Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating fibrosis caused by excessive collagen deposition. The method involves administering Hepatocyte Growth Factors (HGFs). The HGFs accelerate the decomposition of the collagen when administered in an effective amount.

Abstract: Therapeutic multispecific compounds comprised of anti-Fc&agr; receptor antibodies and methods of use are provided.

Abstract: A compound comprises a target cell-specific portion, such as an antibody specific to tumor cell antigens, and an inactivating portion, such as an enzyme, capable of converting a substance which in its native state is able to inhibit the effect of a cytotoxic agent into a substance which has less effect against said cytotoxic agent. The prolonged action of a cytotoxic agent at tumor sites is therefore possible while protecting normal tissues from the effects of the cytotoxic agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides of pRb2/p130 or mutants or fragments thereof which inhibit cdk2 kinase activity. Method of inhibiting cdk2 kinase activity in cells with these peptides are also provided.

Abstract: A new family of tumor rejection antigen precursors, and the nucleic acid molecules which code for them, are disclosed. These tumor rejection antigen precursors are referred to as DAGE tumor rejection antigen precursors, and the nucleic acid molecules which code for them are referred to as GAGE coding molecules. Various diagnostic and therapeutic uses of the coding sequences and the tumor rejection antigens, and their precursor molecules are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a TADG-12 protein and a DNA fragment encoding such protein. Also provided is a vector/host cell capable of expressing the DNA. The present invention further provides various methods of early detection of associated ovarian and other malignancies, and of interactive therapies for cancer treatment by utilizing the DNA and/or protein disclosed herein.

Abstract: The invention concerns medicaments containing antibodies which have at least one specificity and detect the MHCII antigen of a patient to be treated. The invention further concerns antibodies with two or more specificities which detect the MHCII antigen of a patient, and diagnostic compositions containing these antibodies.

Abstract: The invention describes HLA class II binding peptides encoded by the MAGE-3 tumor associated gene, as well as nucleic acids encoding such peptides and antibodies relating thereto. The peptides stimulate the activity and proliferation of CD4+ T lymphocytes. Methods and products also are provided for diagnosing and treating conditions characterized by expression of the MAGE-3 gene.

Abstract: This invention comprises cellular vaccines and methods of using them in cancer immunotherapy, particularly in humans. The vaccines comprise a source of tumor-associated antigen, and a cytokine-secreting cell line. Tumor antigen may be provided in the form of primary tumor cells, tumor cell lines or tumor extracts prepared from the subject. In certain embodiments of the invention, the cytokine-secreting line is a separate tumor line that is allogeneic to the patient and genetically altered so as to produce a cytokine at an elevated level. Exemplary cytokines are IL-4, GM-CSF, IL-2, TNF-&agr;, and M-CSF in the secreted or membrane-bound form. In these embodiments, the cytokine-producing cells provide immunostimulation in trans to generate a specific immune response against the tumor antigen.

Abstract: Porcine neural cells and methods for using the cells to treat neurological deficits due to neurodegeneration are described. The porcine neural cells are preferably embryonic mesencephalic, embryonic striatal cells, or embryonic cortical cells. The porcine neural cells can be modified to be suitable for transplantation into a xenogeneic subject, such as a human. For example, the porcine neural cells can be modified such that an antigen (e.g., an MHC class I antigen) on the cell surface which is capable of stimulating an immune response against the cell in a xenogeneic subject is altered (e.g., by contact with an anti-MHC class I antibody, or a fragment or derivative thereof) to inhibit rejection of the cell when introduced into the subject. In one embodiment, the porcine neural cells are obtained from a pig which is essentially free from organisms or substances which are capable of transmitting infection or disease to the recipient subject.

Abstract: Multispecific multivalent molecules which are specific to an Fc receptor (FcR), and therapeutic uses and therapeutic uses and methods for making the molecules are described.

Abstract: It is the objective and purpose of the present invention to provide a monoclonal antibody having the property of causing apoptosis on myeloid cells. This invention relates to a monoclonal antibody having the property of causing apoptosis on myeloid cells, and fragments thereof, and furthermore relates to a hybridoma producing the monoclonal antibody. Since the monoclonal antibodies of the present invention are useful as antibodies recognizing and identifying antigens causing apoptosis on myeloid cells specifically and besides have the property of causing apoptosis on myeloid cells, they may be used as medicine useful in the field of remedies for myelocytic leukemia utilizing the property.

