Treatment with anti-ErbB2 antibodies and chemotherapeutic agents

1. A method of treating cancer in a human, wherein the cancer expresses ErbB2, comprising administering to the human therapeutically effective amounts of a chemotherapeutic agent and an antibody, wherein the antibody binds ErbB2, and comprises the variable light (V L ) domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3; and the variable heavy (V H ) domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the antibody blocks binding of monoclonal antibody 2C4 to ErbB2.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the cancer is characterized by excessive activation of EGFR.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the cancer overexpresses an ErbB ligand.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the ErbB ligand is transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α).

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the antibody blocks TGF-α activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK).

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the cancer does not overexpress ErbB2 receptor.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of colon, rectal and colorectal cancer.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the cancer is lung cancer.

10. The method of 9 wherein the cancer is non-small cell lung cancer.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the antibody is an antibody fragment that binds ErbB2.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the antibody fragment is a Fab fragment.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the antibody fragment is not conjugated with a cytotoxic agent.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the antibody is not conjugated with a cytotoxic agent.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the antibody is conjugated with a cytotoxic agent.

16. The method of claim 1 comprising administering at least one dose of the antibody to the human in an amount from about 0.5 mg/kg to about 10 mg/kg.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising administering the dose about every week.

18. The method of claim 16 comprising administering the dose about every three weeks.

19. A method of treating cancer in a human, wherein the cancer expresses but does not overexpress ErbB2 receptor, comprising administering to the human therapeutically effective amounts of a chemotherapeutic agent and an antibody which binds ErbB2 and comprises the variable light (V L ) domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3; and the variable heavy (V H ) domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the cancer is breast cancer.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the cancer is metastatic breast cancer.

22. A method of treating cancer in a human, wherein the cancer expresses epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and ErbB2, comprising administering to the human therapeutically effective amounts of an antibody which binds ErbB2 and blocks by 50% or greater binding of monoclonal antibody 2C4 (ATCC HB-12697) to ErbB2, and a chemotherapeutic agent.

23. A method of treating cancer in a human, wherein the cancer expresses but does not overexpress ErbB2 receptor, comprising administering to the human therapeutically effective amounts of an antibody which binds to ErbB2 and blocks ligand activation of an ErbB receptor more effectively than humanized monoclonal antibody huMAb4D5-8, and a chemotherapeutic agent.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the antibody comprises a humanized form of monoclonal antibody 2C4 (ATCC HB-12697).

25. A method of treating cancer in a human, wherein the cancer expresses but does not overexpress ErbB2 receptor, comprising administering to the human therapeutically effective amounts of an antibody which binds ErbB2, blocks by 50% or greater binding of monoclonal antibody 2C4 (ATCC HB-12697) to ErbB2, and blocks ligand activation of an ErbB receptor more effectively than humanized monoclonal huMAb4D5-8, and a chemotherapeutic agent.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the antibody comprises a humanized monoclonal antibody 2C4 (ATCC HB-12697).

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the antibody comprises the variable (V L ) domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3; and the variable heavy (V H ) domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the antibody is an intact IgG1 antibody.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the cancer is breast cancer.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the cancer is metastatic breast cancer.