Methods and Compositions Involving NKG2D Inhibitors and Cancer

Abstract

Embodiments methods and compositions involving inhibitors of the immunoreceptor Natural Killer Group 2, Member D, (NKG2D) for inhibiting tumor progression and treating cancer.

1 . A method for inhibiting tumor progression in a cancer patient comprising administering to the patient a composition comprising an NKG2D inhibitor, wherein the inhibitor specifically binds to a NKG2D protein or a NKG2D polynucleotide. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the NKG2D inhibitor directly binds NKG2D receptor on a cancer cell. 
     
     
         3 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the NKG2D inhibitor inhibits NKG2D receptor expression in a tumor cell. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the NKG2D inhibitor is a nucleic acid, polypeptide, or small molecule. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the NKG2D inhibitor comprises one or more of a small interfering RNA(siRNA), a short hairpin RNA (shRNA), or an antisense molecule that inhibits the expression of NKG2D. 
     
     
         8 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the NKG2D inhibitor comprises a polypeptide. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the NKG2D inhibitor is an isolated anti-NKG2D antibody. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the NKG2D inhibitor is a monoclonal antibody, a chimeric antibody, a humanized antibody, a human antibody, or a single chain antibody. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the NKG2D inhibitor is a human antibody. 
     
     
         22 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tumor comprises an ovarian cancerous tumor. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy or hormone therapy to the patient. 
     
     
         26 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A method for treating cancer in a patient comprising administering to NKG2D-expressing cancer cells in the patient a composition comprising an NKG2D inhibitor; wherein the inhibitor specifically binds to a NKG2D protein or a NKG2D polynucleotide. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the NKG2D inhibitor directly binds NKG2D receptor on a cancer cell. 
     
     
         36 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the NKG2D inhibitor is a nucleic acid, polypeptide, or small molecule. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the NKG2D inhibitor comprises one or more of a small interfering RNA(siRNA), a short hairpin RNA (shRNA), or an antisense molecule that inhibits the expression of NKG2D. 
     
     
         42 - 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the NKG2D inhibitor is a polypeptide. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the NKG2D inhibitor is an isolated antibody. 
     
     
         54 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the cancer comprises ovarian cancer. 
     
     
         59 - 63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises administering a composition comprising an NKG2D inhibitor to a subject that has been determined to have NKG2D-expressing cancer cells. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the method comprises administering a composition comprising an NKG2D inhibitor to a subject that has been determined to have NKG2D-expressing cancer cells.