Galectin-3 as immunological target
Compositions for the treatment of cancer include an allogeneic granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-secreting tumor cell vaccine and an anti-galectin- 3 antibody. Increased titers of anti-galectin- 3 antibodies were correlated with clinical outcome.
1. A method of inhibiting a pancreatic tumor in a patient comprising:
(i) administering to the patient an allogeneic, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-secreting pancreatic tumor cell vaccine, wherein the GM-CSF-secreting pancreatic tumor cell vaccine induces galectin-3 antibodies as compared to an unvaccinated control;
(ii) detecting a level of anti-galectin-3 antibodies in the serum of the patient induced by the GM-CSF-secreting pancreatic tumor cell vaccine, and
(iii) a) when the level of anti-galectin-3 antibodies in the serum of the patient induced by the GM-CSF-secreting pancreatic tumor cell vaccine declines, administering an anti-galectin 3 antibody to the patient to raise the level of anti-galectin-3 antibodies in the serum of the patient, or
b) administering an anti-galectin-3 antibody to the patient to maintain the level of anti-galectin-3 antibodies induced by the GM-CSF-secreting pancreatic tumor cell vaccine,
thereby inhibiting a pancreatic tumor in the patient.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient has previously been treated with chemotherapy.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the patient has received radiochemotherapy.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said administering an anti-galectin-3 antibody comprises adoptively transfusing the antibody into the patient.
5. A method of inhibiting pancreatic tumor metastasis in a patient comprising:
(i) administering to the patient an allogeneic, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-secreting pancreatic tumor cell vaccine, wherein the GM-CSF-secreting pancreatic tumor cell vaccine induces galectin-3 antibodies as compared to an unvaccinated control;
(ii) detecting a level of anti-galectin-3 antibodies in the serum of the patient induced by the GM-CSF-secreting pancreatic tumor cell vaccine, and
(iii) a) when the level of anti-galectin-3 antibodies in the serum of the patient induced by the GM-CSF-secreting pancreatic tumor cell vaccine declines, administering an anti-galectin 3 antibody to the patient to raise the level of anti-galectin-3 antibodies in the serum of the patient, or
b) administering an anti-galectin-3 antibody to the patient to maintain the level of anti-galectin-3 antibodies induced by the GM-CSF-secreting pancreatic tumor cell vaccine,
thereby inhibiting pancreatic tumor metastasis in the patient.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the patient has previously been treated with chemotherapy.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the patient has received radiochemotherapy.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein said administering an anti-galectin-3 antibody comprises adoptively transfusing the antibody into the patient.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the patient has had a pancreaticoduodenectomy.
10. The method of claim 1 or 5 , wherein said administering an anti-galectin-3 antibody comprises administering a monoclonal anti-galectin-3 antibody.