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WO2006029045A2 - Anticorps specifiques de cellules endotheliales et utilisations associees - Google Patents

Anticorps specifiques de cellules endotheliales et utilisations associees Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2006029045A2
WO2006029045A2 PCT/US2005/031453 US2005031453W WO2006029045A2 WO 2006029045 A2 WO2006029045 A2 WO 2006029045A2 US 2005031453 W US2005031453 W US 2005031453W WO 2006029045 A2 WO2006029045 A2 WO 2006029045A2
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Prior art keywords
antibody
tem
igg
cells
cell
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WO2006029045A3 (fr
Inventor
Beverly Teicher
Bruce Roberts
Shiro Kataoka
Nakayuki Honma
Hitoshi Yoshida
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Kirin Brewery Co Ltd
Genzyme Corp
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Kirin Brewery Co Ltd
Genzyme Corp
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
    • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
    • C07K16/28—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants
    • C07K16/30—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants from tumour cells
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
    • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
    • C07K16/28—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants
    • C07K16/2851—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants against the lectin superfamily, e.g. CD23, CD72
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/505—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies comprising antibodies
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/20—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin
    • C07K2317/21—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin from primates, e.g. man
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/70—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by effect upon binding to a cell or to an antigen
    • C07K2317/73—Inducing cell death, e.g. apoptosis, necrosis or inhibition of cell proliferation

Definitions

  • the methods and compositions provided herein inhibit proliferation, migration, and/or tubule formation by endothelial cells and thus are useful in treating angiogenesis related disorders and diseases, including cancer, in vertebrates. More specifically, the methods relate to the administration of an antibody specific for a tumor endothelial marker (TEM) in a conjugated or unconjugated form to inhibit angiogenesis or tumor growth, and compositions useful in these methods.
  • TEM tumor endothelial marker
  • Angiogenesis encompasses the generation of new blood vessels in a tissue or organ. Under normal physiological conditions, angiogenesis occurs in very specific situations such as wound healing, fetal development, and the formation of the corpus luteum, endometrium and placenta.
  • the process of angiogenesis is highly regulated through a system of naturally occurring stimulators, e.g., angiopoietin-1, IL-8, platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- ⁇ ), and inhibitors, e.g., thrombospondin, interferon, and metalloproteinase inhibitors.
  • stimulators e.g., angiopoietin-1, IL-8, platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- ⁇ )
  • inhibitors e.g., thrombospondin, interferon, and metalloproteina
  • Angiogenesis also can occur as a significant factor in a number of disease states.
  • uncontrolled angiogenesis directly contributes to the pathological damage associated with many diseases.
  • This uncontrolled or excessive angiogenesis occurs when an imbalance in the angiogenic factors and angiogenic inhibitors occurs, e.g., when an excessive amount of angiogenic factor is produced.
  • Insufficient angiogenesis also contributes to certain disease states. For example, inadequate blood vessel growth contributes to the pathology associated with coronary artery disease, stroke, and delayed wound healing.
  • Excessive angiogenesis occurs in diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age- related macular degeneration, atherosclerosis, and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.
  • diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age- related macular degeneration, atherosclerosis, and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.
  • rheumatoid arthritis the blood vessels in the synovial lining of the joints undergo inappropriate angiogenesis.
  • the endothelial cells release factors and reactive oxygen species that lead to pannus growth and cartilage destruction, and thus may actively contribute to, and help maintain, the chronically inflamed state of rheumatoid arthritis. See, e.g., Bodolay, E., et al., J. Cell MoI. Med.
  • Angiogenesis plays a decisive role in the growth and metastasis of cancer. See, e.g., B.R. Zetter, Ann. Rev. Med. 49: 407-24 (1998), J. Folkman, Sem. Oncol. 29: 15-18 (2002).
  • angiogenesis results in the vascularization of a primary tumor, supplying necessary nutrients to the growing tumor cells.
  • the increased vascularization of the tumor provides access to the blood stream, thus enhancing the metastatic potential of the tumor.
  • angiogenesis must occur to support the growth and expansion of the metastatic cells at the secondary site.
  • the endothelial sprouts merge with each other to form capillary loops using adhesion factors, creating new blood vessels. Additional enzymes, e.g., matrix metalloproteinases, then digest the tissue at the tip of the sprouting vessel, permitting active tissue remodeling around the new vessel. The newly formed vessels are stabilized by the pericytes (i.e., specialized smooth muscle cells). Once stabilized, the new vessels support blood flow.
  • pericytes i.e., specialized smooth muscle cells
  • angiogenesis inhibitors Numerous compounds have been identified as angiogenesis inhibitors. Exemplary compounds include protamine (Taylor et al, Nature 297:307 (1982)), heparin, steroids (Folkman et al, Science 221:719 (1983) and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,001,116 and 4,994,443), thalidomide (RJ. D'Amato, et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. ScL U.S.A. 91: 4082-85 (1994)), TNP- 470 (Ingmer, et al, Nature 348: 555-57 (1990)), and carboxyamidotriazole (CAI) (Kohn, et al, Cancer Res.
  • Endogenously produced inhibitors include interferon alpha (IFN- ⁇ ) (White et al, New England! Med. 320:1197-1200 (1989), Sidky et al, Cancer Res. 47:5155-61 (1987), angiostatin (O'Reilly, et al, Cell 79: 315-28 (1994)), and endostatin (O'Reilly, et al, Cell 88: 1-20 (1997)).
  • IFN- ⁇ interferon alpha
  • angiostatin O'Reilly, et al, Cell 79: 315-28 (1994)
  • endostatin O'Reilly, et al, Cell 88: 1-20 (1997)).
  • a method of inhibiting proliferation in a cell comprising administering an effective amount of an antibody, or a biologically active fragment thereof, which specifically binds to an antigen selected from the group consisting of Tumor Endothelial Marker (TEM) 1 and TEM 17, whereby the antibody inhibits proliferation in the cell.
  • an antibody or a biologically active fragment thereof, which specifically binds to an antigen selected from the group consisting of Tumor Endothelial Marker (TEM) 1 and TEM 17, whereby the antibody inhibits proliferation in the cell.
  • TEM Tumor Endothelial Marker
  • Also provided herein is a method of inhibiting migration of a cell, comprising administering an effective amount of an antibody, or a biologically active fragment thereof, which specifically binds to an antigen selected from the group consisting of TEM 1, TEM 17, and TEM 9, whereby the antibody inhibits migration of a cell.
  • a method of inhibiting endothelial tube formation comprising administering an effective amount of an antibody, or a biologically active fragment thereof, which specifically binds to an antigen selected from the group consisting of TEM 1 and TEM 17, whereby the antibody inhibits endothelial tube formation.
  • the antibody of the methods provided herein can be a human antibody or a humanized antibody.
  • An intact antibody molecule, a single chain variable region, a Fab fragment, or an F(ab') 2 fragment can be used in the present methods.
  • the antibody can be a monoclonal antibody, a chimeric antibody, or a polyclonal antibody.
  • the antibody can be produced in a transgenic mouse.
  • An antibody conjugated to a bioactive agent is also useful in the present methods.
  • the antibody is specific for an extracellular domain of the antigen.
  • the inhibition mediated by the antibody of the present methods can occur in a cell in vitro, in a tissue, or in a subject.
  • angiogenesis comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, an effective amount of an antibody, or a biologically active fragment thereof, which specifically binds to an antigen selected from the group consisting of TEM 1, TEM 17, and TEM 9, whereby the antibody inhibits angiogenesis.
  • the subject treated by the present methods expresses the TEM of interest.
  • the angiogenesis can be neoangiogenesis.
  • the antibody useful in the present methods includes an antibody conjugated to an antiangiogenic agent or an antitumor agent.
  • the subject treated by the present methods includes a subject having a disease including, but are not limited to neoplasma of the central nervous system: glioblastomamultiforme, astrocytoma, oligodendroglial tumors, ependymal and choroids plexus tumors, pineal tumors, neuronal tumors, medulloblastoma, schwannoma, meningioma, meningeal sarcoma: neoplasma of the eye: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, retinoblastoma; neoplasma of the enbdocrine glands: pituitary neoplasms, neoplasms of the thyroid, neoplasms of the adrenal cortex, neoplasms of the neuroendocrine system, neoplasms of the gastroenteropancreatic endocrine system, n
  • Other diseases include polycystic kidney disease; diabetic retinopathy; rheumatoid arthritis; psoriasis; osteoarthritis; acoustic neuroma, neurofibroma, trachoma and pyogenic granulomas; macular degeneration; retinopathy of prematurity; corneal graft rejection; neovascular glaucoma and retrolental fibroplasia.
  • diseases associated with angiogenesis include, but are not limited to, epidemnic keratoconjunctivitis, Vitamin A deficiency, atopic keratitis, superior limbic keratitis, pterygium keratitis sicca, sjogrens, phylectenulosis, syphilis, Mycobacteria infections, lipid degeneration, chemical bums, bacterial ulcers, fungal ulcers, Herpes simplex infections, Herpes zoster infections, protozoan infections, Kaposi sarcoma, Mooren ulcer, Terrien's marginal degeneration, marginal keratolysis, systemic lupus, polyarteritis, trauma, Wegeners sarcoidosis, Scleritis, Steven's Johnson disease, periphigoid radial keratotomy, corneal graph rejection, and chronic inflammatory diseases.
  • a method of inhibiting tumor growth comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, an effective amount of an antibody, or a biologically active fragment thereof, which specifically binds to an antigen selected from the group consisting of TEM 1, TEM 17, and TEM 9, whereby the antibody inhibits the tumor growth.
  • the subject treated by the present method expresses the TEM of interest.
  • the antibody useful in the present methods includes an antibody conjugated to an antiangiogenic agent or an antitumor agent.
  • the subject treated by the present methods includes a subject having an adenocarcinoma, leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, sarcoma, or tetratocarcinoma.
  • the tumor can be a cancer of the adrenal gland, bladder, bone, bone marrow, brain, breast, cervix, gall bladder, ganglia, gastrointestinal tract, heart, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, ovary, pancreas, parathyroid, penis, prostate, salivary glands, skin, spleen, testis, thymus, thyroid, and uterus.
  • Such tumors include, but are not limited to: neoplasma of the central nervous system: glioblastomamultiforme, astrocytoma, oligodendroglial tumors, ependymal and choroids plexus tumors, pineal tumors, neuronal tumors, medulloblastoma, schwannoma, meningioma, meningeal sarcoma: neoplasma of the eye: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, retinoblastoma; neoplasma of the enbdocrine glands: pituitary neoplasms, neoplasms of the thyroid, neoplasms of the adrenal cortex, neoplasms of the neuroendocrine system, neoplasms of the gastroenteropancreatic endocrine system, neoplasms of the gonads
  • compositions of an antibody conjugated to a bioactive agent including an antiangiogenic agent or an antitumor agent, useful in the present methods.
