Antibodies against APRIL as biomarkers for early prognosis of lymphoma patients
The invention relates to antibodies directed against APRIL (A Proliferation Inducing TNF Ligand, also known as TALL-2), in particular the monoclonal antibody Aprily-2, hybridoma cells producing monoclonal antibody Aprily-2, and the use of a combination of an antibody against membrane-anchored APRIL and Aprily-2 in the diagnosis of B cell lymphoma resistance to treatment and the prognosis of clinical development of Diffuse Large B-Cell (DLBCL) lymphoma from high risk patients (>60 years and International Prognostic Index >2). An amino acid sequence GTGGPSQNGEGYP called Stalk, useful in the preparation of antibodies, is described.
1. A monoclonal antibody Aprily-2 directed against soluble APRIL.
2. A hybridoma cell producing a monoclonal antibody Aprily-2 as deposited at the CNCM under the number I-3500.
3. A method of diagnosing an aggressive form of B cell lymphoma comprising:
(i) measuring the amount of binding of monoclonal antibody Aprily-2 of claim 1 to a B cell lymphoma biopsy specimen; and
(ii) measuring the amount of binding of a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody against the stalk fragment of APRIL to the B cell lymphoma biopsy specimen,
wherein the amount of binding of the monoclonal antibody April-2 and of the polyclonal or monoclonal antibody against the stalk fragment of APRIL to said B cell lymphoma biopsy specimen indicates the presence of an aggressive form of B cell lymphoma.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the antibody against the stalk fragment of APRIL is polyclonal antibody Stalk-1.
5. A kit comprising monoclonal antibody Aprily-2 of claim 1 and of a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody against the stalk fragment of APRIL.
6. The kit of claim 5 comprising polyclonal antibody Stalk-1 and monoclonal antibody Aprily-2.