Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions comprising interferon-? (IFN-?) and anti-CD74 or anti-HLA-DR antibodies. In preferred embodiments, the IFN-? increases the expression of CD74 and/or HLA-DR in target cells and increases the sensitivity of the cells to the cytotoxic effects of the anti-CD74 or anti-HLA-DR antibodies. The compositions and methods are of use to treat diseases involving CD74+ and/or HLA-DR+ cells, such as cancer cells, autoimmune disease cells or immune dysfunction disease cells.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for inhibiting angiogenesis and/or tumor growth, survival and/or metastasis. In particular embodiments, the methods and compositions may concern ligands against placenta growth factor (PlGF), such as BP-1, BP-2, BP-3 or BP-4. Some methods may comprise administering one or more PlGF ligands, alone or in combination with one or more other agents, such as chemotherapeutic agents, other anti-angiogenic agents, immunotherapeutic agents or radioimmunotherapeutic agents to a subject. The PlGF ligands are effective to inhibit angiogenesis, tumor cell motility, tumor metastasis, tumor growth and/or tumor survival. In certain embodiments, PlGF ligands may be administered to subjects to ameliorate other angiogenesis related conditions, such as macular degeneration. In some embodiments, PlGF expression levels may be determined by any known method to select those patients most likely to respond to PlGF targeted therapies.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions comprising interferon-? (IFN-?) and anti-CD74 or anti-HLA-DR antibodies. In preferred embodiments, the IFN-? increases the expression of CD74 and/or HLA-DR in target cells and increases the sensitivity of the cells to the cytotoxic effects of the anti-CD74 or anti-HLA-DR antibodies. The compositions and methods are of use to treat diseases involving CD74+ and/or HLA-DR+ cells, such as cancer cells, autoimmune disease cells or immune dysfunction disease cells.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for inhibiting angiogenesis and/or tumor growth, survival and/or metastasis. In particular embodiments, the methods and compositions may concern ligands against placenta growth factor (PlGF), such as BP-1, BP-2, BP-3 or BP-4. Some methods may comprise administering one or more PlGF ligands, alone or in combination with one or more other agents, such as chemotherapeutic agents, other anti-angiogenic agents, immunotherapeutic agents or radioimmunotherapeutic agents to a subject. The PlGF ligands are effective to inhibit angiogenesis, tumor cell motility, tumor metastasis, tumor growth and/or tumor survival. In certain embodiments, PlGF ligands may be administered to subjects to ameliorate other angiogenesis related conditions, such as macular degeneration. In some embodiments, PlGF expression levels may be determined by any known method to select those patients most likely to respond to PlGF targeted therapies.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for subunit-based vaccines for inducing immunity against poxvirus infections, such as smallpox. Preferred embodiments concern immunoconjugates comprising one or more subunit antigenic peptides attached to an antibody or fragment thereof that targets antigen-producing cells (APCs). More preferably, the antibody binds to HLA-DR and the antigenic peptide is from an immunomodulating factor, such as the viral IL-18 binding protein (vIL18BP). However, mixtures of antigenic peptides from different viral proteins may also be used. The vaccine is capable of inducing immunity against poxvirus without risk of disseminated infection in immunocompromised hosts or transmission to susceptible contacts.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for inhibiting angiogenesis and/or tumor growth, survival and/or metastasis. In particular embodiments, the methods and compositions may concern ligands against placenta growth factor (P1GF), such as BP-1, BP-2, BP-3 or BP-4. Some methods may comprise administering one or more P1GF ligands, alone or in combination with one or more other agents, such as chemotherapeutic agents, other anti-angiogenic agents, immunotherapeutic agents or radioimmunotherapeutic agents to a subject. The P1GF ligands are effective to inhibit angiogenesis, tumor cell motility, tumor metastasis, tumor growth and/or tumor survival. In certain embodiments, P1GF ligands may be administered to subjects to ameliorate other angiogenesis related conditions, such as macular degeneration. In some embodiments, P1GF expression levels may be determined by any known method to select those patients most likely to respond to P1GF targeted therapies.

Abstract: Autoimmune disease therapy in a patient treated with apoptosis-inducing agents is enhanced by co-administration of sphingomyelin. The combination most likely enhances an autoimmune disease cell's ability to undergo ceramide-induced apoptosis by increasing the levels of sphingomyelin in all cellular compartments, thereby providing sufficient substrate for activated sphingomyelinase. In alternative embodiments, sphingomyelin may be administered alone, in combination with corticosteroids, and/or in combination with a apoptosis-inducing agent.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for inhibiting angiogenesis and/or tumor growth, survival and/or metastasis. In particular embodiments, the methods and compositions may concern ligands against placenta growth factor (PlGF), such as BP-1, BP-2, BP-3 or BP-4. Some methods may comprise administering one or more PlGF ligands, alone or in combination with one or more other agents, such as chemotherapeutic agents, other anti-angiogenic agents, immunotherapeutic agents or radioimmunotherapeutic agents to a subject. The PlGF ligands are effective to inhibit angiogenesis, tumor cell motility, tumor metastasis, tumor growth and/or tumor survival. In certain embodiments, PlGF ligands may be administered to subjects to ameliorate other angiogenesis related conditions, such as macular degeneration. In some embodiments, PlGF expression levels may be determined by any known method to select those patients most likely to respond to PlGF targeted therapies.