  • angiogenesis inhibitor molecule that modulates TEM 1 which comprises contacting a TEM 1 -transgenic mouse bearing a tumor with a test molecule; and detecting the inhibition of the tumor growth, whereby the test molecule is identified as an angiogenesis inhibitor molecule that modulates TEM 1 when the tumor growth in the mouse contacted with the test molecule is reduced relative to the tumor growth in the mouse not contacted by the test molecule.
  • angiogenesis inhibitor molecule that modulates TEM 9 which comprises contacting a TEM 9-transgenic mouse bearing a tumor with a test molecule; and detecting the inhibition of the tumor growth, whereby the test molecule is identified as an angiogenesis inhibitor molecule that modulates TEM 9 when the tumor growth in the mouse contacted with the test molecule is reduced relative to the tumor growth in the mouse not contacted by the test molecule.
  • angiogenesis inhibitor molecule that modulates TEM 17 which comprises contacting a TEM 17-transgenic mouse bearing a tumor with a test molecule; and detecting the inhibition of the tumor growth, whereby the test molecule is identified as an angiogenesis inhibitor molecule that modulates TEM 17 when the tumor growth in the mouse contacted with the test molecule is reduced relative to the tumor growth in the mouse not contacted by the test molecule.
  • a monoclonal antibody, or a biologically active fragment thereof, which specifically binds TEM 1 wherein the antibody is produced by a hybridoma.
  • the hybridoma is TEMl -70.
  • the hybridoma is TEM 1-7.
  • the hybridoma is TEMl -38.
  • the monoclonal antibody or a biologically active fragment thereof, wherein the antibody comprises the same sequence of amino acids of the variable region of the antibody specific for TEM 1 or TEM 17.
  • the antibody is an IgG antibody.
  • the IgG antibody is selected from the members of an IgG subclass consisting OfIgG 1 , IgG 2 , IgG 3 , and IgG 4 .
  • At least one amino acid of the heavy chain of the antibody can be altered with a deletion, addition, or substitution with an amino acid different from the original amino acid.
  • the antibody can be conjugated to an antitumor agent or an antiangiogenic agent. In one embodiment, the antibody inhibits angiogenesis.
  • the angiogenesis promotes or causes cancer. In a specific embodiment, the angiogenesis promotes or causes polycytstic kidney disease. In a specific embodiment, the angiogenesis promotes or causes diabetic retinopathy. In another specific embodiment, the angiogenesis promotes or causes rheumatoid arthritis. In yet another specific embodiment, the angiogenesis promotes or causes psoriasis. In one embodiment, the TEMl -specific or TEM 17-specific antibody inhibits tumor growth. The tumor can be an adenocarinoma, leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, sarcoma, or teratocarcinoma.
  • the tumor can be a cancer of the adrenal gland, bladder, bone, bone marrow, brain, breast, cervix, gall bladder, ganglia, gastrointestinal tract, heart, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, ovary, pancreas, parathyroid, penis, prostate, salivary glands, skin, spleen, testis, thymus, thyroid, or uterus.
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising an amount of the monoclonal antibody, or a biologically active fragment thereof, of the monoclonal antibody specific for TEMl and a suitable excipient.
  • the antibody is TEMl -70.
  • the antibody is TEMl -38.
  • the antibody is TEM1-7.
  • the antibody is TEM17-12.
  • hybridoma strain TEMl -70 a hybridoma strain TEMl -7, a hybridoma strain TEM1-38, and a hybridoma strain FERM ABP-10113.
  • Figure IA and B shows the effects of the human antibody TEM17-12 against TEM17-expressing tumor cells in vivo in two experiments.
  • the methods and compositions disclosed herein relate to the growth and function of the endothelial cell in vitro and in vivo. Specifically, these methods and compositions employ antibodies specific for a subset of surface molecules on endothelial cells that are preferentially expressed on endothelial cells found within tumors and known as tumor endothelial markers or TEMs. Therefore, these antibodies preferentially target disease- related angiogenesis.
  • Antibody molecules that target TEMs can be useful as modulators of endothelial cell activity (e.g., as a therapeutic agent) through at least 4 different mechanisms. First, an antibody can act directly on its target cell by modulating or inhibiting key macromolecular signal transduction pathways.
  • an antibody can bind a critical ligand or its receptor and inhibit a necessary positive stimulus or, alternatively, induce a negative signal (e.g., one eliciting apoptosis).
  • an antibody can act indirectly on its target cell by simply binding its target and deliver a bioactive agent as its conjugate, e.g., a radionuclide or potent toxin with therapeutic benefit.
  • a bioactive agent as its conjugate, e.g., a radionuclide or potent toxin with therapeutic benefit.
  • an antibody can engage other components of the immune system to act on the target cell.
  • the antibody can be used to trigger antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or complement-dependent cytolysis (CDC).
  • the antibody can have intrinsic cytotoxicity.
  • Targeting tumor vasculature endothelium has several unique advantages. First, there is a minimal barrier between the luminal surface of vascular endothelium and intravenously administered agents, enhancing the efficiency of delivery to the targeted cells. Second, localized damage of a few endothelial cells can lead to vascular occlusion as a result of reactive swelling of the endothelium and compromise the surrounding endothelial cells, allowing the localized damage to achieve a more global effect. Third, endothelial cells may not develop resistance to the antibody, permitting repeated administration of the antibody without any decrease in its efficacy.
  • tumor endothelial marker refers to a molecule preferentially expressed on tumor endothelial cells.
  • the expression of TEMs is absent or significantly lower on normal (non-tumor) vasculature. See, e.g., St. Croix, et al, Science 289: 1197-1202 (2000), U.S. Serial No. 09/918715 (Publication No. 20030017157).
  • TEM encompasses any type of molecule expressed on the surface of an endothelial cell for at least a portion of its half-life.
  • Such molecules include, but are not limited to TEM 1, TEM 2, TEM 3, TEM 4, TEM 5, TEM 6, TEM 7, TEM 8, TEM 9, TEM 10, TEM 11, TEM 12, TEM 13, TEM 14, TEM 15, TEM 16, TEM 17, TEM 18, TEM 19, TEM 20, TEM 21, TEM 22, TEM 23, TEM 24, TEM 25, TEM 26, TEM 27, TEM 28, TEM 29, TEM 30, TEM 31, TEM 32, TEM 33, TEM 34, TEM 35, TEM 36, TEM 37, TEM 38, TEM 39, TEM 40, TEM 41, TEM 42, TEM 43, TEM 44, TEM 45, and TEM 46.
  • the target molecule is TEM 1.
  • Endosialin is a 165 kDa glycoprotein. Rettig, etal, Proc. Nat'lAcad. ScL U.S.A. 89: 10832-36 (1992), Christian, et al, J. Biol. Chem. 276: 7408-14 (2001). The sequence of TEM 1 was identified as that of the endosialin protein by St. Croix and colleagues in Science 289: 1197-1202 (2001).
  • TEM 1 is a C-type lectin-like, type I membrane protein with a signal leader peptide, five globular extracellular domains, followed by a mucin-like region, a transmembrane segment and a short cytoplasmic tail.
  • the N-terminal shows homology to thrombomdulin, a receptor involved in regulating blood coagulation and to complement receptor CIqRp. Webster, et al, J. Leuk. Biol. 67: 109-16 (2000).
  • Murine and human TEM 1 share 77.5% amino acid identity with 100% identity in the transmembrane region.
  • TEM 1 has a signal sequence at amino acids 1-17 and its transmembrane domain at amino acids 686-708. Its extracellular domain is at residues 1-685. TEM 1 expression varies with cell density (or cell cycle). Opavsky et al, supra (2001). TEM 1 is maximally expressed in confluent (Go) cells, the most relevant phase of the cell cycle in vivo.
  • the DNA sequence of TEM 1 is disclosed as SEQ ID NO. 196 in U.S. Serial No. 09/918715 (Publication No. 20030017157). [0027]
  • the target molecule is TEM 17.
  • TEM 17 is a Type I membrane protein with a signal sequence at residues 1-18, a N-terminal region similar to the Gl domain of nidogen, a 100 amino acid region with homology to plexins, a transmembrane domain at residues 427-445, and a short cytoplasmic tail. Its extracellular region comprises residues 1-426. The plexin family mediates cell guidance cues, suggesting that TEM 17 may function in this capacity.
  • Murine TEM 17 has 81% sequence identity with the human TEM 17.
  • the DNA sequence of TEM 17 is disclosed as SEQ ID NO. 230 in U.S. Serial No. 09/918715 (Publication No. 20030017157).
  • the target molecule is TEM 9.
  • TEM 9 is a secretin family seven-span transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor. This G- protein coupled receptor homologue has both a signal sequence at residues 1-26 and 7 transmembrane domains.
  • the N-terminal extracellular domain consists of a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) region, followed by an immunoglobulin domain, a peptide hormone receptor domain, and a GPCR proteolytic site domain. Its extracellular region resides in amino acids 1-769, and its transmembrane domains are at residues 817-829 (TM2 and TM3), residues 899-929 (TM4 and TM5), and residues 1034-1040 (TM6 and TM7).
  • LRR leucine-rich repeat
  • TEM 9 is a G-protein coupled receptor with extracellular domains characteristic of cell adhesion proteins.
  • the mouse ortholog has a predicted signal peptide at residues 1-29 and has 87% homology to the human TEM 9.
  • the DNA sequence of TEM 9 is disclosed as SEQ ID NO. 212 in U.S. Serial No. 09/918715 (Publication No. 20030017157).
  • antibody refers to a molecule comprising at least one variable region from a light chain immunoglobulin molecule and at least one variable region from a heavy chain molecule that in combination form a specific binding site for the target antigen.
  • An antibody can be useful in the form of a Fab fragment, F(ab') 2 fragment, a single chain variable region, or an intact antibody molecule. Fragments of intact molecules can be generated using methods well known in the art and include enzymatic digestion and recombinant means. The fragments useful in the present methods are biologically active fragments.
  • biologically active refers to an antibody or antibody fragment that is capable of binding the desired the antigenic epitope and directly or indirectly exerting a biologic effect.
  • Direct effects include, but are not limited to the inhibition of a growth signal, the inhibition of an anti-apoptotic signal, the elicitation of an apoptotic or necrotic signal, initiating the ADCC cascade, and initiating the CDC cascade.
