Abstract: The present invention concerns the treatment of disorders characterized by the overexpression of ErbB2. More specifically, the invention concerns the treatment of human patients susceptible to or diagnosed with cancer overexpressing ErbB2 with a combination of an anti-ErbB2 antibody and a chemotherapeutic agent other than an anthracycline, e.g. doxorubicin or epirubicin.

Abstract: Described is a novel family of cell surface serpentine transmembrane antigens. Two of the proteins in this family are exclusively or predominantly expressed in the prostate, as well as in prostate cancer, and thus members of this family have been termed “STEAP” (Six Transmembrane Epithelial Antigens of the Prostate). Four particular human STEAPs are described and characterized herein. The human STEAPs exhibit a high degree of structural conservation among them but show no significant structural homology to any known human proteins. The prototype member of the STEAP family, STEAP-1, appears to be a type IIIa membrane protein expressed predominantly in prostate cells in normal human tissues. Structurally, STEAP-1 is a 339 amino acid protein characterized by a molecular topology of six transmembrane domains and intracellular N- and C-termini, suggesting that it folds in a “serpentine” manner into three extracellular and two intracellular loops.

Abstract: Humanized anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibodies and variants thereof are described for use in diagnostic applications and in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Also described is a conjugate formed by an antibody fragment covalently attached to a non-proteinaceous polymer, wherein the apparent size of the conjugate is at least about 500 kD. The conjugate exhibits substantially improved half-life, mean residence time, and/or clearance rate in circulation as compared to the underivatized parental antibody fragment.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of balance impairments involving neuronal damage, loss, or degeneration, preferably of vestibular ganglion neurons, in an animal by administration of an effective amount of a trkB or trkC agonist, particularly a neurotrophin, more preferably NT-4/5.

Abstract: Methods are provided for large scale purification of neurotrophins, including mature NGF, suitable for clinical use. The methods provide means to separate neurotrophins from various less desirable misprocessed, misfolded, size, glycosylated, or charge forms. Compositions of neurotrophins, including mature NGF, substantially free of these variants are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of oligodeoxynucleotide decoys for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of diseases associated with the binding of endogenous transcription factors to genes involved in cell growth, differentiation and signalling or to viral genes. By inhibiting endogenous trans-activating factors from binding transcription regulatory regions, the decoys modulate gene expression and thereby regulating pathological processes including inflammation, intimal hyperplasia, angiogenesis, neoplasia, immune responses and viral infection. The decoys are administered in amounts and under conditions whereby binding of the endogenous transcription factor to the endogenous gene is effectively competitively inhibited without significant host toxicity. The subject compositions comprise the decoy molecules in a context which provides for pharmacokinetics sufficient for effective therapeutic use.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for the assessment of mucin gene expression. The invention also relates to compositions and methods for the identification of compounds useful in the treatment of various disorders caused by mucin overproduction. The invention provides novel MUC5B promoter sequences and reporter constructs comprising these MUC5B promoter sequences. The invention further provides methods for drug screening to identify compounds have the ability to inhibit MUC5B gene expression. Compounds having the ability to inhibit MUC5B gene expression find use in the treatment of diseases characterized by mucin hyperproduction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: Human Edg4 and Edg5 polypeptides and their respective amino acid and nucleic acid sequences are provided for use in investigating cytoprotection, apoptosis, cellular proliferation, and other biological pathways in which phospholipid mediators are implicated.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel methods for rapidly and unambiguously identifying small organic molecule ligands for binding to biological target molecules. Small organic molecule ligands identified according to the methods of the present invention may find use, for example, as novel therapeutic drug lead compounds, enzyme inhibitors, labeling compounds, diagnostic reagents, affinity reagents for protein purification, and the like. Also presented are novel methods for identifying high affinity binding ligands for a biological target molecule of interest, wherein those methods comprise linking two or more small organic molecule ligands previously identified as being capable of binding to the biological target molecule of interest. Biological target molecules include, for example, polypeptides, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, nucleoproteins, glycoproteins, glycolipids and lipoproteins.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: Modifications in the sequence of Aequorea wild-type GFP provide products having markedly different excitation and emission spectra from corresponding products from wild-type GFP. In one class of modifications, the product derived from the modified GFP exhibits an alteration in the ratio of two main excitation peaks observed with the product derived from wild-type GFP. In another class, the product derived from the modified GFP fluoresces at a shorter wavelength than the corresponding product from wild-type GFP. In yet another class of modifications, the product derived from the modified GFP exhibits only a single excitation peak and enhanced emission relative to the product derived from wild-type GFP.

Abstract: NTNR&agr;, NTNR&agr; extracellular domain (ECD), NTNR&agr; variants, chimeric NTNR&agr; (e.g., NTNR&agr; immunoadhesion), and antibodies which bind thereto (including agonist and neutralizing antibodies) are disclosed. Various uses for these molecules are described, including methods to modulate cell activity and survival by response to NTNR&agr;-ligands, for example NTN, by providing NTNR&agr; to the cell.

Abstract: The present invention is a substantially purified sortase-transamidase enzyme from Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of oligodeoxynucleotide decoys for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of diseases associated with the binding of endogenous transcription factors to genes involved in cell growth, differentiation and signalling or to viral genes. By inhibiting endogenous trans-activating factors from binding transcription regulatory regions, the decoys modulate gene expression and thereby regulating pathological processes including inflammation, intimal hyperplasia, angiogenesis, neoplasia, immune responses and viral infection. The decoys are administered in amounts and under conditions whereby binding of the endogenous transcription factor to the endogenous gene is effectively competitively inhibited without significant host toxicity. The subject compositions comprise the decoy molecules in a context which provides for pharmacokinetics sufficient for effective therapeutic use.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: Peptides are provided that inhibit the interaction of an IGF with any one of its binding proteins and not to a human IGF receptor. These IGF agonist peptides are useful to increase serum and tissue levels of active IGFs in a mammal.

Abstract: In general, the invention features methods for delivering a composition to the liver in a non-surgical, percutaneous approach by utilizing the portal vein. Also disclosed are methods allowing for the liver-specific delivery of a composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.