatic colorectal cancer cells or primary and/or metastatic stomach or esophageal cancer cells in said sample. 
     
     
         2 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A vaccine composition comprising:
 a) a protein comprising at least one epitope of human sucrase isomaltase protein or a nucleic acid molecule that encodes said protein; and   b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.   
     
     
         35 . The vaccine composition of  claim 34  comprising a protein that comprises human sucrase isomaltase protein. 
     
     
         36 . The vaccine composition of  claim 34  comprising a protein that consists of human sucrase isomaltase protein. 
     
     
         37 . The vaccine composition of  claim 34  comprising a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a protein that comprises human sucrase isomaltase protein. 
     
     
         38 . The vaccine composition of  claim 34  comprising a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a protein that consists of human sucrase isomaltase protein. 
     
     
         39 . The vaccine composition of  claim 34  comprising a nucleic acid molecule that encodes said protein wherein said nucleic acid molecule is a plasmid. 
     
     
         40 . The vaccine composition of  claim 34  comprising a nucleic acid molecule that encodes said protein wherein said nucleic acid molecule is within a viral vector or a bacterial cell. 
     
     
         41 . The vaccine composition of  claim 34  wherein said viral vector is a recombinant vaccinia virus. 
     
     
         42 . A haptenized protein comprising at least one epitope of human sucrase isomaltase protein. 
     
     
         43 . The haptenized protein of  claim 42  wherein the protein comprises the human sucrase isomaltase protein. 
     
     
         44 . A vaccine composition that comprises
 a) a haptenized protein of  claim 42 , or a killed or inactivated cell or particle that comprise a protein comprising at least one epitope of human sucrase isomaltase protein and   b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.   
     
     
         45 . A vaccine composition of  claim 44  comprising a haptenized protein comprising at least one epitope of human sucrase isomaltase protein. 
     
     
         46 . The vaccine composition of  claim 44  comprising a haptenized protein comprising human sucrase isomaltase protein. 
     
     
         47 . A vaccine composition of  claim 44  comprising a killed or inactivated cell or particle that comprise a protein comprising at least one epitope of human sucrase isomaltase protein. and 
     
     
         48 . A vaccine composition of  claim 44  comprising a killed or inactivated cell or particle that comprise a protein comprising human sucrase isomaltase protein. and 
     
     
         49 . A method of treating an individual who has metastasized colorectal cancer, primary or metastasized esophageal or primary of metastasized stomach cancer comprising the step of administering to such an individual a therapeutically effective amount of a vaccine of  claim 34 . 
     
     
         50 . A method of treating an individual who has metastasized colorectal cancer, primary or metastasized esophageal or primary of metastasized stomach cancer comprising the step of administering to such an individual a therapeutically effective amount of a vaccine of  claim 44 . 
     
     
         51 . A method of treating an individual who has been identified as being susceptible to metastasized colorectal cancer, primary or metastasized esophageal or primary of metastasized stomach cancer comprising the step of administering to such an individual a prophylactically effective amount of a vaccine of  claim 34 . 
     
     
         52 . A method of treating an individual who has been identified as being susceptible to metastasized colorectal cancer, primary or metastasized esophageal or primary of metastasized stomach cancer comprising the step of administering to such an individual a prophylactically effective amount of a vaccine of  claim 44 .