  • Indirect effects include, but are not limited to toxicity due to conjugate delivery (e.g., radionuclide, toxin, drug, or other bioactive agent) or sensitization to secondary agents (e.g., delivery of agent that becomes toxic after exposure to additional agent, such as radiation).
  • the term "specific” refers to the selective binding of the antibody to the target antigen epitope.
  • Antibodies can be tested for specificity of binding by comparing binding to appropriate antigen to binding to irrelevant antigen or antigen mixture under a given set of conditions. If the antibody binds to the appropriate antigen at least 2, 5, 7, and preferably 10 times more than to irrelevant antigen or antigen mixture then it is considered to be specific.
  • a specific antibody is one that binds the human TEM antigen, but does not bind a non-human TEM antigen, e.g., murine TEM antigen
  • a specific antibody is one that binds the human TEM antigen but does not bind a non-human TEM antigen with 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97% or greater amino acid homology with the human TEM antigen, hi one embodiment, the antibody is an IgG antibody.
  • the antibody is a IgG 1 , IgG 2 , IgG3, or IgG4 antibody.
  • the antibody is clone 7, which is specific for TEM 1, and is produced by the hybridoma TEMl -7.
  • the antibody is clone 70, which is specific for TEM 1 , and is produced by hybridoma TEMl -70.
  • the antibody is clone 38, which is specific for TEM 1, and is produced by hybridoma TEM1-38.
  • Hybridomas producing clone 7 (TEM1-7), clone 38 (TEM1-38), and clone 70 (TEM1-70) were internationally deposited on May 15, 2003, with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, International Patent Organism Depositary (AIST Tsukuba Central 6, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8566, Japan) under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty, having the accession numbers FERM BP-8380 (TEM1-7), FERM BP-8381 (TEM1-38), and FERM BP-8382 (TEM1-70).
  • the antibodies useful in the present methods and compositions can be generated in cell culture, in phage, or in various animals, including but not limited to cows, rabbits, goats, mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, sheep, dogs, cats, monkeys, chimpanzees, apes. Therefore, the antibody useful in the present methods is a mammalian antibody. Phage techniques can be used to isolate an initial antibody or to generate variants with altered specificity or avidity characteristics. Such techniques are routine and well known in the art. In one embodiment, the antibody is produced by recombinant means known in the art.
  • a recombinant antibody can be produced by transfecting a host cell with a vector comprising a DNA sequence encoding the antibody.
  • One or more vectors can be used to transfect the DNA sequence expressing at least one VL and one VH region in the host cell.
  • Exemplary descriptions of recombinant means of antibody generation and production include Delves, ANTIBODY PRODUCTION: ESSENTIAL TECHNIQUES (Wiley, 1997); Shephard, et al, MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES (Oxford University Press, 2000); and Goding, MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE (Academic Press, 1993).
  • the antibody useful in the present methods can be modified by recombinant means to increase greater efficacy of the antibody in mediating the desired function. It is also contemplated that antibodies can be modified by substitutions using recombinant means. Typically, the substitutions will be conservative substitutions. For example, at least one amino acid in the constant region of the antibody can be replaced with a different residue. See, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,624,821, U.S. Patent No. 6,194,551, Application No. WO 9958572; and Angal, et al, MoI. Immunol. 30 : 105-08 (1993).
  • the modification in amino acids includes deletions, additions, substitutions of amino acids. In some cases, such changes are made to reduce undesired activities, e.g., complement-dependent cytotoxicity.
  • the antibody can be a humanized antibody.
  • humanized antibody refers to an antibody where the amino acid sequence in the non-antigen binding regions are altered so that the antibody more closely resembles a human antibody while still retaining it original antigen specificity.
  • variable regions are of one species, e.g., mouse, and the constant regions are human in origin.
  • the antibody can be a chimeric antibody.
  • chimeric antibody refers to an antibody where the amino acid sequences are altered so that the antibody contains sequences from more than one mammal while still retaining it original antigen specificity.
  • single- chain variable fragment refers to a genetically engineered antibody that consists of the variable heavy chain (V H ) and light chain (VL) of an immunoglobulin joined together by a flexible peptide linker.
  • the eliciting antigen may be a single epitope, multiple epitopes, or the entire protein alone or in combination with one or more immunogenicity enhancing agents known in the art.
  • the eliciting antigen may be an isolated full-length protein, a cell surface protein (e.g., immunizing with cells transfected with at least a portion of the antigen), or a soluble protein (e.g., immunizing with only the extracellular domain portion of the protein).
  • the antigen may be produced in a genetically modified cell.
  • the DNA encoding the antigen may genomic or non-genomic ⁇ e.g., cDNA) and encodes at least a portion of the extracellular domain.
  • portion refers to the minimal number of amino acids or nucleic acids, as appropriate, to constitute an immunogenic epitope of the antigen of interest.
  • Any genetic vectors suitable for transformation of the cells of interest may be employed, including but not limited to adenoviral vectors, plasmids, and non- viral vectors, such as cationic lipids.
  • the antibody of the methods and compositions herein specifically bind at least a portion of the extracellular domain of the TEM of interest.
  • the antibody of the present methods and compositions can be monoclonal or polyclonal.
  • the term "monoclonal antibody” refers to a singular antibody produced by a single B cell.
  • the term “polyclonal antibody” refers to a mixture of monoclonal antibodies with the same antigen specificity, but being produced by more than one B cell clone.
  • the polyclonal antibody contains monoclonal antibodies with different epitope specificities, affinities, or avidities within a single antigen that contains multiple antigenic epitopes.
  • the antibody provided herein is a human antibody.
  • human antibody refers to an antibody in which essentially the entire sequences of the light chain and heavy chain sequences, including the complementary determining regions (CDRs), are from human genes.
  • CDRs complementary determining regions
  • human monoclonal antibodies are prepared by the trioma technique, the human B-cell technique (see, e.g., Kozbor, et al, Immunol. Today 4; 72 (1983) , EBV transformation technique (see, e.g., Cole et al.
  • the human antibody is generated in a transgenic mouse.
  • Techniques for making such partially to fully human antibodies are known in the art and any such techniques can be used.
  • fully human antibody sequences are made in a transgenic mouse engineered to express human heavy and light chain antibody genes. An exemplary description of preparing transgenic mice that produce human antibodies found in PCT Publication No. WO 02/43478.
  • B cells from transgenic mice that produce the desired antibody can then be fused to make hybridoma cell lines for continuous production of the antibody. See, e.g., U.S. Patent Nos. 5,569,825; 5,625,126; 5,633,425; 5,661,016; and 5,545,806; and Jakobovits, Adv. Drug Del. Rev. 31: 33-42 (1998); Green, et al, J. Exp. Med. 188: 483-495 (1998).
  • bispecific antibodies are also useful in the present methods and compositions.
  • the term "bispecific antibody” refers to an antibody, typically a monoclonal antibody, having binding specificities for at least two different antigenic epitopes.
  • the epitopes are from the same antigen.
  • the epitopes are from two different antigens.
  • Methods for making bispecific antibodies are known in the art. For example, bispecific antibodies can be produced recombinantly using the co- expression of two immunoglobulin heavy chain/light chain pairs. See, e.g., Milstein et al, Nature 305: 537-39 (1983). Alternatively, bispecific antibodies can be prepared using chemical linkage.
  • Bispecific antibodies include bispecific antibody fragments. See, e.g., Hollinger, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sd. U.S.A. 90: 6444-48 (1993), Gruber, et al, J. Immunol. 152: 5368 (1994).
  • Heteroconjugate antibodies are useful in the present methods and compositions.
  • the term "heteroconjugate antibody” refers to two covalently joined antibodies.
  • Such antibodies can be prepared using known methods in synthetic protein chemistry, including using crosslinking agents. See, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 4,676,980.
  • the antibodies provided herein may be conjugated to a bioactive agent.
  • bioactive agent refers to any synthetic or naturally occurring compound that enhances or mediates a desired biological effect.
  • the desired biological effect is stasis or cell death ⁇ e.g., apoptosis).
  • the desired biological effect results from the antibody sensitizing the target cell to a secondary agent that induces stasis or cell death.
  • Bioactive agents include, for example, a pharmaceutical agent, such as a chemotherapeutic drug or a toxin. They can include a cytokine, a ligand, or another antibody. In one embodiment, the agent in an antitumor agent.
  • agent refers to agent that inhibits tumor growth through the induction of an immune response, stasis, cell death, or necrosis.
  • agent is an antiangiogenic agent.
  • antiangiogenic agent refers to an agent that inhibits endothelial cell proliferation, migration, tube formation, or some combination thereof, through the induction of an immune response, stasis, cell death, or necrosis.
  • Suitable agents for coupling to antibodies include cytokines, such as interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon (IFN), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF); photosensitizers (for use in photodynamic therapy), including aluminum (III) phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate, hematoporphyrin, and phthalocyanine; radionuclides, such as iodine-131 ( 131 I), yttrium-90 ( 90 Y), bismuth-212 ( 212 Bi), bismuth-213 ( 213 Bi), technetium-99m ( 99m Tc), rhenium-186 ( 186 Re), and rhenium-188 ( 188 Re); antibiotics, such as doxorubicin, adriamycin, daunorubicin, methotrexate, daunomycin, neocarzinostatin, and carboplatin; bacterial, plant, and other toxins, such as diphtheria toxin
  • the antibodies provided herein are useful in methods to identify the presence or expression of the TEMS of the present methods.
  • a method for detecting the TEM polypolypeptide comprising contacting a sample with a TEM- specific antibody for a period sufficient to form a complex, and detecting the complex, so that if a complex is detected, the TEM is present in the sample.
  • assays include radioimmunoassays, ELISAs, immunochemistry, immunoprecipitation, and other well known immunoassays and are found in, e.g., USING ANTIBODIES: A LABORATORY MANUAL (Harlow, et al., ed.s 1999).
  • the samples include, but are not limited to cells, protein or membrane extracts of cells, biological fluids such as sputum, blood, serum, plasma, or urine, or biological samples such as formalin-fixed or frozen tissue sections.
  • Methods of preparing such samples for analysis are known in the art.
  • the sample analyzed using the antibodies disclosed herein will vary based on the assay format, nature of the detection method, and the tissues, cells, or extracts of cells to be assayed. Such preparations and variations are well known in the art. Any suitable detection system can be used.
  • the detection methods provided herein can be used to diagnosis, stage, or monitor disease progression or monitor responsiveness to therapeutic intervention.
  • kits that contain the necessary reagents to carry out the assays of the methods provided herein.
  • a compartment kit comprising one or more containers, wherein a first container comprises one or more antibodies specific to TEM, and one or more other containers comprising one or more of the following: wash reagents, reagents capable of detecting presence of a bound antibody.
  • the containers can be glass, plastic, or strips of plastic or paper.
