Identification of Surface-Associated Antigens for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of diagnosing and treating a head neck cancer characterized by expressing a tumor-associated antigen having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4. The method comprises treating the so-affected patient with an antibody which specifically binds to an extracellular portion of said tumor-associated antigen having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a head neck cancer which is characterized by expressing a tumor-associated antigen having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4, which method comprises treating the so-affected patient with an antibody which specifically binds to an extracellular portion of said tumor-associated antigen. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is characterized by a tumor of the ear, nose or throat. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is administered in combination with a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the therapeutic agent is an anticancer agent, a radioactive iodine-labeled compound, a toxin, a cytostatic drug, or a cytolytic drug. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the therapeutic agent is an anticancer agent selected from the group consisting of aminoglutethimide, azathioprine, bleomycin sulfate, busulfan, carmustine, chlorambucil, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, cytarabidine, dacarbazine, dactinomycin, daunorubin, doxorubicin, taxol, etoposide, fluorouracil, interferon-a, lomustine, mercaptopurine, methoxtrexate, mitotane, procarbazine MCI, thioguanine, vinblastine sulfate, and vincristine sulfate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the therapeutic agent is a toxin selected from the group consisting of pokeweed antiviral protein, cholera toxin, pertussis toxin, ricin, gelonin, abrin, diptheria exotoxin and  Pseudomonas  exotoxin. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the cancer is characterized by a tumor of the ear, nose or throat. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is coupled to a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic agent is an anticancer agent, a radioactive iodine-labeled compound, a toxin, a cytostatic drug, or a cytolytic drug. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic agent is an anticancer agent selected from the group consisting of aminoglutethimide, azathioprine, bleomycin sulfate, busulfan, carmustine, chlorambucil, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, cytarabidine, dacarbazine, dactinomycin, daunorubin, doxorubicin, taxol, etoposide, fluorouracil, interferon-a, lomustine, mercaptopurine, methoxtrexate, mitotane, procarbazine HCl, thioguanine, vinblastine sulfate, and vincristine sulfate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic agent is a toxin selected from the group consisting of pokeweed antiviral protein, cholera toxin, pertussis toxin, ricin, gelonin, abrin, diptheria exotoxin and  Pseudomonas  exotoxin. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cancer is characterized by a tumor of the ear, nose or throat. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.