Abstract: The invention relates to peptides which bind to MHC Class I and to MHC Class II molecules. These peptides are useful in different therapeutic and diagnostic contexts.

Abstract: The invention relates to sarcoma-associated antigens and the nucleic acid molecules that encode them. The invention further relates to the use of the nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides and fragments thereof associated with sarcoma in methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, such as cancer More specifically, the invention relates to the discovery of a novel cancer/testis (CT) antigen, NY-SAR-35.

Abstract: Cancer associated antigens have been identified by autologous antibody screening of libraries of nucleic acids expressed in testis cells using antisera from seminoma patients. The invention relates to nucleic acids and encoded polypeptides which are cancer associated antigens expressed in patients afflicted with a variety of cancers. The invention provides, inter alia, isolated nucleic acid molecules, expression vectors containing those molecules and host cells transfected with those molecules. The invention also provides isolated proteins and peptides, antibodies to those proteins and peptides and cytotoxic T lymphocytes which recognize the proteins and peptides. Fragments of the foregoing including functional fragments and variants also are provided. Kits containing the foregoing molecules additionally are provided. The molecules provided by the invention can be used in the diagnosis, monitoring, research, or treatment of conditions characterized by the expression of one or more cancer associated antigens.

Abstract: This invention relates to a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy to promote tumor regression by treating a patient in need thereof with a combination of a humanized antibody that binds to A33 antigen and one or more chemotherapeutic agents. The method is useful for treating patients with colorectal cancer and gastric carcinomas. The method is particularly useful for treating patients who have tumors that are resistant to one or more chemotherapeutic agents and/or have metastasized.

Abstract: CT antigens have been identified by screening known sperm-specific genes for expression in tumors and testis. The invention relates to nucleic acids and encoded polypeptides which are CT antigens expressed in patients afflicted with cancer. The invention provides, inter alia, isolated nucleic acid molecules, expression vectors containing those molecules and host cells transfected with those molecules. The invention also provides isolated proteins and peptides, antibodies to those proteins and peptides and cytotoxic T lymphocytes which recognize the proteins and peptides. Fragments of the foregoing including functional fragments and variants also are provided. Kits containing the foregoing molecules additionally are provided. The molecules provided by the invention can be used in the diagnosis, monitoring, research, or treatment of conditions characterized by the expression of one or more CT antigens.

Abstract: This invention relates to isolated peptides that bind to an HLA molecule particularly HLA-A3, HLA-B35 and/or HLA-B51 and stimulate cytolytic T cells specific for complexes of the peptide and the HLA molecule. This invention also relates to CTLs, antibodies, antibody fragments and T cell receptors that are specific for HLA/peptide complexes, and to methods of using the peptides, CTLs, antibodies and receptors.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for diagnosing cancer including colon cancer, based on the identification of certain colon cancer-associated polypeptides as antigens that elicit immune responses in colon cancer. The identified antigens can be utilized as markers for diagnosing colon cancer, and for following the course of treatment of colon cancer.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for diagnosing cancer including breast cancer, based on the identification of certain breast cancer-associated polypeptides as antigens that elicit immune responses in breast cancer. The identified antigens can be utilized as markers for diagnosing breast cancer, and for following the course of treatment of breast cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to the isolation of a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a cancer associated antigen. Also a part of the invention is the antigen itself, and the uses of the nucleic acid molecule and the antigen, and peptides derived from it.

Abstract: The invention teaches peptide epitopes which bind to HLA-Cw3 and HLA-Cw6 molecules on the surface of cells. The peptides are useful diagnostically and therapeutically, as are DNA molecules which encode them, and the cytolytic T lymphocytes specific to the HLA/peptide complexes. Also a feature of the invention is a method for identifying relevant molecules such as those described herein, in a system that uses stimulation and restimulation using different viral vectors.