  • Types of detection agents include labeled secondary antibodies, other labeled secondary binding agents, or in the alternative, if the primary antibody is labeled, the enzymatic, or antibody binding reagents that are capable of reacting with the labeled antibody.
  • a method of inhibiting proliferation in a cell comprising administering an effective amount of a human antibody, or a biologically active fragment thereof, which specifically binds to an antigen selected from the group consisting of Tumor Endothelial Marker (TEM) 1 and TEM 17, whereby the antibody inhibits proliferation in the cell.
  • TEM Tumor Endothelial Marker
  • Any suitable method for determining cellular proliferation may be used.
  • the method of inhibiting proliferation in a cell comprises the step of contacting endothelial cells with a TEM specific antibody or biologically active fragment thereof as described above, for a certain duration and then determining proliferation relative to a cell not treated with the antibody.
  • An antibody is inhibitory for proliferation if it inhibits the proliferation of cells relative to the proliferation of cells in the absence of the antibody or in the presence of a non- binding antibody.
  • Proliferation may be quantified using any suitable methods.
  • the proliferation is determined by assessing the incorporation of radioactive-labeled nucleotides into DNA (e.g., 3 H-thymidine).
  • proliferation is determined by ATP luminescence, hi a specific embodiment, proliferation is determined using the CellTiter- GloTM Luminescent Cell Viability Assay from Promega.
  • the proliferation of a cell also may be inhibited by the administration of the antibody to a tissue or to a subject as described below.
  • Antibodies that block the function of TEMs associated with enhanced proliferation of tumor endothelial cells are most beneficial to subjects whose malignant disease generates low levels or no circulating endothelial precursor cells, thus indicating that the tumor vasculature of their disease originates, in larger part, from proliferation of endothelial cells on co-opted existing vessels. Blocking the function of TEMS associated with proliferation of tumor endothelial cells also benefits subjects with a relatively lower tumor burden because inhibition of tumor endothelial cell proliferation results in a kinetically slow response to therapy.
  • a method of inhibiting migration of a cell comprising administering an effective amount of a human antibody, or a biologically active fragment thereof, which specifically binds to an antigen selected from the group consisting of TEM I 5 TEM 17, and TEM 9, whereby the antibody inhibits migration of a cell.
  • a human antibody or a biologically active fragment thereof, which specifically binds to an antigen selected from the group consisting of TEM I 5 TEM 17, and TEM 9, whereby the antibody inhibits migration of a cell.
  • Any suitable method for assessing cell migration may be used with the present methods.
  • the method of inhibiting the migration of a cell comprises the steps of contacting endothelial cells with a TEM specific antibody or biologically active fragment thereof as described above in one chamber without the chemoattractant, incubating the endothelial cells and antibody within a chamber separated by a porous membrane from a second chamber with a chemoattractant, determining the number of cells entering the chamber with the chemoattractant in the presence or absence of the antibody, where the antibody is inhibitory to migration when the number of cells migrating in the absence of the antibody is greater than the number migrating in the presence of the antibody.
  • An antibody is inhibitory for migration if the number of cells migrating in the presence of the antibody is less relative to the migration of cells in the absence of the antibody or in the presence of a non-binding antibody or other irrelevant antibody.
  • Migration may be quantified using any suitable method. Typically, migration is determined by assessing the number of cells in the chamber with the chemoattractant versus those remaining in the original chamber.
  • the cells are pre-labeled with PKH67 green dye, according to manufacturer's instructions.
  • the cells are labeled with Calcein AM. Following incubation, the cells are enumerated using a fluorescent inverted phase microscope. The migration of a cell may also be inhibited by the administration of the antibody to a tissue or to a subject as described below.
  • Antibodies that block the function of TEMs associated with enhanced migration of tumor endothelial cells are most beneficial to subjects whose malignant disease is relatively slow growing or indolent and/or who have known metastatic disease because blood vessel formation in the disease sites of these subjects most likely draws on endothelial precursor cells from the bone marrow as well as endothelial cells from the normal tissue sites of disease, thus requiring migration of endothelial cells as a major function.
  • Also provided herein is a method of inhibiting endothelial tube formation, comprising: administering an effective amount of a human antibody, or a biologically active fragment thereof, which specifically binds to an antigen selected from the group consisting of TEM 1 and TEM 17, whereby the antibody inhibits endothelial tube formation.
  • a method of inhibiting endothelial tube formation comprising: administering an effective amount of a human antibody, or a biologically active fragment thereof, which specifically binds to an antigen selected from the group consisting of TEM 1 and TEM 17, whereby the antibody inhibits endothelial tube formation.
  • Any suitable method for assessing tubule formation may be used for the method herein.
  • the method of inhibiting the endothelial tubule formation of a cell comprises the steps of contacting endothelial cells with a TEM specific antibody or biologically active fragment thereof as described above in the presence of a suitable matrix, incubating the endothelial cells and antibody within the matrix, assessing the tubule formation, where the antibody is inhibitory to tubule formation when the number of tubules formed or the character of the tubules in the absence of the antibody is greater or significantly altered relative to the number of tubules or the character of the tubules in the presence of the antibody.
  • An antibody is inhibitory for tubule formation if the number of tubules formed in the presence of the antibody is less relative to the number of tubules formed in the absence of the antibody or in the presence of a non-binding antibody.
  • An antibody is inhibitory for tubule formation if the character of tubules formed in the presence of the antibody is altered relative to the character of the tubules formed in the absence of the antibody or in the presence of a non-binding antibody.
  • the term "character of the tubule” refers to the robustness and duration of the tubule networks formed in the matrix. Tubule formation may be quantified using any suitable methods. Typically, tubule formation is assessed by microscopy.
  • the cells are pre-labeled with PKH67 green dye, according to manufacturer's instructions. In another embodiment, the cells are labeled with Calcein AM. Following incubation with or without antibody in the matrix, the tubules are examined using a fluorescent inverted phase microscope. The tubule formation by a cell also may be inhibited by the administration of the antibody to a tissue or to a subject as described below.
  • Antibodies that block the function of TEMs associated with enhanced tube formation of tumor endothelial cells are most beneficial to subjects whose malignant disease generates high circulating levels of endothelial precursor cells, thus indicating that the tumor vasculature of their disease originates, in large part, from development of vessel tubes established by circulating endothelial precursor cells. Blocking the function of TEMs associated with enhanced tube formation of tumor endothelial cells also benefits subjects with a relatively rapidly growing tumor where disruption of or inhibition of vessel tube formation blocks continued expansion of the tumor mass.
  • any cell that expresses the TEM of interest can be induced to express the TEM of interest, or expresses a non-human TEM homologue (e.g., murine, bovine, and the like) may be used.
  • the cell is a cell line that endogenously expresses the TEM of interest, hi a specific embodiment, the cell line is the murine 2Hl 1 endothelial cell line (ATCC).
  • the cell is induced to express the TEM of interest, hi a specific embodiment, the cell is an AC133+/CD34+ human bone marrow cell cultured in the presence of basic FGF (bFGF), VEGF, and heparin to generate the endothelial precursor cell (EPCs) as described in Example 1.
  • the cell is a transfected or transduced with the TEM of interest, hi a specific embodiment, the human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) or the human microvascular endothelial cell is transduced with an adenoviral vector encoding the TEM of interest.
  • the COS or 293 cell is transfected with a plasmid encoding the TEM of interest.
  • the TEM-expressing cell may be contacted with growth factors or media conditioned by other cells.
  • colon carcinoma conditioned media can be prepared using confluent cultures of human HCTl 16 colon carcinoma cells or human HT29 colon carcinoma cells grown in serum free media for 3 days.
  • Factors useful in supplementing media include VEGF and bFGF.
  • the cell is derived from or in a human or veterinary subject.
  • the TEM-expressing cell can be contacted with the antibody in any suitable manner for any suitable length of time.
  • the cells can be contacted with the antibody more than once during incubation or treatment.
  • the dose required is in the range of about 1 ⁇ g/ml to 1000 ⁇ g/ml, more typically in the range of 100 ⁇ g/ml to 800 ⁇ g/ml.
  • the exact dose can be readily determined from in vitro cultures of the cells and exposure of the cell to varying dosages of the antibody.
  • the length of time the cell is contacted with the antibody is 1 hour to 3 days, more typically for 24 hours.
  • Any suitable matrix may be used.
  • the matrix is reconstituted basement membrane MatrigelTM matrix (BD Sciences).
  • angiogenesis refers to the development of blood vessels.
  • the blood vessels can be established or new blood vessels.
  • the term “neoangiogenesis” refers to the development of new blood vessels.
  • a method of inhibiting tumor growth comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, an effective amount of a human antibody, or a biologically active fragment thereof, which specifically binds to an antigen selected from the group consisting of TEM 1, TEM 17, and TEM 9, whereby the antibody inhibits the tumor growth.
  • Subjects treated by these methods express the TEM Antigen of interest.
  • a screening or diagnostic analysis of patient samples can be performed prior to the initiation of treatment using TEM-specific therapy.
  • Such diagnosis analysis can be performed using any sample, including but not limited to cells, protein or membrane extracts of cells, biological fluids such as sputum, blood, serum, plasma, or urine, or biological samples such as formalin- fixed or frozen tissue sections employing the antibodies of the present invention. Any suitable method for detection and analysis of TEM expression can be employed.
  • Any subject can be treated with the methods and compositions provided herein.
  • a subject is a mammal, preferably a human, with an angiogenesis associated disease or symptom.
  • the subject has cancer.
  • Veterinary uses of the disclosed methods and compositions are also contemplated. Such uses would include treatment of angiogenesis-related diseases and cancer, in domestic animals, livestock and thoroughbred horses.
  • inhibit or “treat” or “treatment” includes a postponement of development of the symptoms associated with uncontrolled angiogenesis, tumor growth and/or a reduction in the severity of such symptoms that will or are expected to develop.
  • the terms further include ameliorating existing uncontrolled or unwanted angiogenesis-related or tumor growth-related symptoms, preventing additional symptoms, and ameliorating or preventing the underlying metabolic causes of symptoms.
  • the terms denote that a beneficial result has been conferred on a vertebrate subject with an angiogenesis-associated disease or symptom, particularly cancer, or with the potential to develop such a disease or symptom.
  • the term "therapeutically effective amount” or “effective amount” refers to an amount of an anti-TEM antibody that when administered alone or in combination with an additional therapeutic agent to a cell, tissue, or subject is effective to prevent or ameliorate the angiogenic- and/or tumor-associated disease condition or the progression of the disease.
