Immunomodulation by anti-cd3 immunotoxins to treat cancers not uniformly bearing surface cd3

Abstract

Methods of modulating the immune systems of patients suffering from cancers that do not hear, or do not uniformly bear, surface CD3 are provided. The methods involve administering an anti-CD3 immunotoxin (e.g. A-dmDT390-bisFv(UCHT1)), to the patient so a to cause the patient's Immune system to recognize and destroy non-CD3 cancer cells.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of providing immunomodulation to a patient suffering from a cancer which does not bear, or does not uniformly bear, surface CD3 epitopes, comprising
 administering to the patient an anti-CD3 specific immunotoxin in an amount sufficient to deplete extant T-cells of said patient; and   allowing repopulation and maturation of new T cells in said patient in the presence of said non-CD3 cancer cell antigens.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-CD3 cancer cell antigens are released into circulation as a result of administering an antigen releasing anti-cancer therapy. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said antigen releasing anti-cancer therapy is radiation therapy. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of administering does not break immune tolerance to self antigens in said patient. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a step of providing said non-CD3 cancer cell antigens to said patient to boost an immune response of said patient to said non-CD3 cancer cell antigens, at a period of time after said step of allowing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said step of providing is performed after a recurrence of said cancer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said anti-CD3 specific immunotoxin is A-dmDT390-bisFv (UCHT1). 
     
     
         8 . A method of lengthening survival time of a patient suffering from a cancer which does not bear, or does not uniformly bear, surface CD3 epitopes, comprising
 administering to the patient an anti-CD3 specific immunotoxin in an amount sufficient to deplete extant T-cells of said patient; and   allowing repopulation and maturation of new T cells in said patient in the presence of said non-CD3 cancer cell antigens.   
     
     
         9 . A method of preparing the immune system of a patient to recognize and kill metastatic and/or recurrent cancer, wherein said patient is suffering from a cancer which does not bear, or does not uniformly bear, surface CD3 epitopes, comprising
 administering to the patient an anti-CD3 specific immunotoxin in an amount sufficient to deplete extant T-cells of said patient; and   allowing repopulation and maturation of new T cells in said patient in the presence of said non-CD3 cancer cell antigens.