Combination therapy
The invention relates to producing humoral response to P2X7 receptors in individuals having cancer, and to minimizing the progression of cancer in said individuals.
1. A method for minimising the progression of cancer in an individual who has received a non-self antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof for treatment of the cancer, the method including the step of:
forming an immune response to a P2X 7 receptor in an individual who has received a non self antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof for treatment of the cancer by administering to the individual a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence GHNYTTRNILPGLNITC (SEQ ID NO:5);
wherein cancer in the individual has been reduced in size, mass or other physical measure by the administration of the non self antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof;
thereby minimising the progression of cancer in the individual.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the individual does not have detectable non-self antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof in circulation at the time of administering the peptide.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the reduction in size, mass or other physical measure results in the individual not having detectable cancer.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the individual has developed an immune response to the non-self antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-self antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof binds to non-functional P2X 7 receptor, but not to functional P2X 7 receptor.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-self antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof received by the individual for treatment of the cancer does not bind to a P2X 7 receptor, or a fragment of a P2X 7 receptor.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the peptide is provided in an initial administration to the individual, thereby forming a response that includes IgM production in the individual.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the peptide is provided in an initial administration to the individual, thereby forming a response that includes IgM production, and at a later time, in a further administration to the initial administration, thereby forming a response that includes IgG production.
9. A process for forming a humoral immune response to cancer-associated P2X 7 receptors in an individual who has received an anti-cancer antigen antibody for therapy of cancer, including the steps of:
forming an immune response in the individual by administering to the individual a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence GHNYTTRNILPGLNITC (SEQ ID NO:5);
wherein the immune response is formed in the individual at a time where anti-cancer antigen antibody administered for treatment of cancer is at a level or concentration that is substantially undetectable in the individual; and/or
the humoral immune response to cancer-associated P2X 7 receptors is formed according to an immunisation schedule whereby the amount of antibody formed in the individual to cancer-associated P2X 7 receptor is about 0.1 to 25 mg/kg individual.