  • a therapeutically effective dose further refers to that amount of the compound sufficient to result in amelioration of symptoms, e.g., treatment, healing, prevention or amelioration of the relevant medical condition, or an increase in rate of treatment, healing, prevention or amelioration of such conditions.
  • a therapeutically effective dose refers to that ingredient alone.
  • a therapeutically effective dose refers to combined amounts of the active ingredients that result in the therapeutic effect, whether administered in combination, serially or simultaneously.
  • An antibody useful in the present methods may be administered to a subject in need, by itself, or in pharmaceutical compositions where it is mixed with suitable carriers or excipient(s) at doses to treat or ameliorate a variety of disorders.
  • a composition may also contain (in addition to protein and a carrier) diluents, fillers, salts, buffers, stabilizers, solubilizers, and other materials well known in the art.
  • pharmaceutically acceptable means a non-toxic material that does not interfere with the effectiveness of the biological activity of the active ingredient(s). The characteristics of the carrier will depend on the route of administration.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the invention may also contain other anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor agents such cytokines or chemotherapeutic agents.
  • a therapeutically effective amount of antibody provided herein is administered to a mammal having a condition to be treated.
  • the antibody may be administered in accordance with the methods herein either alone or in combination with other therapies such as treatments employing other hematopoietic factors (e.g., cytokines), chemotherapeutic agents, anti-angiogenic agents, and the like.
  • the antibody provided herein may be administered either simultaneously with the biologically active agent(s), or sequentially. If administered sequentially, the attending physician will decide on the appropriate sequence of administering protein of the present invention in combination with the biologically active agent(s).
  • Toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of such compounds can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimental animals, e.g., for determining the LD 50 (the dose lethal to 50% of the population) and the ED 5 o (the dose therapeutically effective in 50% of the population).
  • the dose ratio between toxic and therapeutic effects is the therapeutic index and it can be expressed as the ratio between LD 50 and ED 50 .
  • Antibodies exhibiting high therapeutic indices are preferred.
  • the data obtained from these cell culture assays and animal studies can be used in formulating a range of dosage for use in human.
  • the dosage of such compounds lies preferably within a range of circulating concentrations that include the ED 50 with little or no toxicity. The dosage may vary within this range depending upon the dosage form employed and the route of administration utilized.
  • MEC minimal effective concentration
  • the mode of administration is not particularly important.
  • the mode of administration is an LV. bolus.
  • the prescribing physician will normally determine the dosage of the antibodies provided herein. It is to be expected that the dosage will vary according to the age, weight and response of the individual patient.
  • Suitable routes of administration may, for example, include oral, rectal, transmucosal, or intestinal administration; parenteral delivery, including intramuscular, subcutaneous, intramedullary injections, as well as intrathecal, direct intraventricular, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intranasal, or intraocular injections.
  • antibody used in the pharmaceutical composition or to practice the method of the present invention can be carried out in a variety of conventional ways, such as oral ingestion, inhalation, topical application or cutaneous, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, parenteral, intraarterial or intravenous injection. Intravenous administration to the patient is preferred.
  • the liposomes will be targeted to and taken up selectively by the afflicted tissue.
  • compositions for use in accordance with the present methods thus may be formulated in a conventional manner using one or more physiologically acceptable carriers comprising excipients and auxiliaries that facilitate processing of the active compounds into preparations that can be used pharmaceutically.
  • physiologically acceptable carriers comprising excipients and auxiliaries that facilitate processing of the active compounds into preparations that can be used pharmaceutically.
  • These pharmaceutical compositions may be manufactured in a manner that is itself known, e.g., by means of conventional mixing, dissolving, granulating, dragee-making, levigating, emulsifying, encapsulating, entrapping or lyophilizing processes. Proper formulation is dependent upon the route of administration chosen.
  • a liquid carrier such as water, petroleum, oils of animal or plant origin such as peanut oil, mineral oil, soybean oil, or sesame oil, or synthetic oils may be added.
  • the liquid form of the pharmaceutical composition may further contain physiological saline solution, dextrose or other saccharide solution, or glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol.
  • the pharmaceutical composition When administered in liquid form, contains from about 0.5 to 90% by weight of protein of the present invention, and preferably from about 1 to 50% protein of the present invention.
  • protein of the present invention When a therapeutically effective amount of antibody of the methods herein is administered by intravenous, cutaneous or subcutaneous injection, protein of the present invention will be in the form of a pyrogen-free, parenterally acceptable aqueous solution.
  • a preferred pharmaceutical composition for intravenous, cutaneous, or subcutaneous injection should contain, in addition to protein of the present invention, an isotonic vehicle such as Sodium Chloride Injection, Ringer's Injection, Dextrose Injection, Dextrose and Sodium Chloride Injection, Lactated Ringer's Injection, or other vehicle as known in the art.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may also contain stabilizers, preservatives, buffers, antioxidants, or other additives known to those of skill in the art.
  • the agents of the invention may be formulated in aqueous solutions, preferably in physiologically compatible buffers such as Hanks' solution, Ringer's solution, or physiological saline buffer.
  • physiologically compatible buffers such as Hanks' solution, Ringer's solution, or physiological saline buffer.
  • penetrants appropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation. Such penetrants are generally known in the art.
  • the antibodies for use according to the present methods are conveniently delivered in the form of an aerosol spray presentation from pressurized packs or a nebuliser, with the use of a suitable propellant, e.g., dichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, carbon dioxide or other suitable gas.
  • a suitable propellant e.g., dichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, carbon dioxide or other suitable gas.
  • the dosage unit may be determined by providing a valve to deliver a metered amount.
  • Capsules and cartridges of, e.g., gelatin for use in an inhaler or insufflator may be formulated containing a powder mix of the compound and a suitable powder base such as lactose or starch.
  • the compounds may be formulated for parenteral administration by injection, e.g., by bolus injection or continuous infusion.
  • Formulations for injection maybe presented in unit dosage form, e.g., in ampules or in multi-dose containers, with an added preservative.
  • the compositions may take such forms as suspensions, solutions or emulsions in oily or aqueous vehicles, and may contain formulatory agents such as suspending, stabilizing and/or dispersing agents.
  • compositions for parenteral administration include aqueous solutions of the active compounds in water-soluble form. Additionally, suspensions of the active compounds may be prepared as appropriate oily injection suspensions. Suitable lipophilic solvents or vehicles include fatty oils such as sesame oil, or synthetic fatty acid esters, such as ethyl oleate or triglycerides, or liposomes. Aqueous injection suspensions may contain substances that increase the viscosity of the suspension, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sorbitol, or dextran. Optionally, the suspension may also contain suitable stabilizers or agents that increase the solubility of the compounds to allow for the preparation of highly concentrated solutions. Alternatively, the active ingredient maybe in powder form for constitution with a suitable vehicle, e.g., sterile pyrogen-free water, before use.
  • a suitable vehicle e.g., sterile pyrogen-free water
  • the amount of antibody useful in the disclosed methods in the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention will depend upon the nature and severity of the condition being treated, and on the nature of prior treatments that the patient has undergone. Ultimately, the attending physician will decide the amount of protein of the present invention with which to treat each individual patient. Initially, the attending physician will administer low doses of antibodies of the present methods and observe the patient's response. Larger doses of antibodies of the present invention may be administered until the optimal therapeutic effect is obtained for the patient, and at that point the dosage is not increased further.
  • the various pharmaceutical compositions used to practice the methods herein should contain about 0.01 ⁇ g to about 100 mg (preferably about 0.1 ⁇ g to about 10 mg, more preferably about 0.1 ⁇ g to about 1 mg) of antibody of the present invention per kg body weight.
  • the therapeutic composition for use in this invention is, of course, in a pyrogen-free, physiologically acceptable form.
  • Therapeutically useful agents other than an antibody of the present methods may alternatively or additionally, be administered simultaneously or sequentially with the composition in the methods of the invention.
  • the antibody provided herein can be administered alone or in combination with other therapeutic modalities.
  • the treatment method can further comprise a step of delivering ionizing radiation to the cells contacted with the antibody.
  • the ionizing radiation is delivered in a dose sufficient to induce a substantial degree of cell killing among the malignantly proliferating cells, as judged by assays measuring viable malignant cells.
  • the degree of cell killing induced is substantially greater than that induced by either the antibody alone or the ionizing radiation alone.
  • Typical forms of ionizing radiation include beta rays, gamma rays, alpha particles, and X-rays.
  • Radionuclides can be delivered from an outside source, such as X-ray machine or a gamma camera, or delivered to the malignant tissue from radionuclides administered to the patient.
  • the use of radionuclides is well understood in the art and need not be detailed further.
  • the use of ionizing radiation in the treatment of malignancies is described, for example, in S. Hellman, Principles of Radiation Therapy, in CANCER: PRINCIPLES & PRACTICE OF ONCOLOGY 248 (V. T. DeVita, Jr., et al, eds., 4th ed., 1993).
  • a range of dosages that can be used is between about 1 and 500 cGy (i.e., from about 1 to about 500 rads).
  • the antibody provided herein also can be administered alone or in combination with other antibodies identified as inhibitors of endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and/or tubule formation using the methods disclosed herein.
  • the co-administered antibodies can be specific for different epitopes of the same TEM, different TEM, or a TEM and another angiogenesis-inhibitory or antitumor target.
  • any disease where angiogenesis is implicated can be treated with the present methods.
  • diseases include, but are not limited to neoplasma of the central nervous system: glioblastomamultiforme, astrocytoma, oligodendroglial tumors, ependymal and choroids plexus tumors, pineal tumors, neuronal tumors, medulloblastoma, schwannoma, meningioma, meningeal sarcoma: neoplasma of the eye: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, retinoblastoma; neoplasma of the enbdocrine glands: pituitary neoplasms, neoplasms of the thyroid, neoplasms of the adrenal cortex, neoplasms of the neuroendocrine system, neoplasms of the gastroenteropancreatic
  • Other diseases include polycystic kidney disease; diabetic retinopathy; rheumatoid arthritis; psoriasis; osteoarthritis; adenocarcinoma; leukemia; lymphoma; melanoma; sarcoma; tetratocarcinoma; acoustic neuroma, neurofibroma, trachoma and pyogenic granulomas; macular degeneration; retinopathy of prematurity; corneal graft rejection; neo vascular glaucoma and retrolental fibroplasia.
  • diseases associated with angiogenesis include, but are not limited to, epidemnic keratoconjunctivitis, Vitamin A deficiency, atopic keratitis, superior limbic keratitis, pterygium keratitis sicca, sjogrens, phylectenulosis, syphilis, Mycobacteria infections, lipid degeneration, chemical bums, bacterial ulcers, fungal ulcers, Herpes simplex infections, Herpes zoster infections, protozoan infections, Kaposi sarcoma, Mooren ulcer, Terrien's marginal degeneration, marginal keratolysis, systemic lupus, polyarteritis, trauma, Wegeners sarcoidosis, Scleritis, Steven's Johnson disease, periphigoid radial keratotomy, corneal graph rejection, and chronic inflammatory diseases.
