Cancer treatment

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of treating cancer, such as melanoma, by administering a CTLA4 antagonist to a subject with a serum C-Reactive Protein (CRP) concentration that is less than or equal to some amount. The invention further relates to methods of treating cancer by determining the level of serum CRP concentration in a subject, and then administering a CTLA4 antagonist if the CRP concentration is less than or equal to a certain amount. The invention further relates to, among other things, the use of serum CRP concentration as a predictive factor for a subject's response to a cancer treatment.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method for treating a condition selected from the group consisting of: hepatic and biliary duct cancer, lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, urethra cancer, head and neck cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, lymphomas, and bladder cancer, comprising administering to a patient having said condition an anti-CTLA4 antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof, wherein the heavy chain CDR1-3 and light chain CDR1-3 of said antibody comprise the amino acid sequences set forth in
 a) SEQ ID NOs: 1-6, respectively;   b) SEQ ID NOs: 9-14, respectively;   c) SEQ ID NOs: 17-22, respectively; or   d) SEQ ID NOs: 25-30, respectively.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said anti-CTLA4 antibody or antigen-binding portion is administered at
 a) 0.0001 to 100 mg/kg body weight;   b) 0.01 to 20 mg/kg body weight;   c) 1 to 20 mg/kg body weight;   d) 0.3 mg/kg body weight;   e) 1 mg/kg body weight;   f) 3 mg/kg body weight;   g) 5 mg/kg body weight;   h) 10 mg/kg body weight;   i) 15 mg/kg body weight; or   j) 20 mg/kg body weight.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said anti-CTLA4 antibody or antigen-binding portion is administered:
 a) once per week;   b) once every two weeks;   c) once every three weeks;   d) once every four weeks;   e) once per month;   f) once every three months; or   g) once every three to six months.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said anti-CTLA4 antibody or antigen-binding portion is administered at 1-20 mg/kg body weight every three weeks. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said anti-CTLA4 antibody or antigen-binding portion is administered at 1-20 mg/kg body weight once followed by 1-20 mg/kg body weight every three weeks. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said anti-CTLA4 antibody or antigen-binding portion is administered at 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, or 20 mg/kg body weight every four weeks for six doses, then every three months. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said anti-CTLA4 antibody or antigen-binding portion is administered at 10 mg/kg body weight every four weeks for six doses, then every three months. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said anti-CTLA4 antibody or antigen-binding portion is administered at 15 mg/kg every three months. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said anti-CTLA4 antibody comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, and wherein said heavy chain and said light chain comprise the amino acid sequences of:
 a) SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 8, respectively;   b) SEQ ID NOs: 15 and 16, respectively;   c) SEQ ID NOs: 23 and 24, respectively; or   d) SEQ ID NOs: 31 and 32, respectively.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said anti-CTLA4 antibody is tremelimumab. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said anti-CTLA4 antibody is ipilimumab. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the patient is treated with another anti-cancer therapy. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the patient is treated with another anti-cancer therapy. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the patient is treated with another anti-cancer therapy.