Abstract: Polyspecific anti-glycosaminoglycan (GAG) antibodies and methods of use thereof for directly killing cancer cells. The anti-GAG antibodies can be used for purging cancer cells from autologous stem cell transplants (ASCT) or autologous bone marrow transplants (ABMT). The cancer cells may be multiple myeloma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, neuroblastoma, or any other cancer that expresses a membrane-tethered heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), such as syndecan or glypican.
Abstract: Disclosed are two fully human single-chain Fv antibodies, IMN12 and IMN26, which specifically binds to sulfated glycosaminoglycans, wherein said antibody comprises a human heavy chain variable region sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22, or a human heavy chain variable region sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24. Antibody IMN12 show anti-glycosaminoglycan binding properties, but do not show any anti-N-glycolylneuraminic acid-binding properties, whereas antibody IMN26 exhibits both anti-glycosaminoglycan and anti-N-glycolylneuraminic acid-binding properties.