Use of antibodies against tumor-associated antigen
The invention relates to the use of a preparation based on an antibody directed against a tumor-associated antigen, for producing a medicament for the intra-operative treatment of tumor patients, in particular for the prophylactic treatment to prevent the dissemination of tumor cells. The invention further relates to a kit for the intra-operative treatment of tumor patients, comprising the medicament and means for diagnostically determining malignant tumor cells.
1 . A method for the intra-operative treatment of a tumor to inhibit dissemination of tumor cells, which comprises administering to the patient an antibody directed against a tumor-associated antigen during an intra-operative treatment whereby immunocomplexing of tumor cells within the scope of the surgical intervention inhibits dissemination of tumor cells.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody is directed against an epitope of a surface antigen of a tumor cell.
3 . The method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the tumor cell is an epithelial tumor cell.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody is directed against an epitope of an antigen selected from the group consisting of peptides, proteins, carbohydrates, and glycolipids.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody is in an antibody mixture of various antibodies having a specificity for tumor-associated antigens.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody functionally activates the immune system, according to an ADCC and CDC effector function.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody binds to the tumor-associated antigen with an affinity corresponding to a dissociation constant below a Kd value of 10 −6 mol/l.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , characterised in that the antibody is derived from murine, chimeric, humanized and/or human sources.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the medicament is systemically used with a single dose of at least 50 mg per patient.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the medicament is locally applied to the tumor tissue and/or to the wound area.
11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the medicament is administered immediately during or before the surgical intervention.
12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the surgical intervention is carried out for a biopsy and/or for the removal of a solid tumor.
13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the surgical intervention is carried out for a determination regarding the malignancy of a tumor.
14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody is determined on the immunocomplexed tumor tissue after the surgical intervention.
15 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody is determined on tumor cells in blood or serum samples.
16 . A kit for the intra-operative treatment of tumor patients, comprising
a) a medicament based on an antibody directed against a tumor-associated antigen, and
b) a means for the diagnostic determination of malignant tumor cells which are immunocomplexed with the antibody.
17 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the antigen is a member selected from the group consisting of EpCAM, NCAM, CEA, Lews Y, Sialyl-TN, Globo H, GD2, GD3 and GM2.
18 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein said Kd value is 10 −7 mol/l.
19 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein said Kd value is 10 −8 mol/l.
20 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein said single does is at least 100 mg.
21 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein said single does is at least 200 mg.
22 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein said single does is at most 2 mg.
23 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the medicament is administered within 24 hours before the surgical intervention.
24 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the medicament is administered within 4 hours before the surgical intervention.