Abstract: The present disclosure relates to delivering payloads to the interior of a cell. In particular, the present disclosure provides three monoclonal antibodies that bind dystroglycan (DG) on the surface of cells. The antibodies are internalized into endocytic vesicles inside the cells once they are bound to DG. Thus, these antibodies can be used to selectively target and deliver payloads to cells, such as epithelial cells in cancer. The disclosed antibodies bind to DG independent of variable DG glycosylation. The targeted delivery enables selective treatment, imaging, and surveillance of cells in cancer, such as bladder cancer, along with other uses.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions involved in identifying cells that lack apico-basal polarity as well as methods and compositions involved in selectively delivering payload molecules to cells that lack apico-basal polarity, and methods of selecting test compounds that restore apico-basal polarity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions involved in identifying cells that lack apico-basal polarity as well as methods and compositions involved in selectively delivering payload molecules to cells that lack apico-basal polarity, and methods of selecting test compounds that restore apico-basal polarity.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of cells lacking normal growth arresting characteristic. The present invention demonstrates that many tumor cells lack normal cell surface ?-dystroglycan and thereby lack dystroglycan function. Dystroglycan can be lost from the cell surface by proteolytic shedding of a fragment of ?-dystroglycan into the surrounding medium. Upon restoration of dystroglycan function and over-expression of the dystroglycan gene, the once tumorigenic cells revert to non-tumorigenic cells which polarize and arrest cell growth in the presence of basement membrane proteins, demonstrating that dystroglycan functions as a tumor marker and suppressor.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to pharmaceuticals, more specifically, to targeted diagnostic and therapeutic formulations and ligands thereof. Such methods and composition comprise antigens that are post-translationally modified compared to antigens found on a normal cell phenotype. Also provided are ligands that bind to such post-translationally modified antigens.

Abstract: The invention provides method for assessing tumorigenicity of mammalian cells by assaying the proteolytic fragments of 120-130 kD alpha-dystroglycan in medium surrounding mammalian cells.