Combination treatment of CD38-expressing tumors

1. A method for inhibiting growth and/or proliferation of multiple myeloma cells in an individual in need thereof, comprising administering to the individual i) an antibody that binds to residues KRN (SEQ ID NO: 70), corresponding to amino acid residues 268-270 of human CD38 (SEQ ID NO: 31), and residues VQTL (SEQ ID NO: 71), corresponding to amino acid residues 235-238 of human CD38 (SEQ ID NO: 31), ii) at least one corticosteroid, and iii) at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering autologous peripheral stem cells or bone marrow to the patient.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises a cytotoxic agent or an angiogenesis inhibitor.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises an alkylating agent.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises one or more agents selected from the group consisting of: melphalan, mechlorethamine, thioepa, chlorambucil, carmustine (BSNU), lomustine (CCNU), cyclophosphamide, busulfan, dibromomannitol, streptozotocin, dacarbazine (DTIC), procarbazine, mitomycin C, cisplatin and other platinum derivatives.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises a glutamic acid derivative.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises a proteasome inhibitor.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises a vinca alkaloid.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises an anthracycline.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises a glucocorticoid.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises prednisone.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises prednisone and said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises melphalan.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises prednisone and said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises thalidomide.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises prednisone and said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises melphalan and thalidomide.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises dexamethasone.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises dexamethasone and said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises thalidomide or lenalidomide.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises dexamethasone and said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises vincristine or doxorubicin.

18. The method of claim 1 , comprising the further administration of interferon-alpha.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a human monoclonal antibody.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody does not induce release of significant IL-6 by human monocytes or peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody does not induce release of detectable IFN-γ by human T cells or peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody is internalized by CD38 expressing cells.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody induces ADCC of CD38 expressing cells.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody induces CDC of CD38 expressing cells in the presence of complement.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody inhibits the synthesis of cGDPR.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody inhibits the synthesis of cADPR.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody comprises heavy and light chain CDR sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 13-15 and 18-20, respectively.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein said antibody comprises heavy and light chain variable regions having the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID No:12 and 17, respectively.

30. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a full length IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgD, IgA, IgE, or IgM antibody.

31. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody is an antibody fragment or a single-chain antibody.

32. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent, a radioisotope, or a drug.

33. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a bispecific or multispecific molecule comprising a binding specificity for a human effector cell.

34. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a bispecific or multispecific molecule comprising a binding specificity for CD3, CD4, CD138, IL-15R, membrane bound or receptor bound TNF-γ, a human Fc receptor, or membrane bound or receptor bound IL-15.

35. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tumor cells are recurrent or refractory tumor cells.

36. The method of claim 1 , wherein said individual has not responded to a previous anti-cancer treatment for the same cancer.

37. The method of claim 1 , wherein said individual is enrolled to undergo subsequent autologous peripheral stem cell or bone marrow transplantation.

38. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody, at least one corticosteroid and at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent are administered simultaneously.

39. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody, at least one corticosteroid and at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent are administered sequentially.

40. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody, at least one corticosteroid and at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent are all administered separately.

41. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody, at least one corticosteroid and at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent are co-administered in one or two pharmaceutical compositions.

42. The method of claim 39 , wherein the antibody is administered at least 1 day, before administration of said at least one corticosteroid and said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent.

43. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is administered in a dose of 1 mg/kg or more.

44. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is administered once weekly for 2 to 12 weeks.

45. The method of claim 1 comprising administering a combination of corticosteroids.

46. The method of claim 1 comprising administering a combination of non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agents.

47. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises dexamethasone and said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises lenalidomide and bortezomib.

48. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises prednisone and said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises melphalan and bortezomib.

49. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one corticosteroid comprises dexamethasone and said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises bortezomib.

50. The method of claim 6 , wherein said glutamic acid derivative is thalidomide or a thalidomide analog.

51. The method of claim 7 , wherein said proteasome inhibitor is bortezomib.

52. The method of claim 8 , wherein said vinca alkaloid is vincristine.

53. The method of claim 9 wherein said anthracycline is doxorubicin.

54. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises dexamethasone and said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises thalidomide and lenalidomide.

55. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises dexamethasone and said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises vincristine and doxorubicin.

56. A method for inhibiting growth and/or proliferation of tumor cells expressing CD38 in an individual in need thereof, comprising administering to the individual i) an antibody that specifically binds CD38, wherein the antibody comprises heavy and light chain variable region CDRs set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 13, 14, and 15 and SEQ ID NOs: 18, 19, and 20, respectively, ii) at least one corticosteroid, and iii) at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent.

57. The method of claim 56 , wherein said antibody comprises heavy and light chain variable regions having the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID No:12 and 17, respectively.

58. The method of claim 56 , wherein said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises an alkylating agent.

59. The method of claim 56 , wherein said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises one or more agents selected from the group consisting of: melphalan, mechlorethamine, thioepa, chlorambucil, carmustine (BSNU), lomustine (CCNU), cyclophosphamide, busulfan, dibromomannitol, streptozotocin, dacarbazine (DTIC), procarbazine, mitomycin C, cisplatin and other platinum derivatives.

60. The method of claim 56 , wherein said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises a glutamic acid derivative.

61. The method of claim 56 , wherein said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises a proteasome inhibitor.

62. The method of claim 56 , wherein said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises a vinca alkaloid.

63. The method of claim 56 wherein said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises an anthracycline.

64. The method of claim 56 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises a glucocorticoid.

65. The method of claim 56 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises prednisone.

66. The method of claim 56 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises dexamethasone and said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises lenalidomide and bortezomib.

67. The method of claim 56 , wherein said at least one corticosteroid comprises prednisone and said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises melphalan and bortezomib.

68. The method of claim 56 , wherein the at least one corticosteroid comprises dexamethasone and said at least one non-corticosteroid chemotherapeutic agent comprises bortezomib.