Method for Determination of the Responsiveness of an Individual to Misletoe Lectin

Abstract

A method for the determination of the responsiveness of an individual to mistletoe lectin or to (an) mistletoe lectin single chain(s), wherein the expression of a membrane-bound receptor for mistletoe lectin is characteristic of a corresponding responsiveness.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . An in vitro method for the determination of a responsiveness to mistletoe lectin(s), comprising quantitative and/or qualitative determination of at least one α2,6-sialyltransferase. 
     
     
         11 . A diagnostic composition comprising a substance which specifically recognizes or binds to a receptor characterized by a terminal N-acetyl neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) which is linked to a galactose (Gal) by a glycosidic α2-6 bond and is selected from the group consisting of antibodies, antibody derivatives, antibody fragments, aptamers, low-molecular substances and carbohydrate-binding peptides. 
     
     
         12 . The diagnostic composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the substance is detectably labeled. 
     
     
         13 . The diagnostic composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         14 . The diagnostic composition according to  claim 13 , wherein the monoclonal antibody can be recovered from a hybridoma cell line which was deposited on 20 December 2002 with the DSMZ Braunschweig under the accession number DSM ACC2580. 
     
     
         15 . A method of detecting a functional mistletoe lectin receptor, comprising contacting one or more cells with the diagnostic composition of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the diagnostic composition detects a membrane-bound receptor on one or more cells, wherein the receptor is characterized by a terminal N-acetyl neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) which is linked to a galactose (Gal) by a glycosidic α2-6 bond. 
     
     
         17 . The use method according to  claim 16 , where the cells tumor cells. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more cells originate from biopsy material. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more cells are isolated from blood samples. 
     
     
         20 . A method of treating a proliferative disease, viral disease, autoimmune disease or neuronal disease, comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition to an individual, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a substance that specifically binds to a receptor or recognizes a membrane-bound receptor, wherein the receptor is characterized by a terminal N-acetyl neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) which is linked to a galactose (Gal) by a glycosidic α2-6 bond and wherein the receptor-binding or receptor-recognizing substance is selected from the group consisting of antibodies, antibody derivatives, antibody fragments, aptamers, low-molecular substances and carbohydrate-binging peptides. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the receptor-binding and/or receptor recognising receptor-recognizing substance is linked to a compound having a radioactive, a cytotoxic or a cytostatic effect. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the compound linked to the receptor-binding and/or receptor-recognizing substance is a peptide. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the monoclonal antibody can be recovered from a hybridoma cell line deposited on 20 Dec. 2002 at the DSMZ Braunschweig under the accession number DSM ACC2580. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the receptor-binding and/or receptor-recognizing substance further comprises a domain which can induce an immunologic effector function. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the induced immunologic effector function is a cellular effector function. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the induced immunologic effector function is a humoral effector function.