Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies and antigen-binding portions thereof that specifically bind to insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR), which is preferably human IGF-IR. The invention also relates to human anti-IGF-IR antibodies, including chimeric, bispecific, derivatized, single chain antibodies or portions of fusion proteins. The invention also relates to isolated heavy and light chain immunoglobulin molecules derived from anti-IGF-IR antibodies and nucleic acid molecules encoding such molecules. The present invention also relates to methods of making anti-IGF-IR antibodies, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these antibodies and methods of using the antibodies and compositions thereof for diagnosis and treatment. The invention also provides gene therapy methods using nucleic acid molecules encoding the heavy and/or light immunoglobulin molecules that comprise the human anti-IGF-IR antibodies.

Abstract: Novel anti-cancer agents, including, but not limited to, antibodies, that bind to human frizzled receptors are provided. Novel epitopes within the human frizzled receptors which are suitable as targets for anti-cancer agents are also identified. Methods of using the agents or antibodies, such as methods of using the agents or antibodies to inhibit Wnt signaling and/or inhibit tumor growth are further provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to the nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences of three novel human Ron-related gene variants (Ron-V1, Ron-V2, and Ron-V3). The invention also provides a process for producing the polypeptides of the variants, as well as uses for the nucleic acid, polypeptide and antibodies to same in diagnosing human breast carcinoma, breast adenocarcinoma, cervix epidermoid carcinoma, cervix epitheloid carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, urinary bladder carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, esophagus epidermoid carcinoma and esophagus carcinoma.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunoglobulin new antigen receptors (IgNARs) from fish and uses thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to modified IgNAR variable domains and to domains from members of the immunoglobulin superfamily that have been modified to include structural features derived from IgNAR variable domains.

Abstract: The invention provides molecules that target cancer-specific transcription complexes (CSTC), compositions and kits comprising CSTC-targeting molecules, and methods of using CSTC-targeting molecules for the treatment) detection and monitoring of cancer.

Abstract: An antibody that targets CD30, wherein the antibody comprises at least one modification relative to a parent antibody and the antibody binds with altered affinity to an FcgR or alters effector function as compared to the parent antibody. Also disclosed are methods of using the anti-CD30 antibody.

Abstract: This invention relates to regulation of cell signaling, cell growth, and more particularly to the regulation of cancer or inflammatory cell growth and/or activation. The invention provides methods of inhibiting interactions between MUC1 and a heat shock factor, method of inhibiting interactions between transcription factors and the MUC1 promoter, and methods of inhibiting MUC1 expression. The invention also provides screening methods for identifying compounds that inhibit the aforementioned interactions. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the identified compounds can be useful in treating cancers and inflammatory conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the mass production of a monomeric or dimeric immunoglobulin Fc region, free of initial methionine residues, using a recombinant expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for a recombinant immunoglobulin Fc region comprising an immunoglobulin Fc region linked at the N-terminus thereof to an immunoglobulin Fc region via a peptide bond.

Abstract: The invention concerns agonist anti-trkC antibodies, polypeptides, and polynucleotides encoding the same. The invention further concerns use of such antibodies, polypeptides and/or polynucleotides in the treatment and/or prevention of neuropathies, such as sensory neuropathies, including taxol-induced sensory neuropathy, cisplatin-induced sensory neuropathy, and pyridoxine-induced sensory neuropathy.