  • the methods provided herein also have important non-clinical uses as in bioassays of angiostasis and angiogenesis. By providing both positive and negative controls in assays of angiogenesis, the methods maybe used to examine and characterize the effectiveness of candidate anti-angiogenic molecules while assessing potential toxic effects on normal angiogenesis.
  • Anti-angiogenic molecules are those molecules that reduce or eliminate angiogenesis. Such inhibition can occur through direct binding of one or more critical binding residues of a TEM protein that results in an anti-angiogenic signal, steric hindrance, reduced cell surface expression, and the like.
  • the term "anti-angiogenic molecule” includes both protein and non-protein moieties.
  • the agent is a small molecule. In another embodiment, the agent is a protein.
  • angiogenesis inhibitor molecule that modulates a TEM protein which comprises contacting a TEM-transgenic mouse bearing a tumor with a test molecule; and detecting the inhibition of the tumor growth, whereby the test molecule is identified as an angiogenesis inhibitor molecule that modulates the TEM protein or activity when the tumor growth in the mouse contacted with the test molecule is reduced relative to the tumor growth in the mouse not contacted by the test molecule.
  • the TEM is TEM 1.
  • the TEM is TEM 9.
  • the TEM is TEM 17.
  • the TEM transgenic mouse is generated using conventional transgenic methods.
  • the human TEM 1 cDNA in the RPCIl 1-867G23 BAC clone (GenBank Accession No. APOOl 107 hivitrogen Corp.) as a transgene.
  • Injection into embryos from C57B1/6 mice was performed by YS New Technology Institute, Inc.
  • the resulting TEM 1 transgenic mice are then crossbred with C57B1/6 mice (Japan SLC, Inc.) to produce additional transgenic progeny.
  • Any suitable tumor can be injected in any suitable manner to provide a model for the testing of anti-angiogenic molecules.
  • the murine recipient of the tumor can be any suitable strain.
  • the tumor can be syngeneic, allogeneic, or xenogenic to the tumor.
  • the recipient can be immunocompetent or immunocompromised in one or more immune-related functions, included but not limited to nu/nu, scid, and beige mice.
  • the recipient is a transgenic mouse.
  • the transgenic mouse is a C57B1/6 mouse with a human TEM 1 transgene.
  • the human TEM 1 transgene comprises the DNA sequence of TEM 1 in the RPCIl 1-867G23 BAC clone (GenBank Accession No.
  • the TEM 1 transgene is then injected into C57BL/6 mice embryos using conventional methods in the art.
  • the TEM 1 transgenic mouse can then be crossbred with non-transgenic, strain identical mice to expand the number of transgenic progeny.
  • the TEM 1 transgenic mice can be inoculated with syngeneic tumor cells, e.g., Bl 6 melanoma (ATCC).
  • syngeneic tumor cells e.g., Bl 6 melanoma (ATCC).
  • the effect of antibody administration on tumor growth can be ascertained by quantifying the primary or metastatic tumor growth using conventional methods.
  • the dosage of antibody ranges from l ⁇ g/mouse to lmg/mouse in at least one administration.
  • the antibody can be administered by any suitable route.
  • the dose of antibody is 100 ⁇ g/mouse twice a week, hi one specific embodiment, the B16 melanoma tumor is injected subcutaneously at day 0 into C57B1/6 human TEM 1 transgenic mice, and the volume of the primary tumor is measured at designated time points by using calipers.
  • Any suitable control antibody can be used, hi one example, the control antibody is a purified IgGl isotype control antibody which had been raised against a hapten, dinitrophenyl.
  • Anti-angiogenic molecules can encompass numerous chemical classes. In certain embodiments, they are organic molecules, preferably small organic compounds having a molecular weight of more than 50 and less than about 2,500 daltons. Anti-angiogenic molecules can comprise functional groups necessary for structural interaction with proteins, particularly hydrogen bonding, and may include at least an amine, carbonyl, hydroxyl or carboxyl group, preferably at least two of the functional chemical groups. The anti-angiogenic molecules can comprise cyclical carbon or heterocyclic structures and/or aromatic or polyaromatic structures substituted with one or more of the above functional groups.
  • Anti-angiogenic molecules also include biomolecules like peptides, saccharides, fatty acids, steroids, purines, pyrimidines, derivatives, structural analogs or combinations thereof.
  • Test anti-angiogenic molecules of interest also can include peptide and protein agents, such as antibodies or binding fragments or mimetics thereof, e.g., Fv, F(ab') 2 and Fab.
  • Test anti-angiogenic molecules also can be obtained from a wide variety of sources including libraries of synthetic or natural compounds. For example, numerous means are available for random and directed synthesis of a wide variety of organic compounds and biomolecules, including expression of randomized oligonucleotides and oligopeptides. Alternatively, libraries of natural compounds in the form of bacterial, fungal, plant and animal extracts are available or readily produced. Additionally, natural or synthetically produced libraries and compounds are readily modified through conventional chemical, physical and biochemical means, and may be used to produce combinatorial libraries. Known pharmacological agents may be subjected to directed or random chemical modifications, such as acylation, alkylation, esterification, amidification, etc. to produce structural analogs.
  • a test anti-angiogenic molecule is identified as an inhibitor when it is capable of specifically inhibiting the growth of a tumor by at least 20%, often 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90%, and sometimes 100%.
  • the growth inhibition can be quantified using any convenient method of measurement. For example, for primary tumor growth, perpendicular measurements are taken of the tumor mass to calculate tumor volume. Metastatic growth can be ascertained by microscopic or macroscopic analysis, as appropriate.
  • the tumor can be syngeneic, allogeneic, or xenogeneic to the transgenic animal.
  • the test molecules can be administered at the time of tumor inoculation, after the establishment of primary tumor growth, or after the establishment of local and/or distant metastases. Single or multiple administration of the test molecule can be given using any convenient mode of administration, including but not limited to intravenous, intraperitoneal, intratumoral, subcutaneous, and intradermal.
  • EPCs Endothelial Precursor Cells
  • Bone marrow cells expressing the endothelial cell lineage markers ACl 33 and CD34 can be stimulated with VEGF, bFGF and heparin in fibronectin or collagen monolayer culture to differentiate into a phenotype described as endothelial precursor cells (EPCs).
  • EPCs endothelial precursor cells
  • the AC133 + /CD34 + bone marrow population is isolated using conventional means.
  • the AC133 + /CD34 + cells are stimulated with 50 ng/ml VEGF 165 , 10-50 ng/ml bFGF, and 50/ml heparin in IMDM media supplemental with 15% FBS. The cells undergo rapid proliferation and differentiation.
  • EPCs can be expanded in culture for over a dozen passages and appear to be an intermediary between stem cells from bone marrow and fully differentiated endothelial cells. Characterization of these EPCs indicate that they possess many of the same properties as mature endothelial cells such as HMVECs and HUVECs.
  • EPCs can form tubes on Matrigel, migrate and invade, important properties in the formation of new vessels within a tumor microenvironment. SAGE analysis of EPCs has been performed comparing gene expression under stimulatory (+ VEGF) and non-stimulatory (- VEGF) conditions with notable differences being observed.
  • EPCs In vivo human EPCs can form tubes when implanted in Matrigel plugs in immunodeficient mice thus allowing model of angiogenesis with human endothelium in mice.
  • EPCs have been found to express many endothelial cell surface markers including CD31, P IHl 2, and CDl 05 at levels similar to those of HUVEC and HMVEC as analyzed by flow cytometry.
  • EPCs express colon tumor endothelial markers (TEMs) 5 mRNAs that have been identified as being expressed at high levels in endothelial cells derived from a fresh surgical specimen of colon tumor compared to the endothelium of normal colon mucosa.
  • the levels of TEM mRNA expressed in human EPCs were markedly higher than was observed in MHVECs and HUVECs. In fact, many TEMs were not detectable in HUVECs and MHVECs.
  • hTEM 1 human TEM 1
  • Human TEMl coding sequence was cloned from human fetal brain RNA by RT-PCR using 3' and 5' TEMl specific primers. The 5' end primer was modified to contain a consensus Kozak sequence of CCACC 5' to the ATG start codon.
  • ntlO2 to ntl963 of the full-length human gene for TEM 1 was subcloned into W-I vector (Genovac AG, Freiburg, Germany) inframe, with the 5' signal sequence and myc-TAG at the 5' end and a GPI transmembrane anchor motif at the 3' end in the vector, to generate W-I TEMl.
  • the extracellular portion included in the vector encodes TEMl from amino acids 33 to 684 of SEQ ID NO. 196 of U.S. Serial No. 09/918715 (Publication No. 20030017157) (GenBank # NM_020404). Rabbits were immunized with the Wl-TEM 1 vector. The IgG fractions for the rabbit polyclonals were then purified using conventional methods.
  • TEM 1 Using flow cytometric analysis, the cell surface expression of TEM 1 was confirmed using the murine polyclonal anti human TEM 1 antibody on 2Hl 1 endothelial cells (2Hl 1 cells endogenously express murine TEM 1) and using Hek-293 cells transfected with Wl-TEM 1 and treated with the rabbit polyclonal anti human TEM 1. Both cells stained positively with the anti-TEM 1 antibody.
  • Proliferation Assay Proliferation was assayed by the methods described in Crouch et al, J. Immunol. Meth. 160: 81 (1993) and Kangas et al, Med. Biol. 62: 338 (1984) using human endothelial precursor cells (EPCs) prepared as described in Example 1. Proliferation was assessed in a 96 well plate system using 2x10 3 cell/well in media supplemented with 2% fetal bovine serum. The ATP luminescence assay (CellTiter GloTM Luminescent Cell Viability kit, Promega) was used as a growth inhibition endpoint for human EPCs exposed to rabbit polyclonal anti-human TEM 1.
  • EPCs endothelial precursor cells
  • Cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of antibody from 100 - 800 ⁇ g/ml for 48-hours.
  • the control IgG antibody was rabbit serum IgG fraction purchased from Sigma. In the absence of antibody, 3,662 + 354 EPCs were detected.
  • the cell numbers observed in the presence of control IgG were 4,185 + 117, 4,418 + 38, and 4,611 ⁇ 165, respectively.
  • the cell numbers observed in the presence of anti-TEM 1 antibody at 200, 400, and 800 ⁇ g/ml were 3,756 ⁇ 92, 3,881 ⁇ 97, and 3,773 + 127, respectively, demonstrating the anti-proliferative effect of anti-TEM 1 antibody.
