Anti-dll3 antibody

Abstract

It is intended to disclose an antibody which binds to DLL3 protein. Preferably, the antibody of the present invention recognizes a region from amino acids 216 to 492 in human DLL3 having the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition, for example, an anticancer agent, comprising the antibody of the present invention as an active ingredient. The present invention further discloses a method for diagnosing cancer using the antibody of the present invention and a diagnostic drug for cancer comprising the antibody of the present invention.

1 . An anti-DLL3 antibody which can bind to DLL3 having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the antibody has an internalizing activity and conjugates one or more cytotoxic substances. 
     
     
         2 . The anti-DLL3 antibody according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody can bind to an epitope located between residues 27 and 175 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         3 . The anti-DLL3 antibody according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody can bind to an epitope located between residues 27 and 215 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         4 . The anti-DLL3 antibody according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a chimera or humanized antibody. 
     
     
         5 . A method of inducing death of a cell expressing DLL3 having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 comprising contacting the cell with an anti-DLL3 antibody conjugated to one or more cytotoxic substances, wherein the antibody has an internalizing activity. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the antibody can bind to an epitope located between residues 27 and 175 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the antibody can bind to an epitope located between residues 27 and 215 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the antibody is a chimera or humanized antibody. 
     
     
         9 . A method of suppressing growth of a cell expressing DLL3 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 comprising contacting the cell with an anti-DLL3 antibody conjugated to one or more cytotoxic substances. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the antibody can bind to an epitope located between residues 27 and 175 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the antibody can bind to an epitope located between residues 27 and 215 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the antibody is a chimera or humanized antibody. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating cancer comprising administering an anti-DLL3 antibody which can bind to DLL3 having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 to a subject having cancer or suspected of having cancer, wherein the antibody has an internalizing activity and is conjugated to one or more cytotoxic substances. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the antibody can bind to an epitope located between residues 27 and 175 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the antibody can bind to an epitope located between residues 27 and 215 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the antibody is a chimera or humanized antibody. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the cancer is a lung cancer. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the lung cancer is a small-cell lung cancer.