Tumor killing effects of enterotoxins, superantigens, and related compounds
US6338845B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 18, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jan 15, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 18, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12N2510/00
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Superantigens, including staphylococcal enterotoxins, are useful agents for killing tumor cells, enhancing antitumor immunity and treating cancer in a tumor-bearing host. Other useful superantigens include Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin, toxic shock syndrome toxins, mycoplasma antigens, mycobacteria antigens, minor lymphocyte stimulating antigens, heat shock proteins, stress peptides and derivatives thereof. The immune system of a subject with cancer is contacted with tumor cells that have been transfected with a nucleic acid encoding a superantigen or biologically active polypeptide of a superantigen. Alternatively, transfected accessory cells, inmunocytes or fibroblasts are used. Expression of the superantigen in the host induces T cell proliferation leading to increased antitumor immunity and tumor cell killing. The superantigen encoding nucleic acid may be administered to the tumor in vivo to transfect tumor cells, wherein superantigen expression induces a tumoricidal immune response. Furthermore, transfected cells incubated ex vivo with an immunocyte population, particularly T lymphocytes, tumoricidally activate the population; such activated cells are then administered to t…
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