Depleting tumor-specific tregs

Abstract

The present invention provides, among other things, methods and compositions for diagnosing and/or treating cancer by targeting CCR8. In particular, the present invention provides technologies for depleting Treg cells, and particularly tumor-infiltrating Treg cells.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of detecting and/or characterizing a tumor by administering to a subject having the tumor a composition comprising a CCR8-targeting agent in association with a detectable moiety, so that tumor-infiltrating Treg cells are detected. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising treating the subject in which tumor-infiltrating Treg cells are detected by targeting CCR8. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising treating the subject in which tumor-infiltrating Treg cells are detected by targeting CCR4. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein targeting CCR4 comprises administering to the subject a composition comprising a CCR4-targeting agent. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the CCR4-targeting agent is or comprises a bifunctional agent that targets both CCR8 and CCR4. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising administering one or more immunomodulatory therapeutic modalities to the subject. 
     
     
         16 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the detectable moiety is a radioactive, fluorescent, chemiluminescent, or phosphorescent moiety.