Abstract: The invention describes methods for inhibiting angiogenesis in a tissue by administering an antagonist that specifically binds to a proteolyzed or denatured collagen but not to native triple helical forms of the collagen. Antagonists of the invention can target, for example, denatured collagens type-I, type-II, type-III, type-IV, type-V and combinations thereof. Methods utilizing such antagonists for therapeutic treatment of tumor growth, tumor metastasis or of restenosis also are described, as are methods to use such antagonists as diagnostic markers of angiogenesis in normal or diseased tissues both in vivo and ex vivo. Antagonists include monoclonal antibodies referred to as HUI77, HUIV26, and XL313.

Abstract: The present invention provides modified fibronectin type III (Fn3) molecules, nucleic acid molecules encoding the modified Fn3 molecules, and related vectors and host cells.

Abstract: An improved method for producing human antibodies in SCID mice is provided. The improvement includes the use of dendritic cells pulsed with antigen-antibody complexes and antigen-antibody complexes as immunizing agents.

Abstract: Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-(GPI-) anchored HSPG glypican-1 is strongly expressed in human breast and pancreatic cancer—both by the cancer cells and in the case of pancreatic cancer the adjacent fibroblasts—whereas expression of glypican-1 is low in the normal pancreas and in chronic pancreatitis. Treatment of two pancreatic cancer cell lines, which express glypican-1, with the enzyme phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase-C (PI-PLC) abrogated their mitogenic responses to two heparin-binding growth factors: fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF). Treatment of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells with PI-PLC abrogates the mitogenic response to two heparin-binding growth factors, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2). Syndecan-1 is also expressed at high levels in breast cancer tissues as well as breast cancer cells by comparison with breast normal tissues.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for diagnosing cancer comprising detecting the presence of survivin in the biological fluid of a patient. The present invention also provides kits comprising one or more agents that detect survivin polypeptide or survivin nucleic acid and a container for collecting biological fluid for testing.

Abstract: Proteinase inhibitors comprising a Kunitz domain are disclosed. The Kunitz domain comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the sequence is at least 80% identical to residues 6 through 56 of SEQ ID NO:2. Also disclosed are methods for making the proteinase inhibitors, and expression vectors and cultured cells that are useful within the methods. The proteinase inhibitors may be used as components of cell culture media, in protein purification, and in certain therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Abstract: MK (midkine) was found to rise in the blood or urine of patients with various types of cancers at early stage. Based on this finding, a method for detecting early cancer, comprising the step of measuring MK in blood or urine was completed.

Abstract: A polynucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1 is associated with metastatic potential of cancer cells, especially breast cancer cells. Methods are provided for determining the risk of metastasis of a tumor, by determining whether a tissue sample from a tumor expresses a polypeptide or mRNA encoded by a polynucleotide as shown in SEQ ID NO:1. Also provided are therapeutic methods and compositions.

Abstract: A fibronectin type III (Fn3) polypeptide monobody, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a monobody, and a variegated nucleic acid library encoding a monobody, are provided by the invention. Also provided are methods of preparing an Fn3 polypeptide monobody, and kits to perform such methods. Further provided is a method of identifying the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide molecule capable of binding to a specific binding partner (SBP) so as to form a polypeptide:SSP complex, and a method of identifying the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide molecule capable of catalyzing a chemical reaction with a catalyzed rate constant, kcat, and an uncatalyzed rate constant, kuncat, such that the ratio of kcat/kuncat is greater than 10.

Abstract: The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions and method for inhibiting growth of prostatic adenocarcinoma, stomach cancer, breast cancer, endometrial, ovarian or other cancers of epithelial secretion, or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). In one embodiment the pharmaceutical composition includes human rHuPSP94, antigenic portions thereof, and functionally equivalent polypeptides thereof. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition includes a mixture of human rHuPSP94, antigenic portions thereof, and functionally equivalent polypeptides thereof and an anticancer drug which may be administered in an appropriate dosage form, dosage quantity and dosage regimen to a patient suffering from, for example of prostatic adenocarcinoma, stomach cancer, breast cancer, endometrial, ovarian or other cancers of epithelial secretion, benign prostate hyperplasia, or (BPH) gastrointestinal cancer.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods for inhibiting angiogenesis in tissues using vitronectin ?v?5 antagonists. The ?v?5-mediated angiogenesis is correlated with exposure to cytokines including vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor-? and epidermal growth factor. Inhibition of ?v?5-mediated angiogenesis is particularly preferred in vascular endothelial ocular neovascular diseases, in tumor growth and in inflammatory conditions, using therapeutic compositions containing ?v?5 antagonists.