Abstract: To increase the effective affinity of soluble analogs of peptide/MHC molecules for their cognate ligands, divalent peptide/MHC complexes were constructed. Using a recombinant DNA strategy, DNA encoding the MHC class I was ligated to DNA coding for murine Ig heavy chain. MHC/Ig complexes were exploited to homogeneously load with peptides of interest. The results of flow cytometry demonstrated that the pepMHC/Ig complexes bound specifically with high affinity to cells bearing their cognate receptors. pepMHC/Ig complexes are also useful in modulating effector functions of antigen-specific T cells. These pepMHC/Ig complexes are useful for studying TCR/MHC interactions and lymphocyte tracking and have uses as specific regulators of immune responses.

Abstract: Peripheral blood leucocytes incubated with a semi-synthetic phage antibody library and fluorochrome-labeled CD3 and CD20 antibodies were used to isolate human single chain Fv antibodies specific for subsets of blood leucocytes by flow cytometry. Isolated phage antibodies showed exclusive binding to the subpopulation used for selection or displayed additional binding to a restricted population of other cells in the mixture. At least two phage antibodies appeared to display hithereto unknown staining patterns of B lineage cells. This approach provides a subtractive procedure to rapidly obtain human antibodies against known and novel surface antigens in their native configuration, expressed on phenotypically defined subpopulations of cells. Importantly, this approach does not depend on immunization procedures or the necessity to repeatedly construct phage antibody libraries.

Abstract: Process for the production of a functional immunoglobulin or functional derivative or fragment thereof with an improved stability in a eukaryotic or prokaryotic organism by transformation with an expression vector which contains a recombinant gene which codes for the said immunoglobulin derivative or fragment which is characterized in that a modified gene is used which contains at least one codon which is substituted compared to the unmodified gene and codes for a more frequent amino acid. In this way it is also possible to produce active antibodies free of disulfide bridges. In a modification of the process it is possible to selectively destabilize antibodies.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of stimulating in a subject an immune response to an antigen to which the immune response is targeted. This method includes the step of administering to the subject a binding agent which binds a surface receptor of an antigen-presenting cell, in some instances without being blocked substantially by the natural ligand for the surface receptor, and an antigen to which the immune response is targeted, in a physiologically acceptable medium to the subject. Also disclosed are molecular complexes including the binding agent coupled to an antigen.

Abstract: Porcine neural cells and methods for using the cells to treat neurological deficits due to neurodegeneration are described. The porcine neural cells are preferably embryonic mesencephalic, embryonic striatal cells, or embryonic cortical cells. The porcine neural cells can be modified to be suitable for transplantation into a xenogeneic subject, such as a human. For example, the porcine neural cells can be modified such that an antigen (e.g., an MHC class I antigen) on the cell surface which is capable of stimulating an immune response against the cell in a xenogeneic subject is altered (e.g., by contact with an anti-MHC class I antibody, or a fragment or derivative thereof) to inhibit rejection of the cell when introduced into the subject. In one embodiment, the porcine neural cells are obtained from a pig which is essentially free from organisms or substances which are capable of transmitting infection or disease to the recipient subject.

Abstract: The present invention involves the use of fluorescence spectroscopy in the diagnosis of cervical cancer and precancer. Using multiple illumination wavelengths, it is possible to (i) differentiate normal or inflamed tissue from squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) and (ii) to differentiate high grade SILs from non-high grade SILs. The detection may be performed in vitro or in vivo. Multivariate statistical analysis was employed to reduce the number of fluorescence excitation-emission wavelength pairs needed to re-develop algorithms that demonstrate a minimum decrease in classification accuracy. Fluorescence at excitation-emission wavelength pairs was used to redevelop and test screening and diagnostic algorithms that have a similar classification accuracy to those that employ fluorescence emission spectra at three excitation wavelengths.

Abstract: Treatment of solid tumors, including their metastases, without radiation, surgery or standard chemotherapeutic agents is described. Ex vivo stimulation of cells, selection of specific V&bgr; subsets of stimulated cells and reinfusion of the V&bgr; subsets of stimulated cells is employed for cancer therapy.

Abstract: A method of modulating angiogenesis in a vertebrate subject, the method comprising administering to the vertebrate subject an ECRTP/DEP-1 receptor activity-modulating amount of a composition, whereby an ECRTP/DEP-1 receptor within the vertebrate subject is contacted by the composition; and modulating angiogenesis through the contacting of the ECRTP/DEP-1 receptor with the composition. Optionally, the composition includes a monoclonal antibody which preferentially binds the ECRTP/DEP-1 receptor.