Cytotoxicity Mediation of Cells Evidencing Surface Expression of CD44

Abstract

This invention relates to the diagnosis and treatment of cancerous diseases, particularly to the mediation of cytotoxicity of tumor cells; and most particularly to the use of cancerous disease modifying antibodies (CDMAB), optionally in combination with one or more chemotherapeutic agents, as a means for initiating the cytotoxic response. The invention further relates to binding assays which utilize the CDMAB of the instant invention.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment capable of specific binding to human CD44, in which said monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof reacts with the same epitope or epitopes of human CD44 as the isolated monoclonal antibody obtainable from hybridoma cell line AR37A335.8 having IDAC Accession No. 280104-06; said monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment being characterized by an ability to competitively inhibit binding of said isolated monoclonal antibody to its target human CD44 antigen. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A process for treating a human cancerous tumor which expresses human CD44 antigen comprising: administering to an individual suffering from said human cancer, at least one monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment that recognizes the same epitope or epitopes as those recognized by a monoclonal antibody produced by hybridoma cell line AR37A335.8 having IDAC Accession No. 280104-06; wherein binding of said epitope or epitopes is effective in reducing tumor burden. 
     
     
         13 . A process for treating a human cancerous tumor which expresses human CD44 antigen comprising: administering to an individual suffering from said human cancer, at least one monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment that recognizes the same epitope or epitopes as those recognized by a monoclonal antibody produced by hybridoma cell line AR37A335.8 having IDAC Accession No. 280104-06; in conjunction with at least one chemotherapeutic agent; wherein said administration is effective in reducing tumor burden. 
     
     
         14 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of  claim 10 , conjugated to a cytotoxic moiety. 
     
     
         22 . The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of  claim 21 , wherein the cytotoxic moiety is a toxin. 
     
     
         23 . The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of  claim 21 , wherein the cytotoxic moiety is a radioactive isotope. 
     
     
         24 . The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of  claim 10 , wherein the monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment activates complement. 
     
     
         25 . The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of  claim 10 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is a humanized antibody. 
     
     
         26 . The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of  claim 10 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is a chimeric antibody. 
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment is conjugated to a cytotoxic moiety. 
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 27 , wherein the cytotoxic moiety is a toxin. 
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 27 , wherein the cytotoxic moiety is a radioactive isotope. 
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment activates complement. 
     
     
         31 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is a humanized antibody. 
     
     
         32 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is a chimeric antibody. 
     
     
         33 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment is conjugated to a cytotoxic moiety. 
     
     
         34 . The process of  claim 33 , wherein the cytotoxic moiety is a toxin. 
     
     
         35 . The process of  claim 33 , wherein the cytotoxic moiety is a radioactive isotope. 
     
     
         36 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment activates complement. 
     
     
         37 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is a humanized antibody. 
     
     
         38 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is a chimeric antibody.