Methods of monitoring treatment of BAFF-R related disease
View Patent ↗Disclosed are nucleic acids encoding BAFF-R polypeptides, as well as antibodies to BAFF-R polypeptides and pharmaceutical compositions including the same. Methods of treating tumorigenic and autoimmune conditions using the nucleic acids, polypeptides, antibodies and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention are also provided.
1. A method of monitoring the efficacy of a BAFF-R antagonist in the treatment of a disease or disorder associated with aberrant levels of B-cells or B-cell activity, the method comprising:
(a) obtaining a pre-administration test sample selected from a biological fluid, cell sample, or tissue sample, from a subject diagnosed as having a disease or disorder associated with aberrant levels of B-cells or B-cell activity prior to administration of the BAFF-R antagonist;
(b) detecting the level of B-cells in the pre-administration test sample;
(c) obtaining one or more post-administration test samples from the subject;
(d) detecting the level of B-cells in the post-administration test sample or samples; and
(e) comparing the level of B-cells in the pre-administration test sample with the level of B-cells in the post-administration test sample or samples;
wherein the BAFF-R antagonist is selected from a soluble BAFF-R polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO:13 and an antibody that binds to a BAFF-R polypeptide having an amino acid sequence identical to SEQ ID NO:13; and
wherein a measure of reduction in the level of B-cells indicates that the BAFF-R antagonist is effective in treating the disease or disorder associated with aberrant levels of B-cells or B-cell activity.