Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating tumors and tumor metastases in a mammal comprising administering, to a mammal in need of treatment, a therapeutic amount of an antagonist sufficient to inhibit angiogenesis in combination with a therapeutic amount of anti-tumor immunotherapeutic agent, such as a anti-tumor antigen antibody/cytokine fusion protein having a cytokine and a recombinant immunoglobulin polypeptide chain sufficient to elicit a cytokine-specific biological response.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating tumors and tumor metastases in a mammal comprising administering, to a mammal in need of treatment, a therapeutic amount of an antagonist sufficient to inhibit angiogenesis in combination with a therapeutic amount of anti-tumor immunotherapeutic agent, such as a anti-tumor antigen antibody/cytokine fusion protein having a cytokine and a recombinant immunoglobulin polypeptide chain sufficient to elicit a cytokine-specific biological response.

Abstract: A DNA vaccine effective for eliciting an immune response against cells that present a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) comprises a DNA operably encoding a CEA and a DNA operably encoding a CD40 ligand, SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, respectively, or its homotrimer, CD40LT. The DNA vaccine can be incorporated in a delivery vector such as an attenuated live bacterium or virus, or a liposome carrier. In a method embodiment, the DNA vaccine is administered orally to a mammal, such as a human, to elicit an immune response against CEA presenting cells such as colon cancer cells. A preferred method embodiment includes the additional step of treating the mammal with recombinant antibody fusion protein huKS1/4-IL2 to enhance the immune response effectiveness of the vaccine.

Abstract: A DNA vaccine suitable for eliciting an immune response against cancer cells comprises a polynucleotide construct operably encoding an a Fra-1 protein, such as a polyubiquitinated human Fra-1 protein, and IL-18, such as human IL-18, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the polynucleotide construct is operably incorporated in an attenuated bacterial vector, such as an attenuated Salmonella typhimurium, particularly a doubly attenuated aroA- dam- S. typhimurium. Transformed host cells, methods of inhibiting tumor growth, of vaccinating a patient against cancer, and of delivering genetic material to a mammalian cell in vivo are also described.

Abstract: A DNA composition effective for inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation comprises a DNA construct operably encoding a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor polypeptide, which can be a full length VEGF receptor protein or an immunogenic fragment thereof. This invention provides DNA compositions that encode VEGF receptor-2 (KDR), VEGF receptor-1 (Flt-1), or Flk-1 (the murine homolog of KDR), as well as methods of using such a DNA composition to inhibit vascular endothelial cell proliferation in the tumor micro-environment. Angiogenesis inhibition and subsequent decrease in tumor growth and dissemination is achieved.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating tumors and tumor metastases in a mammal comprising administering, to a mammal in need of treatment, a therapeutic amount of an antagonist sufficient to inhibit angiogenesis in combination with a therapeutic amount of anti-tumor immunotherapeutic agent, such as a anti-tumor antigen antibody/cytokine fusion protein having a cytokine and a recombinant immunoglobulin polypeptide chain sufficient to elicit a cytokine-specific biological response.

Abstract: The invention teaches methods for treating tumors and tumor metastases in a mammal comprising administering, to a mammal in need of treatment, a therapeutic amount of an antagonist sufficient to inhibit angiogenesis in combination with a therapeutic amount of anti-tumor immunotherapeutic agent, such as a anti-tumor antigen antibody/cytokine fusion protein having a cytokine and a recombinant immunoglobulin polypeptide chain sufficient to elicit a cytokine-specific biological response.

Abstract: A DNA vaccine effective for inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation comprises a DNA construct operably encoding a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor protein. This invention provides DNA vaccines that encode VEGF receptor-2 (KDR, SEQ ID NO: 2), VEGF receptor-1 (Flt-1, (SEQ ID NO: 4), or Flk-1 (the murine homolog of KDR, SEQ ID NO: 6), DNA sequences SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3, and 5 respectively, as well as methods of using such a DNA vaccine to inhibit vascular endothelial cell proliferation in the tumor micro-environment. Anti-angiogenesis and subsequent decrease in tumor growth and dissemination is achieved.

