Abstract: There is disclosed a pharmaceutical composition for treating solid tumors that overexpress HER-2, comprising an agent selected from the group consisting of (a) an isolated polypeptide having from about 50 to 79 amino acids taken from the sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1, wherein the polypeptide binds to the extracellular domain ECD of HER-2 with an affinity binding constant of at least 108 M?1, (b) an isolated and glycosylated polypeptide having from about 300 to 419 amino acids taken from the sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2, wherein the C terminal 79 amino acids are present, and wherein at least three N-linked glycosylation sites are present, (c) a monoclonal antibody that binds to the ECD of HER-2, and (d) combinations thereof, with the proviso that the agent cannot be the monoclonal antibody alone, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Naturally-occurring variants of human Rgr oncogene protein, in particular, abnormally truncated variants found in T cell malignancies, as well as the human Rgr protein are encompassed by the present invention. Also included are antibodies thereto and nucleic acid molecules encoding human Rgr protein and naturally-occurring variants thereof. The present invention further provides methods for diagnosing and treating T cell malignancies associated with abnormally truncated transcripts of human rgr oncogene and/or abnormal truncation of human Rgr protein.

Abstract: New methods for the treatment of human disease are provided. IGFBP-3 is administered together with a co-administered agent to subjects having disease, thereby alleviating the symptoms of the disease, under conditions where administration of IGFBP-3 alone at the maximum practicable dose has no measurable beneficial effect on the disease condition.

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 anti-ErbB2 antibody.

Abstract: The Diaphanousrelated formins (DRFs) constitute a subclass of FH proteins known for their ability to bind activated Rho subfamily of small GTP-binding proteins which link FH proteins to cellular signalling pathways. The present inventor has identified a new homology domain unique to the DRFs that termed the DRF-autoregulatory domain (DAD) in the extreme Cterminus. DAD is involved in intramolecular binding with the GTPase binding domain (GBD) of the DRFs. Disclosed herein are compositions and methods that can disrupt this binding, and cause changes in cells including actin polymerization and/or stabilization of actin fibers resulting in growth inhibition or cell death by apoptosis. A preferred composition is peptide or polypeptide of no more than about 130 amino acids comprising the DAD peptide having the amino acid sequence [GA]-[VA]-M-D-x-L-L-E-x-L-[KRQ]-x-[GA]-[SGA]-[AP] (wherein amino acids within a set of brackets are interchangeable and x means any amino acid).

Abstract: This invention provides for polypeptides that have surprising anti-angiogenic activity. These peptides are derived from Saposin B, a previously known protein involved in the hydrolysis of sphingolipids. In addition, methods of treating mammals with these anti-angiogenic polypeptides are provided, as well as the pharmaceutical compositions used to treat. Furthermore, the polypeptides of this invention can be used in fusion proteins, wherein the fusion proteins also comprise cell targeting or cytotoxic moieties. Also provided is the receptor to which these polypeptides bind.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of Xenopus CENP-E (XCENP-E), antibodies to XCENP-E, methods of screening for CENP-E modulators using biologically active CENP-E, and kits for screening for CENP-E modulators.

Abstract: Methods for the detection, monitoring and treatment of malignancies in which the HER-2/neu oncogene is associated are disclosed. Detection of specific T cell activation (e.g., by measuring the proliferation of T cells) in response to in vitro exposure to the HER-2/neu protein, or detection of immunocomplexes formed between the HER-2/neu protein and antibodies in body fluid, allows the diagnosis of the presence of a malignancy in which the HER-2/neu oncogene is associated. The present invention also discloses methods and compositions, including peptides, for treating such malignancies.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to Her-2/neu fusion proteins, nucleic acid molecules encoding Her-2/neu fusion proteins, viral vectors expressing Her-2/neu fusion proteins, and pharmaceutical compositions (e.g., vaccines) comprising the Her-2/neu fusion proteins and/or nucleic acid molecules encoding the Her-2/neu fusion proteins. The present invention is also directed to methods of treating or preventing cancer by eliciting or enhancing an immune response to the Her-2/neu protein, including for uses in the treatment of malignancies associated with the Her-2/neu oncogene.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to HER-2/neu fusion proteins, nucleic acid molecules encoding HER-2/neu fusion proteins, viral vectors expressing HER-2/neu fusion proteins, and pharmaceutical compositions (e.g., vaccines) comprising the HER-2/neu fusion proteins and/or nucleic acid molecules encoding the HER-2/neu fusion proteins. The present invention is also directed to methods of treating or preventing cancer by eliciting or enhancing an immune response to the HER-2/neu protein, including for uses in the treatment of malignancies associated with the HER-2/neu oncogene.

Abstract: The invention is based on the elucidation of a mechanism by which HPV promotes oncogenesis and provides a methods of diagnosing malignant tumors and methods of preventing the development of malignancies or inhibiting tumor growth. A method for diagnosing a neoplasm in a mammal is carried out by measuring the level of helicase-like transcription factor (HLTF) in tissue of the mammal. An increase in the level of HLTF in the tissue compared to the level in a normal control tissue indicates the presence of a neoplasm in the tissue.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing the stage or aggressiveness of cancer and particularly breast and prostate cancer by measuring the deviation of levels of fatty acid binding proteins in mammalian tissue or body fluids from normal levels of fatty acid binding proteins. The invention relates to a family of key proteins called fatty acid binding proteins which are involved in metabolism of AA and other lipids and how they affect the proliferation of cancer cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are immunoassay methods for the diagnosis/prognosis of diseases and disease susceptibility traits associated with gene mutations that cause protein truncation or allelic loss. The levels of one or more targeted wild-type proteins expressed by a subject gene or genes are immunologically quantitated in biological samples. Results indicating that a targeted wild-type protein is not present in an assayed sample, or that approximately 50% of the normal amount of such a wild-type protein is present in an assayed sample are considered to be positive for a mutation in one or both alleles of a subject gene, and correlated with the disease or the disease susceptibility trait associated with that mutation or mutations. Normal cells, particularly normal peripheral blood lymphocytes, are preferred biological samples.

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 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 application discloses treatment of prostate cancer with anti-ErbB2 antibodies.

Abstract: Novel methods for producing, and compositions of, humanized immunoglobulins having one or more complementarity determining regions (CDR's) and possible additional amino acids from a donor immunoglobulin and a framework region from an accepting human immunoglobulin are provided. Each humanized immunoglobulin chain will usually comprise, in addition to the CDR's, amino acids from the donor immunoglobulin framework that are, e.g., capable of interacting with the CDR's to effect binding affinity, such as one or more amino acids which are immediately adjacent to a CDR in the donor immunoglobulin or those within about about 3? as predicted by molecular modeling. The heavy and light chains may each be designed by using any one or all of various position criteria.

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: 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.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of Xenopus CENP-E (XCENP-E), antibodies to XCENP-E, methods of screening for CENP-E modulators using biologically active CENP-E, and kits for screening for CENP-E modulators.