  • Migration Assay Migration was assayed as described in Glaser et al, Nature 288: 483-84 (1983) and Alessandri et al, Cancer Res. 43: 1790-97 (1983) using human EPCs (prepared as described in Example 1) plated in media without serum in the upper chamber atop the 8 micron pore membrane at 5x10 per chamber. Media supplemented with 0.5% fetal bovine serum was placed as a chemo-attractant in the lower chamber. The cells were allowed to migrate through the lower side of the membrane over a 48-hour period in the presence and absence of 800 ⁇ g/ml anti-human TEM 1 rabbit polyclonal antiserum or control rabbit IgG fraction.
  • the antibody was placed in both the upper and lower chambers of the experimental wells.
  • the cells that migrated through the membrane were then stained with calcein and quantified by fluorescence intensity.
  • migrating cells produced 7000 and 7750 RFUs, respectively, when incubated without antibody or in the presence of control IgG.
  • the RFUs were reduced to 4200, indicating a significant reduction in the number of migrating cells.
  • Ad2CMV-TEMl An adenovirus vector containing the gene encoding the full length human TEM 1 (Ad2CMV-TEMl) was constructed using the pAD(vantage) system as described in Souza, et al, Biotechniques, 26:502-08(1999). Ad2CMV-TEMl was used to infect human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC) at an MOI of 300. Seventy-two hours post-viral infection, the HMVEC were trypsinized and plated onto MatrigelTM for the tube formation assay. The assay was carried out in a 24 well plate for 24 hours.
  • Cells were then stained with Calcein AM (Molecular Probes) for 30-60 minutes at 37 0 C, and fluorescence images of the tubes were captured. The area occupied by the tubes was quantified using MetaMorph image analysis. Cells were plated at a density of 3x10 4 cells/well with 250 ⁇ l of MatrigelTM. In the absence of antibody, the tube area for the non-infected, empty vector (EV)-infected, and TEM 1 -infected cells was 90000, 61000, and 110000 pixels, respectively, hi the presence of control antibody, the tube area for non- infected, empty vector (EV)-infected, and TEM 1 -infected cells was 38000, 62000, and 61000 pixels, respectively.
  • Calcein AM Molecular Probes
  • nt 152 to nt 1318 of the full length human gene for TEM17 was subcloned into W-I vector (Genovac AG, Freiburg, Germany) inframe with the 5' signal sequence and myc-tag at the 5 'end and a GPI transmembrane anchor motif at the 3' end in the vector to generate W-I TEM 17.
  • W-I vector Genevac AG, Freiburg, Germany
  • the extracellular portion included in the vector encodes TEM 17 from amino acids 24 to 412 of SEQ ID NO. 230 of U.S. Serial No. 09/918715 (Publication No. 20030017157). Rabbits were immunized with the Wl-TEM 17 vector.
  • pcDNA3.1 hTEM17 encodes the full length protein of 500 amino acids.
  • the IgG fractions for the rabbit and murine polyclonals were then purified using conventional methods.
  • Proliferation Assay Proliferation was assayed by the methods described in Crouch et al, J. Immunol Meth. 160: 81 (1993) and Kangas et al, Med. Biol. 62: 338 (1984) using human endothelial precursor cells (EPCs) prepared as described in Example 1. Proliferation was assessed in a 96 well plate system using 2x10 3 cell/well in media supplemented with 2% fetal bovine serum. The ATP luminescence assay (CellTiter GloTM Luminescent Cell Viability kit, Promega) was used as a growth inhibition endpoint for human EPCs exposed to rabbit polyclonal anti-human TEM 17.
  • EPCs endothelial precursor cells
  • the control IgG antibody was rabbit serum IgG fraction purchased from Sigma. In the absence of antibody, 3,662 ⁇ 354 EPCs were detected.
  • the cell numbers observed in the presence of control IgG were 4,185 + 117, 4,418 + 38, and 4,611 + 165, respectively.
  • the cell numbers observed in the presence of anti-TEM 17 antibody at 200, 400, and 800 ⁇ g/ml were 3,480 ⁇ 190, 3,472 + 35, and 3,536 + 166, respectively, demonstrating the anti-proliferative effect of anti-TEM 17 antibody. This antiproliferative effect was not observed in murine 2Hl 1 endothelial cells treated with rabbit anti-TEM 17 polyclonal antibody.
  • Migration Assay Migration was assayed as described in Glaser et al, Nature 288: 483-84 (1983) and Alessandri et al, Cancer Res. 43: 1790-97 (1983) using human EPCs (prepared as described in Example 1) plated in media without serum in the upper chamber atop the 8 micron pore membrane at 5x10 4 per chamber. Media supplemented with 0.5% fetal bovine serum was placed as a chemo-attractant in the lower chamber. The cells were allowed to migrate through the lower side of the membrane over a 48-hour period in the presence and absence of 800 ⁇ g/ml anti-human TEM 17 rabbit polyclonal antiserum or control rabbit IgG fraction.
  • the antibody was placed in both the upper and lower chambers of the experimental wells.
  • the cells that migrated through the membrane were then stained with calcein and quantified by fluorescence intensity.
  • migrating cells produced 4500 and 10,000 RFUs, respectively, when incubated without antibody or in the presence of control IgG.
  • the RFUs were reduced to 3500, indicating a significant reduction in the number of migrating cells relative to the control antibody treated cells.
  • Endothelial Tube Formation Assay To examine the effect of anti-TEM 17 antibody on endothelial cell tube formation, human EPCs (prepared as described in Example 1) were pre-incubated overnight in the presence of rabbit anti-human TEM 17 polyclonal antibody, and then were plated in basal media supplemented with 0.5% and 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS) at 2x10 4 cell/well in a 48 well dish pre-coated with MatrigelTM. After 24 hours, cells were stained with Calcein AM (Molecular Probes) for 30-60 minutes at 37 0 C, and fluorescence images of the tubes were captured. The area occupied by the tubes was quantified using MetaMorph image analysis.
  • FBS fetal bovine serum
  • the tube area for EPCs was 3000 and 2800 pixels, respectively, in the presence of 0.5% and 2% FBS, respectively.
  • the tube area for EPCs was 2200 and 600 pixels, respectively, in the presence of 0.5% and 2% FBS, respectively, demonstrating the potent inhibitory effect of the anti-TEM 17 antibody.
  • the tube formation by 2Hl 1 endothelial cells were inhibited in the presence of rabbit polyclonal anti-TEM 17. 2Hl 1 cells were pre-incubated with 800 mg/ml of antibody, and then allowed to form networks/tubes in Matrigel for five hours.
  • the tube area was 6000 pixels whereas in the presence of anti-TEM 17 antibody, the area was 2300 pixels, indicating that anti-TEM 17 antibody provides an inhibitory effect on tubule formation of both human EPCs and 2Hl 1 endothelial cells.
  • nt 127 to nt 2290 of the full length human gene for TEM 9 was subcloned into the VV-I vector (Genovac AG, Freiburg, Germany) inframe with the 5' signal sequence and myc-tag at the 5 'end and a GPI transmembrane anchor motif at the 3 ' end in the vector, to generate W-I TEM 9.
  • the extracellular portion included in the vector encodes TEM9 from amino acids 32 to 752 of SEQ ID NO. 212 of U.S. Serial No. 09/918715 (Publication No. 20030017157). Rabbits were immunized with the Wl-TEM 9 vector. The IgG fractions for the rabbit and murine polyclonals were then purified using conventional methods.
  • Proliferation Assay Proliferation was assayed by the methods described in Crouch et al, J. Immunol. Meth. 160: 81 (1993) and Kangas et al., Med. Biol. 62: 338 (1984) using human endothelial precursor cells (EPCs) prepared as described in Example 1. Proliferation was assessed in a 96 well plate system using 2x10 3 cell/well in media supplemented with 2% fetal bovine serum. The ATP luminescence assay (CellTiter GloTM Luminescent Cell Viability kit, Promega) was used as a growth inhibition endpoint for human EPCs exposed to rabbit polyclonal anti-human TEM 9.
  • EPCs endothelial precursor cells
  • Ad2CMV-TEM9 An adenovirus vector containing the gene encoding the full length human TEM 9 (Ad2CMV-TEM9) was constructed using the pAD(vantage) system as described in Souza, et al, Biotechniques, 26:502-08(1999). Ad2CMV-TEM9 was used to infect human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC) at an MOI of 300. Seventy-two hours post- viral infection, the HMVEC were trypsinized and plated onto MatrigelTM for the tube formation assay. The assay was carried out in a 24 well plate for 24 hours.
  • the plasmid was constructed by subcloning TEM 1 cDNA from pcDNA3.1 human TEM 1 into pTracerEF-Bsd (Invitrogen) using BstXI site.
  • murine L929 fibroblasts ATCC
  • TransIT-LTl TransIT-LTl
  • TEM 1-expressing cells were, then, collected from the transfectants stained with reagent rabbit polyclonal antibodies, using a cell sorter, FACSVantage (BD Biosciences).
  • FM3A/TEM 1 was maintained in modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and 10 ⁇ g/ml of Blasticidin S
  • L929/TEM 1 was maintained in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium supplemented with 10% FBS and 10 ⁇ g/ml of Blasticidin S.
  • the mice were immunized with 5xlO 6 cells of FM3A/TEM1 or 1x10 6 cells of L929/TEM1 intraperitoneally 3 times with 2 weeks interval. At the last immunization, 3 days before cell fusion, 5 ⁇ g of human interleukin-6 was injected intraperitoneally into the immunized mice.
  • Hybridomas were prepared from the spleens of the immunized animals using SP2/0-Agl4 myeloma cells (ATCC) as a fusion partner. Hybridomas which produce antibody against human TEM 1 were screened by FACS analysis of their supernatants using TEM 1-expressing FM3A cells, hi brief, TEM 1-expressing FM3 A cells were incubated with the supernatants at O 0 C for one hour. After washing, the cells were incubated with RPE-conjugated anti-human kappa chain specific antibody or RPE- conjugated anti-human gamma chain specific antibody at O 0 C for 1 hour. After washing, the cells were subjected to FACS analysis. Selected hybridomas were cloned by limiting dilution method.
  • the antibody is bound to Protein A matrix and, following washing of the matrix, is eluted by a reduction of the pH. Further purification of the antibody is then achieved by anion exchange chromatography (Q Sepharose Fast Flow; Amersham Biosciences) and cation exchange chromatography (SP Sepharose Fast Flow; Amersham Biosciences). As well as removing impurities, this step can also be used to buffer exchange into PBS.
