Abstract: An aqueous tumor-targeting liposome nanoparticle composition comprises an aqueous dispersion of liposome nanoparticles. The nanoparticles preferably encapsulate an anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent, which can be added to a pre-formed liposome composition or can be incorporated in the liposomes during the formation of the liposomes. The liposome nanoparticles comprise a legumain-targeting lipid admixed with one or more other micelle or vesicle-forming lipid materials in the form of nanoparticulate liposomes dispersed in an aqueous carrier. A preferred tumor-targeting liposome nanoparticle composition comprises a legumain-targeting lipid component and polyethylene glycol-conjugated lipid component. The legumain-targeting lipid component comprising a hydrophobic lipid portion covalently attached to a legumain-binding moiety.

Abstract: An aqueous tumor-targeting liposome nanoparticle composition comprises an aqueous dispersion of liposome nanoparticles. The nanoparticles preferably encapsulate an anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent, which can be added to a pre-formed liposome composition or can be incorporated in the liposomes during the formation of the liposomes. The liposome nanoparticles comprise a legumain-targeting lipid admixed with one or more other micelle or vesicle-forming lipid materials in the form of nanoparticulate liposomes dispersed in an aqueous carrier. A preferred tumor-targeting liposome nanoparticle composition comprises a legumain-targeting lipid component and polyethylene glycol-conjugated lipid component. The legumain-targeting lipid component comprising a hydrophobic lipid portion covalently attached to a legumain-binding moiety.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous tumor-targeting liposome nanoparticle composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of liposome nanoparticles. The nanoparticles preferably encapsulate an anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent, which can be added to a pre-formed liposome composition or can be incorporated in the liposomes during the formation of the liposomes. The liposome nanoparticles comprise a legumain-targeting lipid admixed with one or more other micelle or vesicle-forming lipid materials in the form of nanoparticulate liposomes dispersed in an aqueous carrier. A preferred tumor-targeting liposome nanoparticle composition comprises (a) a legumain-targeting lipid component, (b) a zwitterionic lipid component; (c) an amino-substituted lipid component; (d) a neutral lipid component; and (e) polyethylene glycol-conjugated lipid component. The legumain-targeting lipid component comprising a hydrophobic lipid portion covalenetly attached to a legumain-binding moiety.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous tumor-targeting liposome nanoparticle composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of liposome nanoparticles. The nanoparticles preferably encapsulate an anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent, which can be added to a pre-formed liposome composition or can be incorporated in the liposomes during the formation of the liposomes. The liposome nanoparticles comprise a legumain-targeting lipid admixed with one or more other micelle or vesicle-forming lipid materials in the form of nanoparticulate liposomes dispersed in an aqueous carrier. A preferred tumor-targeting liposome nanoparticle composition comprises (a) a legumain-targeting lipid component, (b) a zwitterionic lipid component; (c) an amino-substituted lipid component; (d) a neutral lipid component; and (e) polyethylene glycol-conjugated lipid component. The legumain-targeting lipid component comprising a hydrophobic lipid portion covalently attached to a legumain-binding moiety.

Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA composition comprising a DNA minigene construct that encodes for a polypeptide comprising a plurality of immunogenic fragments of a cysteine endopeptidase that is expressed in tumor-associated cells. The immunogenic fragments are joined together serially by a linker peptide between each successive fragment in the polypeptide. The polypeptide is capable of eliciting an immune response against the tumor-associated cells, is expressible in immune cells, and is incorporated in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous tumor-targeting liposome nanoparticle composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of liposome nanoparticles. The nanoparticles preferably encapsulate an anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent, which can be added to a pre-formed liposome composition or can be incorporated in the liposomes during the formation of the liposomes. The liposome nanoparticles comprise a legumain-targeting lipid admixed with one or more other micelle or vesicle-forming lipid materials in the form of nanoparticulate liposomes dispersed in an aqueous carrier. A preferred tumor-targeting liposome nanoparticle composition comprises (a) a legumain-targeting lipid component, (b) a zwitterionic lipid component; (c) an amino-substituted lipid component; (d) a neutral lipid component; and (e) polyethylene glycol-conjugated lipid component. The legumain-targeting lipid component comprising a hydrophobic lipid portion covalenetly attached to a legumain-binding moiety.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous tumor-targeting liposome nanoparticle composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of liposome nanoparticles. The nanoparticles preferably encapsulate an anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent, which can be added to a pre-formed liposome composition or can be incorporated in the liposomes during the formation of the liposomes. The liposome nanoparticles comprise a legumain-targeting lipid admixed with one or more other micelle or vesicle-forming lipid materials in the form of nanoparticulate liposomes dispersed in an aqueous carrier. A preferred tumor-targeting liposome nanoparticle composition comprises (a) a legumain-targeting lipid component, (b) a zwitterionic lipid component; (c) an amino-substituted lipid component; (d) a neutral lipid component; and (e) polyethylene glycol-conjugated lipid component. The legumain-targeting lipid component comprising a hydrophobic lipid portion covalenetly attached to a legumain-binding moiety.

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 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: The present invention provides a DNA composition comprising a DNA minigene construct that encodes for a polypeptide comprising a plurality of immunogenic fragments of a cysteine endopeptidase that is expressed in tumor-associated cells. The immunogenic fragments are joined together serially by a linker peptide between each successive fragment in the polypeptide. The polypeptide is capable of eliciting an immune response against the tumor-associated cells, is expressible in immune cells, and is incorporated in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

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 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.