Abstract: The invention relates to superantigen mediated expansion of antigen-specific T cells for cancer and infectious agent treatment/prophylaxis. Mice were injected with inactivated B16F10 mouse melanoma cells, followed by injection with a combined SEA/SEB injection or a sham injection on days 3 and 6, followed by day 4 challenge with live melanoma cells. The SEA/SEB recipient mice survived longer post-challenge and had a higher CTLs against tumor cells than did the sham injected mice. SEA/SEB TCR activation has been reported to be independent of antigen specificity of TCRs. This invention provides a method whereby a combination of Staphylococcal enterotoxin superantigens is used to enhance specific immune responses to activating antigens to enhance immune responses against cancers and infectious agents.

Abstract: Methods of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of breast cancer, and of metastatic brain cancer, are provided The diagnostic and prognostic methods involve the immunohistochemical detection of the level of expression of the proteins claudin 1, 3, 4, and 7 in tissue or cell samples. Claudins 1 and 7 are underexpressed in the majority of breast cancers, and claudins 3 and 4 are overexpressed. The methods of treatment involve the use of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (or a variant thereof) to lyse metastatic cancer cells in the brain and bone that overexpress claudins 3 and 4.