  • EPC proliferation Human endothelial precursor cell (EPC) proliferation was assessed in a 96 well plate system using 2x10 3 cell/well in media supplemented with 2% fetal bovine serum.
  • the ATP luminescence assay (CellTiter GloTM Luminescent Cell Viability kit, Promega) was used as a growth inhibition endpoint for EPCs incubated with human antibodies. Cells were incubated with 1 ⁇ g/ml of human anti-TEM 1 supernatants for 48- hours. A number of antibody supernatants were inhibitory for EPC proliferation.
  • human TEM 1 transgenic mice For in vivo evaluation of human TEM 1 antibodies against human TEM 1, human TEM 1 transgenic mice was established using RPCIl 1-867G23 BAC clone (Invitrogen Corporation) as a transgene. Injection of the transgene into C57B1/6 embryos was performed by YS New Technology Institute, Inc. The TEM 1 transgenic mice were then crossbred with non-transgenic C57BL/6 mice (Japan SLC, Inc.) to expand the transgenic progeny.
  • TEM 1 transgenic mice were inoculated IxIO 6 cells of B16 melanoma (ATCC) subcutaneously at day 0, and tumor volume in individual mice from each experimental group was measured at designated time points using calipers.
  • the purified TEMl antibodies from clone 7, clone 38, and clone 70, and a purified IgGl isotype control antibody specific for a hapten (i.e., dinitrophenyl) were administered twice a week at a dose of 100 ⁇ g/mouse starting at day 1.
  • the tumor volume in the mice receiving the IgG control antibody had a tumor volume of 378.02 ⁇ l 12.90 mm 3
  • the mice receiving clone TEMl -7, clone TEMl -70, and clone TEMl -38 anti- TEM 1 antibodies were 221.82 ⁇ 54.12, 130.08 ⁇ 25.14, and 467.41 ⁇ 185.19 mm 3 , respectively.
  • the anti-TEM 1 antibody inhibited the B16 tumor growth even more dramatically.
  • mice receiving only control antibody had increased to 944.04 ⁇ 402.19 mm 3
  • the tumor volume in the mice receiving the anti-TEM 1 antibodies was reduced to 204.88 ⁇ 31.56, 128.67 ⁇ 62.46, and 513.92 ⁇ 174.40 mm 3 for the clone TEM1-7, TEM1-70, and TEM1-38 antibodies, respectively.
  • L929/TEM 17 Human monoclonal antibodies against TEM 17 were raised in the KM MouseTM (WO 02/043478) by immunizing TEM 17-expressing L929 cells (L929/TEM 17). L929/TEM 17 stably expresses high levels of human TEM 17 as determined by flow cytometric (FACS) analysis using reagent rabbit polyclonal antibodies to human TEM 17. For the establishment of L929/TEM 17, murine L929 fibroblasts (ATCC) were transfected with a plasmid containing the human TEM 17 cDNA by lipofection using TransIT-LTl (Mirus).
  • FACS flow cytometric
  • the plasmid was constructed by subcloning TEM 17 cDNA from pcDNA3.1- human TEM 17 into pTracerEF-Bsd (Invitrogen). TEM 17-expressing cells were, then, collected from the transfectants stained with reagent rabbit polyclonal antibodies, using a cell sorter, FACS Vantage (BD Biosciences). L929/TEM 17 was maintained in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% FBS and 10 ⁇ g/ml of Blasticidin S.
  • DMEM Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium
  • mice were immunized with L929/TEM 17 (I x IO 7 cells/mouse) intraperitoneally 3 times with 2 weeks interval with RIBI Adjuvant System (Corixa Corporation), hi immunization of KM miceTM with L929/TEM17, those cells are preferably treated with acetone.
  • Acetone treatment was performed as follows. L929/TEM17 were recovered from flasks by using Cell Dissociation Buffer (Invitrogen). The cells were washed with PBS and re-suspended in 200 ⁇ L of PBS and put into 50 ml conical tube. 800 ⁇ L of acetone was added to the cell suspension and kept at room temperature for 30 min to dry up.
  • mice were then washed twice with PBS and re-suspended in PBS. Equal volume of 2 x RIBI adjuvant was added to the cell suspension. The mice were given a final injection of L929/TEM17 without acetone-treatment 4 days before fusion experiment.
  • Hybridomas were prepared by fusing the splenocytes of the immunized animal and SP2/0-Agl4 myeloma cells (ATCC), and cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS 5 10% Hybridoma Cloning Factor (HCF) (Origen), and 1 x HAT media supplement (Sigma- Aldrich). The wells were screened by using cell-based ELISA to obtain antibodies specific for human TEMl 7. For the cell ELISA, TEM 17-expressing HEK293 cells (HEK293/TEM 17) were incubated with the supernatants at 4 0 C for 30 minutes.
  • HCF Hybridoma Cloning Factor
  • hybridomas were subcloned by limiting dilution method.
  • One of hybridomas was internationally deposited with International Paten Organism Depositary at National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST Tsukuba Central 6, 1-1, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 305-8566 Japan) on August 27, 2004.
  • the hybridoma has the international accession number of FERM ABP-10113 and was designated as TM17-12.
  • hybridomas were expanded in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS and 10% HCF, and thereafter cultured in Hybridoma serum-free medium (rnvitrogen) supplemented with 5% Ultra-low IgG serum (Invitrogen) for collection of supernatnats.
  • the purification of the IgG from the supernatants was performed using a combination of conventional techniques commonly used for antibody production.
  • the culture harvest is clarified to remove cells and cellular debris prior to starting the purification scheme. This was achieved using either filtration of the harvest. Following clarification, the antibody would was captured and significantly purified using affinity chromatography on Protein A matrix (Amersham Biosciences).
  • the antibody was bound to Protein A matrix, and following washing of the matrix, was eluted by a reduction of the pH.
  • the eluted fraction was concentrated by centrifugal ultra-filtration device (Viva Science) and buffer was exchanged to PBS by gel filtration (NAP; Amersham Biosciences).
  • TEMl 7 BAC transgenic mice For in vivo evaluation of human TEM 17 antibodies against human TEM 17, human TEM 17 transgenic mice were established using CTD-2206N4 bacterial artifitial chromosome (BAC) clone (Invitrogen Corporation) as a transgene. Injection of the transgene into C57BL/6 embryos was performed by YS New Technology Institute, Inc. The TEM 17 transgenic mice were then crossbred with non-transgenic C57BL/6 mice (Japan SLC, Inc.) to expand the transgenic progeny.
  • BAC bacterial artifitial chromosome
  • In vivo efficacy of TEM17 antibodies In vivo efficacy of a TEMl 7 antibody (TM17-12) was tested in a tumor model system of the fully syngeneic mouse MCA207 fibrosarcoma (gift from Prof. Hideaki Tahara, Department of Surgery and Bioengineering, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan) grown in the TEM 17 BAC Tg mice.
  • the tumors were implanted subcutaneously on the flank of the animals as a suspension of 1 x 10 6 viable tumor cells collected from culture flask. The day of tumor cell implantation was day 0.
  • the purified antibodies were administered by intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 5 mg/kg on days 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20 and 23 for the experiment #1 or on days 2, 4, 8, 11 , 15, 18, 22, 25 and 29 for the experiment #2 after tumor cell implantation. All studies used the control groups of animals treated with an isotype control human antibody specific for a hapten, dinitrophenyl (anti-DNP). Tumor measurements were determined thrice per week. Tumors were measured in two diameters using calipers, and tumor volumes were calculated using the formula: short diameter x short diameter x long diameter x 0.5. See Figure 1.
  • the efficacy of TEM17antibody was determined by the difference in days for tumors in the TEM17antibody groups to reach 600 mm 3 (the experiment #1) or 2000 mm 3 (the experiment #2) compared with the tumors in animals treated with the isotype control antibody to reach the same volume.
  • the calculation provides a determination of tumor growth delay (TGD) in days.
  • TGD tumor growth delay
  • the TGD for the TEMl 7 antibody in the experiment #1 was 10.6 days, and that for the experiment #2 was 6.7 days.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne des méthodes et des compositions qui permettent d'inhiber la prolifération, la migration, et la formation de tubules de cellules endothéliales et qui sont utilisées dans le traitement de maladies liées à l'angiogenèse, notamment, le cancer, la maladie des reins polykystiques, la rétinopathie diabétique, la polyarthrite rhumatoïde et le psoriasis. Cette invention a aussi pour objet des méthodes d'inhibition de la prolifération, de la migration et de la formation de tubules de cellules endothéliales par administration d'un anticorps spécifique de marqueurs endothéliaux tumoraux (TEM). Ladite invention a également trait à des méthodes d'inhibition de l'angiogenèse et de la croissance tumorale par administration d'un anticorps spécifique de marqueurs endothéliaux tumoraux, et à des compositions d'anticorps utilisées dans de telles méthodes.
PCT/US2005/031453 2004-09-03 2005-09-02 Anticorps specifiques de cellules endotheliales et utilisations associees Ceased WO2006029045A2 (fr)

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US8389691B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2013-03-05 Morphotek, Inc. Antibodies with immune effector activity and that internalize in endosialin-positive cells
US8895000B2 (en) 2007-04-05 2014-11-25 Morphotek, Inc. Methods for inhibiting the binding of endosialin to ligands

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US6034533A (en) * 1997-06-10 2000-03-07 Tervo; Paul A. Low-current pogo probe card
AU2001283062A1 (en) * 2000-08-02 2002-02-13 The Johns Hopkins University Endothelial cell expression patterns
EP1572867B1 (fr) * 2001-04-11 2014-07-23 The Johns Hopkins University Motifs d'expression de cellules endotheliales
US20070020271A1 (en) * 2003-03-04 2007-01-25 Beverly Teicher Endothelial cell specific antibodies and uses thereof
ATE393787T1 (de) * 2003-03-05 2008-05-15 Basell Poliolefine Srl Steuerungsverfahren bei einem polymerisationsprozess
WO2006034191A2 (fr) * 2004-09-20 2006-03-30 The Johns Hopkins University Liaison de tem17 avec la cortactine

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US8389691B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2013-03-05 Morphotek, Inc. Antibodies with immune effector activity and that internalize in endosialin-positive cells
US8524237B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2013-09-03 Morphotek, Inc. Antibodies with immune effector activity and that internalize in endosialin-positive cells
US8895000B2 (en) 2007-04-05 2014-11-25 Morphotek, Inc. Methods for inhibiting the binding of endosialin to ligands
US9505842B2 (en) 2007-04-05 2016-11-29 Morphotek, Inc. Methods for inhibiting the binding of endosialin to ligands
US10053509B2 (en) 2007-04-05 2018-08-21 Eisai, Inc. Methods for inhibiting the binding of endosialin to ligands

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