Abstract: The invention provides kits and methods for evaluating the myelosuppressive state of a patient. These methods and kits provide a useful adjunct for cytotoxic and myelosuppressive therapies. By establishing threshold levels of certain cytokines as a surrogate for myelosuppression, treatment protocols can be optimized to reduce myelotoxicity, while maximizing effective dose. Measured levels of one or more cytokines in a patient subjected to cytotoxic therapy, relative to a normal population, may be used to determine the dose of a hematopoietic cytokine to be administered to the patient.

Abstract: Autoimmune disease therapy in a patient treated with apoptosis-inducing agents is enhanced by co-administration of sphingomyelin. The combination most likely enhances an autoimmune disease cell's ability to undergo ceramide-induced apoptosis by increasing the levels of sphingomyelin in all cellular compartments, thereby providing sufficient substrate for activated sphingomyelinase. In alternative embodiments, sphingomyelin may be administered alone, in combination with corticosteroids, and/or in combination with a apoptosis-inducing agent.

Abstract: Cytotoxic tumor therapy in a patient is enhanced by co-administration of sphingomyelin. The invention most likely enhances a tumor cell's ability to undergo ceramide-induced apoptosis by increasing the levels of sphingomyelin in all cellular compartments, thereby providing sufficient substrate for activated sphingomyelinase. A method of treating rheumatoid arthritis also is provided.

Abstract: The invention provides kits and methods for evaluating the myelosuppressive state of a patient. These methods and kits provide a useful adjunct for cytotoxic and myelosuppressive therapies. By establishing threshold levels of certain cytokines as a surrogate for myelosuppression, treatment protocols can be optimized to reduce myelotoxicity, while maximizing effective dose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to radioimmunoconjugates useful in targeted radioimmunotherapy and methods of treating a patient using radioimmunoconjugates. The radioimmunoconjugates of the present invention comprise an alpha- or beta-emitting radioisotope and a binding site linked to or on an antigen-binding fragment of an antibody which specifically binds to a tumor-associated antigen. The methods of treating a patient can include administering one or more clearing agents to the patient in conjunction with the radioimmunoconjugate of the present invention, as well as subsequently grafting bone-marrow or autologous stem-cells to the patient.

Abstract: The invention provides kits and methods for evaluating the myelosuppressive state of a patient. These methods and kits provide a useful adjunct for cytotoxic and myelosuppressive therapies. By establishing threshold levels of certain cytokines as a surrogate for myelosuppression, treatment protocols can be optimized to reduce myelotoxicity, while maximizing effective dose.

Abstract: Kidney uptake of antibody fragment conjugates and protein conjugates in patients is reduced by administration to the patient of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of D-lysine, poly-D-lysine, or poly-L-lysine, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or carboxyl derivatives thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides kits and methods for evaluating the myelosuppressive state of a patient. These methods and kits provide a useful adjunct for cytotoxic and myelosuppressive therapies. By establishing threshold levels of certain cytokines as a surrogate for myelosuppression, treatment protocols can be optimized to reduce myelotoxicity, while maximizing effective dose.

Abstract: The instant invention provides a method of using antioxidant, e.g., vitamins, as radioprotective agents to mitigate gastrointestinal and hemopoietic toxicity of the radioimmunotherapy., The instant invention further provides a method of combining the administration of antioxidant with BMT to produce an additive radioprotective effect against radiation damage to healthy tissues during the radioimmunotherapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to radioimmunoconjugates useful in targeted radioimmunotherapy and methods of treating a patient using radioimmunoconjugates. The radioimmunoconjugates of the present invention comprise an alpha- or beta-emitting radioisotope and a binding site linked to or on an antigen-binding fragment of an antibody which specifically binds to a tumor-associated antigen. The methods of treating a patient can include administering one or more clearing agents to the patient in conjunction with the radioimmunoconjugate of the present invention, as well as subsequently grafting bone-marrow or autologous stem-cells to the patient.

Abstract: A method for intracellular delivery of drugs or other agents for diagnosis and therapy of malignancies or immune-mediated or inflammatory conditions. A targeting moiety of a an antibody and the ligand-binding region of a selected cytokine receptor is used. The targeting moiety targets surface antigen on a specific cell population. The targeting moiety is administered to a subject, and then, after a specified interval, therapeutic or diagnostic agents linked to the cognate cytokine then are given. The invention provides rapid, efficient internalization of the cytokine receptor antibody/antigen complexes. Targeting of a high-level cell surface antigen with such bispecific fusion molecules substantially increases the number of cytokine receptors over their low background level.

Abstract: A method for intracellular delivery of drugs or other agents for diagnosis and therapy of malignancies or immune-mediated or inflammatory conditions. A targeting moiety of an antibody and the ligand-binding region of a selected cytokine receptor is used. The targeting moiety targets surface antigen on a specific cell population. The targeting moiety is administered to a subject, and then, after a specified interval, therapeutic or diagnostic agents linked to the cognate cytokine are given. The invention provides rapid, efficient internalization of the cytokine receptor antibody/antigen complexes. Targeting of a high-level cell surface antigen with such bispecific fusion molecules substantially increases the number of cytokine receptors over their low background level.