Abstract: Cancer-testis (CT) antigens have been identified by screening public databases for transcripts that are expressed in tumor tissues and a limited set of normal tissues, or by screening for genes that are expressed in cancer and testis tissues (but not other normal tissues). The invention relates to nucleic acids and encoded polypeptides which are CT antigens expressed in patients afflicted with cancer. The invention provides, inter alia, isolated nucleic acid molecules, expression vectors containing those molecules and host cells transfected with those molecules. The invention also provides isolated proteins and peptides, antibodies to those proteins and peptides and cytotoxic T lymphocytes which recognize the proteins and peptides. Fragments of the foregoing including functional fragments and variants also are provided. Kits containing the foregoing molecules additionally are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to antibodies which bind to the cancer associated antigen NY-ESO-1. Both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are part of the invention, as are chimeric forms of the antibodies, and binding portions of antibodies. Uses of these antibodies are described. Also described are truncated, recombinant forms of the cancer associated antigen.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of reducing the effects of colon cancer tumors. Various agents are conjugated to PEG(polyethylene glycol)-conjugated antibody which are specific for colon cancer cells. The conjugates are administered to patients having colon cancer such that the effects of the cancer are reduced.

Abstract: The invention provides for the production of several humanized murine antibodies specific for the antigen Lewis Y, which is recognized by the murine antibody Lewis Y. The Lewis Y antigen is expressed in normal tissues but the level of expression is higher in certain tumor types so that the antigen can be used as a marker for cells of some breast, colon, gastric, esophageal, pancreatic, duodenal, lung, bladder and renal carcinomas and gastric and islet cell neuroendocrine tumors. The invention also provides for numerous polynucleotide encoding humanized Lewis Y specific antibodies, expression vectors for producing humanized Lewis Y specific antibodies, and host cells for the recombinant production of the humanized antibodies. The invention also provides methods for detecting cancerous cells (in vitro and in vivo) using humanized Lewis Y specific antibodies. Additionally, the invention provides methods of treating cancer using humanized Lewis Y specific antibodies.

Abstract: Various molecules associated with disorders such as cancer are disclosed. The invention also discloses diagnostic and therapeutic methods based upon these molecules, as well as compositions for stimulating an immune response and methods for identifying cancer-associated nucleic acid and polypeptide molecules.

Abstract: The invention relates to members of the SSX family of genes, as well as their uses.

Abstract: The invention teaches peptide epitopes which bind to HLA-Cw3 and HLA-Cw6 molecules on the surface of cells. The peptides are useful diagnostically and therapeutically, as are DNA molecules which encode them, and the cytolytic T lymphocytes specific to the HLA/peptide complexes. Also a feature of the invention is a method for identifying relevant molecules such as those described herein, in a system that uses stimulation and restimulation using different viral vectors.

Abstract: This invention relates to a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy to promote tumor regression by treating a patient in need thereof with a combination of a humanized antibody that binds to A33 antigen and one or more chemotherapeutic agents. The method is useful for treating patients with colorectal cancer and gastric carcinomas. The method is particularly useful for treating patients who have tumors that are resistant to one or more chemotherapeutic agents and/or have metastasized.

Abstract: The invention relates to antibodies which bind to the cancer associated antigen NY-ESO-1. Both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are part of the invention, as are chimeric forms of the antibodies, and binding portions of antibodies. Uses of these antibodies are described. Also described are truncated, recombinant forms of the cancer associated antigen.

Abstract: Cancer associated antigens have been identified by autologous antibody screening of libraries of nucleic acids expressed in renal cancer cells using antisera from cancer patients. The invention relates to nucleic acids and encoded polypeptides which are cancer associated antigens expressed in patients afflicted with renal cancer. The invention provides, inter alia, isolated nucleic acid molecules, expression vectors containing those molecules and host cells transfected with those molecules. The invention also provides isolated proteins and peptides, antibodies to those proteins and peptides and cytotoxic T lymphocytes which recognize the proteins and peptides. Fragments of the foregoing including functional fragments and variants also are provided. Kits containing the foregoing molecules additionally are provided. The molecules provided by the invention can be used in the diagnosis, monitoring, research, or treatment of conditions characterized by the expression of one or more cancer associated antigens.