Antibodies generated in mouse lymphoma cells used to recognize human breast cancer. The antibodies in their current and modified forms can be used in the diagnosis, prognosis, and subsequent treatment of certain human breast cancers. Diagnosis of p14, the leader sequence (N-terminal peptide) of the precursor of the envelope protein of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) in human breast cancers will identify a subset of cancers that can be treated specifically.

Antibodies from mouse lymphoma cells recognize human breast cancer

Highlights

• Antibodies generated against mouse lymphoma cells that harbor the virus MMTV (mouse mammary tumor virus) were used to recognize human breast cancer.
• These antibodies can be used either in their current forms or in modified forms for diagnosis, prognosis, and subsequent treatment of certain human breast cancers.
• Working on proving correlation of appearance of p14 antibodies with human breast cancers
• Positive multi-sample trials will enable proof of p14 antibodies as diagnostic

Our Innovation

• Antibodies generated against mouse lymphoma cells that harbor MMTV recognize p14, the leader sequence (N-terminal peptide) of the precursor of the envelope protein of MMTV, and are used for immunohistochemical analysis of human breast cancers. Monoclonal antibodies to p14 can be subsequently humanized to treat breast cancer patients that express p14. Alternatively, P14 may be used as a vaccination against breast cancer.

Key Features

• Completely new approach to diagnosis and treatment of certain human breast cancers
• Possibility of development of vaccine against breast cancers containing MMTV

Development Milestones

• Large multi-sample trials needed to prove diagnostic capability
• Study of possibility of correlating presence of p14 or p14 antibodies in womens sera with prognosis

The Opportunity

• According to a SEER estimate, more than 200,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually in the United States alone.
• Recent reports claim that about 38% of human breast cancers may contain sequences related to MMTV.

project-id 7-2006-115

U.S. patent pending, PCT publication no. WO 2005/073728