Abstract: The present invention relates to identification of tumor suppressor activity of a protein, caspase-8 (CASP8), and to related diagnostic and therapeutic compositions and methods. The discovery of this tumor suppressor activity provides screening targets as well, particularly screening for compounds that overcome gene inactivation that results from genomic methylation of the promoter. In particular, CASP8 is functionally inactivated in greater than 90% of all MYCN amplified neuroblastoma cell lines analyzed. Inactivation of CASP8 was observed to occur by homozygous deletion, heterozygous deletion coupled with gene silencing by methylation, and homozygous gene silencing by methylation. A PCR methylation analysis for inactivation of CASP8 is described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a newly identified human aminopeptidase. The invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the aminopeptidase. The invention further relates to methods using the aminopeptidase polypeptides and polynucleotides as a target for diagnosis and treatment in aminopeptidase-related disorders. The invention further relates to drug-screening methods using the aminopeptidase polypeptides and polynucleotides to identify agonists and antagonists for diagnosis and treatment. The invention further encompasses agonists and antagonists based on the aminopeptidase polypeptides and polynucleotides. The invention further relates to procedures for producing the aminopeptidase polypeptides and polynucleotides.

Abstract: This application describes the cloning of p63, a gene at chromosome 3q27-29, that bears homology to the tumor suppressor p53. The p63 gene encodes at least six different isotypes. p63 was detected in a variety of human and mouse tissue and demonstrates remarkably divergent activities, such as the ability to transactivate p53 reporter genes and induce apoptosis. Isotopes of p63 lacking a transactivation domain act as dominant negatives towards the transactivation by p53 and p63.

Abstract: This invention relates to proteins or peptides that elicit T cell mediated immunity, and to cancer vaccines and compositions for anti-cancer treatment comprising such proteins or peptide fragments. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the proteins or peptides and methods for generating T lymphocytes capable of recognizing and destroying tumor cells in a mammal. More specifically, a telomerase protein or peptide for use in a method of treatment or prophylaxis of cancer is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises generating a T cell response against telomerase.

Abstract: The present invention provides DNA encoding a TADG-15 protein as well as a TADG-15 protein. Also provided is a vector capable of expressing the DNA of the present invention adapted for expression in a recombinant cell and regulatory elements necessary for expression of the DNA in the cell. The present invention further provides for methods of inhibiting TADG-15 expression and/or protease activity, methods of detecting TADG-15 mRNA and/or protein and methods of screening for TADG-15 inhibitors. Additionally, the present invention provides for cell-specific targeting via TADG-15 and methods of vaccinating an individual against TADG-15. The instant invention also includes a kit containing antibodies for the detection of TADG-15 protein. The methods described are useful in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer, particularly breast and ovarian cancer.

Abstract: According to the invention there is described a method for ex vivo immunization of humans and animals comprising the following steps: a) isolating autologous tumor cells; b) treating the tumor cells to prevent the survival thereof following reinfusion; c) incubating the thus treated tumor cells with intact heterologous bispecific and/or trispecific antibodies showing the following properties: ?—binding to a T cell; ?—binding to at least one antigen on a tumor cell; ?—binding, by their Fc portion (in the case of bispecific antibodies), or by a third specificity (in the case of trispecific antibodies) to Fc receptor-positive cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new method for detecting, diagnosing, monitoring, staging, prognosticating, imaging and treating gynecologic cancers including uterine, breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the finding that cyclin D1 interacts in a ligand-independent fashion with coactivators of the SRC-1 family. The direct interaction of cyclin D1 enhances estrogen receptor (ER) mediated transcription and provides a novel target for the development of assays for substances which modulate the cell cycle. The invention provides assay methods for the prevention of growth of tumors, for assays for compounds useful in the prevention of tumors and compounds obtainable by such assays.

Abstract: This invention provides a vaccine for stimulating or enhancing in a subject to which the vaccine is administered, production of an antibody which recognizes a ganglioside, comprising an amount of ganglioside or oligosaccharide portion thereof conjugated to an immunogenic protein effective to stimulate or enhance antibody production in the subject, an effective amount of adjuvant and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.