Abstract: The present invention provides the amino acid and nucleic acid sequences of heavy chain and light chain complementarity determining regions of a tumor specific antibody. In addition, the invention provides tumor-specific antibodies and immunoconjugates comprising the tumor-specific antibody attached to a toxin or label, and methods and uses thereof. The invention also relates to diagnostic methods and kits using the tumor-specific antibodies of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for preventing or treating head and neck squamous cell cancer and bladder cancer using an immunotoxin comprising (a) a ligand that binds to a protein on the cancer cell attached to; (b) a toxin that is cytotoxic to the cancer cell. In a specific embodiment, the invention is directed to the prevention or treatment of head and neck squamous cell cancer or bladder cancer using VB4-845, which is a recombinant immunotoxin comprising a humanized, MOC31-derived, single-chain antibody fragment that is fused to a truncated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin A. Also encompassed by the invention are combination therapy methods, including the use of reduced dosages of chemotherapeutic agents, for the prevention or treatment of cancer. Also encompassed by the invention are formulations and methods for direct administration of the recombinant immunotoxin to the carcinoma, for the prevention or treatment of cancer.

Abstract: Methods for improving the efficacy of cancer therapy are described. In one embodiment the method involves administering the cancer therapeutic to a first cancer lesion wherein the first cancer lesion is connected through the lymphatic system to a second cancer lesion and wherein the cancer therapeutic can thereby travel to the second cancer lesion through the lymphatic system.

Abstract: The invention provides modified forms of bouganin protein having biological activity and a reduced propensity to activate human T cells as compared to the non-modified bouganin protein. The invention also provides T-cell epitope peptides of bouganin, and modified T-cell epitope peptides of bouganin which have a reduced propensity to activate human T cells as compared to the non-modified T-cell epitope peptide. The invention also provides cytotoxins having the having a ligand that binds to a cancer cells attached to the modified bouganin proteins. Also provided are methods of inhibiting or destroying mammalian cancer cells using the cytotoxins of the invention and pharmaceutical compositions for treating human cancer.