Abstract: The invention relates to therapeutic and prophylactic treatment of ovarian cancer and metastases thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to immunogenic polypeptides comprising at least a portion of an ovarian tissue cell-associated protein or immunologically active variants thereof and to nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides and to the use thereof in immunotherapeutic methods of treatment. Said immunogenic polypeptides are provided by the zona pellucida (ZP) glycoproteins. ZP glycoproteins and fragments thereof that can induce a CD8+ and/or CD4+ T cell response as well as nucleic acid sequences encoding them can suitably be used in the present immunotherapeutic strategies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a humanized monoclonal antibody or fragment thereof which specifically binds to human interlukin-2 (IL2), whereby said humanized monoclonal antibody neutralizes the activity of human IL2 by binding to the human IL2 prior to, during, and/or subsequent to the binding of the human IL2 to the human IL2-receptor, and wherein the light chain variable region of the humanized monoclonal antibody comprises in its second framework region the contiguous amino acid sequence KAPKA at amino acid positions 42-46.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for identifying positions of an antibody that can be modified without significantly reducing the binding activity of the antibody. In many embodiments, the method involves identifying a substitutable position in a parent antibody by comparing its amino acid sequence to the amino acid sequences of a number of related antibodies that each bind to the same antigen as the parent antibody. The amino acid at the substitutable position may be substituted for a different amino acid without significantly affecting the activity of the antibody. The subject methods may be employed to change the amino acid sequence of a CDR without significantly reducing the affinity of the antibody of the antibody, in humanization methods, or in other antibody engineering methods. The invention finds use in a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to anti-S1P agents, particularly humanized monoclonal antibodies (and antigen binding fragments thereof) specifically reactive with S1P, compositions containing such antibodies (or fragments), and the use of such antibodies (or fragments), for example, to treat diseases and conditions associated with aberrant levels of S1P.

Abstract: The present invention provides humanized, chimeric and human MN3 antibodies, fusion proteins, and fragments thereof. The antibodies, fusion proteins, and fragments thereof, as well as combinations with other suitable antibodies, are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of granulocyte related disorders and diseases, such as leukemia.

Abstract: The current invention is related to a conjugate comprising one or more antifusogenic peptides and an anti-CCR5 antibody (mAb CCR5) characterized in that one to eight antifusogenic peptides are each conjugated to one terminus of the heavy and/or light chains of the anti-CCR5 antibody and to the pharmaceutical use of the conjugate.

Abstract: The present invention features polypeptides, such as antibodies, and their use in the treatment and diagnosis of neoplasms.

Abstract: A human antibody or a functional fragment thereof having specific binding ability to CD98 which is derived from the cell membrane of cancer cells and is in the form of a complex with a protein having an amino acid transporter activity (for example, LAT1) is disclosed. This antibody binds to CD98 in the form of a dimer with LAT1 on the surface of cancer cells, specifically attacks cancer cells expressing CD98 via the immune system by ADCC or CDC, and further inhibits amino acid uptake of the cancer cells via LAT1, to suppress growth of the cancer cells. Accordingly, a preventive and therapeutic agent for cancer comprising this antibody or a fragment thereof, which acts on various cancers, is specific to cancer, and causes no side effect, is provided.

Abstract: The invention provides binding molecules, including antibody molecules which selectively bind to a cell surface antigen of a target cell, and wherein the binding molecules, on binding the cell surface antigen, induce apoptosis of the target cell. There is also provided methods of and pharmaceutical compositions for apoptosis induction and uses thereof.

Abstract: The methods of the present invention demonstrate that adrenomedullin (AM) is expressed in human cancer cell lines of diverse origin and functions as a universal autocrine growth factor driving neoplastic proliferation. The present invention provides for AM peptides and AM antibodies useful in therapeutic, pharmacologic and physiologic compositions. The present invention additionally provides for methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease utilizing compositions comprising the AM peptides and antibodies of the present invention. The methods of the present invention also provide for experimental models for use in identifying the role of AM in pancreatic physiology. The methods pertaining to rat isolated islets have show that AM inhibits insulin secretion in a dose-dependent manner. The monoclonal antibody MoAb-G6, which neutralizes AM bioactivity, was show by the methods of the present invention to increase insulin release fivefold, an effect that was reversed by the addition of synthetic AM.

Abstract: The present invention describes the use of an agent endowed with tumour tropism in combination with another agent with anticancer activity and with an affinity for the first agent for the preparation of a medicament useful for the two-step perioperative therapy of solid tumours. The advantages of the present invention consist in the greater, effective localisation of its anticancer activity, in the reduction of the number of administration steps and in the possibility of reducing the anticancer doses, with a resulting decrease in side effects, but without any loss of efficacy.