Abstract: A DNA vaccine effective for eliciting an immune response against cells that present a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) comprises a DNA operably encoding a CEA and a DNA operably encoding a CD40 ligand, SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, respectively, or its homotrimer, CD40LT. The DNA vaccine can be incorporated in a delivery vector such as an attenuated live bacterium or virus, or a liposome carrier. In a method embodiment, the DNA vaccine is administered orally to a mammal, such as a human, to elicit an immune response against CEA presenting cells such as colon cancer cells. A preferred method embodiment includes the additional step of treating the mammal with recombinant antibody fusion protein huKS1/4-IL2 to enhance the immune response effectiveness of the vaccine.

Abstract: A DNA vaccine effective for eliciting an immune response against cells that present a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) comprises a DNA operably encoding a CEA and a DNA operably encoding a CD40 ligand, SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, respectively, or its homotrimer, CD40LT. The DNA vaccine can be incorporated in a delivery vector such as an attenuated live bacterium or virus, or a liposome carrier. In a method embodiment, the DNA vaccine is administered orally to a mammal, such as a human, to elicit an immune response against CEA presenting cells such as colon cancer cells. A preferred method embodiment includes the additional step of treating the mammal with recombinant antibody fusion protein huKS1/4-IL2 to enhance the immune response effectiveness of the vaccine.

Abstract: A DNA vaccine suitable for eliciting an immune response against cancer cells comprises a DNA construct operably encoding a cancer-associated Inhibitor of Apoptosis-family protein and an immunoactive gene product, such as a cytokine or a ligand for a natural killer cell surface receptor, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A preferred cytokine is CCL21. Preferred ligands for a natural killer cell surface receptor include human MICA, human MICB, human ULBP1, human ULBP2, and human ULBP3. The cancer-associated Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP)-family protein is preferably a survivin protein or livin protein. Method of inhibiting tumor growth by administering the vaccine of the invention to a mammal is also described.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of angiogenesis. In particular, the invention provides a method for enhancing angiogenesis, which method comprises administering an effective amount of an integrin binding pro-angiogenic agent or an integrin antagonist to a mammal, wherein angiogenesis is desirable, thereby enhancing angiogenesis in said mammal. The invention also provides isolated, angiogenic proteins or peptides or isolated nucleic acids encoding the angiogenic proteins or peptides. Combinations and methods for enhancing angiogenesis are further provided.

Abstract: A DNA vaccine effective for inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation comprises a DNA construct operably encoding a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor protein. This invention provides DNA vaccines that encode VEGF receptor-2 (KDR, SEQ ID NO: 2), VEGF receptor-1 (Flt-1, (SEQ ID NO: 4), or Flk-1 (the murine homolog of KDR, SEQ ID NO: 6), DNA sequences SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3, and 5 respectively, as well as methods of using such a DNA vaccine to inhibit vascular endothelial cell proliferation in the tumor micro-environment. Anti-angiogenesis and subsequent decrease in tumor growth and dissemination is achieved.

Abstract: A DNA vaccine effective for eliciting an immune response against cells that present a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) comprises a DNA operably encoding a CEA and a DNA operably encoding a CD40 ligand, SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, respectively, or its homotrimer, CD40LT. The DNA vaccine can be incorporated in a delivery vector such as an attenuated live bacterium or virus, or a liposome carrier. In a method embodiment, the DNA vaccine is administered orally to a mammal, such as a human, to elicit an immune response against CEA presenting cells such as colon cancer cells. A preferred method embodiment includes the additional step of treating the mammal with recombinant antibody fusion protein huKS1/4-IL2 to enhance the immune response effectiveness of the vaccine.

Abstract: A method and composition for killing target cells is disclosed. The method utilizes ex vivo IL-2 activation of leucocyte effector cells and arming the activated leucocyte effectors with monoclonal antibodies whose Fc portions bind to the IL-2-activated effectors and whose paratopic portions immunoreact with an epitope expressed on the surfaces of the target cells. The composition contains a cytolytic amount of the armed, IL-2-activated effector cells dispersed in an aqueous physiologically tolerable diluent medium.

Abstract: A non-human, mammalian monoclonal receptor produced and secreted by a hybridoma having the ATCC accession number HB 8568 and methods of preparing and using same, as well as diagnostics utilizing the receptor are disclosed. The monoclonal receptor reacts with cells such as human neuroectodermal tumors having ganglioside GD.sub.2 antigen expressed on their cellular membrane surfaces.