AU2015271978B2 - Treatment for neoplastic diseases - Google Patents

Abstract

Administration of a mAb that specifically binds IL-la is useful for treating tumor-associated diseases in human subjects.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional application of Australian Application No. 2015201228, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

[0001] The present application claims the priority of U.S. provisional patent application serial numbers 61/376,097 filed on August 23, 2010, 61/406,759 filed on October 26, 2010, 61/41 1,183 filed on November 8, 2010, and 61/480,635 filed on April 29, 201 1, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

STATEMENT AS TO FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates generally to the fields of medicine, oncology, and immunology. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of antibodies (Abs) which specifically bind interleukin-la (IL-Ια) to treat a tumor-associated disease and other tumor-associated pathologies.

BACKGROUND

[0003a] Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

[0004] Despite many advances, tumor-associated diseases such as cancer remain one of the leading causes of death and morbidity in developed nations. Although many of the molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis have now been revealed, standard treatment of most aggressive tumors continues to be surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. While increasingly successful, each of these treatments still causes numerous undesired side effects. For example, surgery results in pain, traumatic injury to healthy tissue, and scarring. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy cause nausea, immune suppression, gastric ulceration, and secondary tumorigenesis.

[0005] Over the last several years much progress has been made using biologic agents such as Abs to treat cancerous tumors. Abs can directly target specific types of tumor cells to harness a patient's immune response to kill the tumor. Alternatively, they can target cell growth factors to interfere with the growth of tumor cells. As with conventional chemotherapeutic agents, not all anti-tumor Abs are useful for treating all types of neoplasms and many initially effective antibodies later lose potency. Thus, new anti-tumor Abs are needed.

SUMMARY

[0005a] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for treating cancer in a human subject, the method comprising the step of administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an amount of an antibody that specifically binds IL-1 a.

[0005b] According to a second aspect, the present invention provides use of an antibody biological agent that specifically binds IL-1 a and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of cancer in a human subject.

[0005c] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.

[0006] The invention is based on the discovery that a mAb that specifically binds IL-la is useful fortre^ [0007) Accordingly, the invention features a medicament and method for treating neoplastic diseases (e.g., a colorectal cancer such as one having a KRAS mutation, an EBV-associated cancer such as nasopharygeal carcinoma or Burkitfs lymphoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or non-cancerous conditions associated with tumors such as Castlematfs disease) in a human subject The method can be performed by administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition including a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an amount of an anti-ilL-la Ab effective to ameliorate a symptom of a tumor-associated pathology and/or to reduce the size of a tumor in the subject by at least about 1.0% (e.g., at least 8, 9, 10, 15, 17, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100%). The medicament can include an anti-IL-la Ab. The anti-IL-la Ab can be a mAh such as an IgGl. The anti-l.L-la Ab can be the mAb designated as MABpl. or a mAb that includes one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of MABpl.

[0008J The pharmaceutical composition can be administered to the subject by injection, subcutaneously, intravenously, intramuscularly, or directly into a tumor. In the method, the dose can be at least 0.25 (e.g., at least 0.2. 0.5, 0,75., 1, 2, 3,4, or 5) mg/ml.

[0009} Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Commonly understood definitions of biological terms can be found in Rieger el al. Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th edition, Springer-Veriag: 'New York, 1991; and Lewin, Genes Y, Oxford University Press: New York, 1994. Commonly understood definitions of medical terms can be found in Stedtnatfis Medical Dictionary, 27th Edition, Lippmcott, Williams & Wilkins, 2000.

[OOIOJ As used herein, an “Ab” or “Ab” is an immunoglobulin (Ig), a solution of identical or heterogeneous Igs, or a mixture of Igs. An “Ab” can also refer to fragments and engineered versions of Igs such as Fab, Fab\ and Ffabyb fragments; and scFv’s, heteroconjugate Abs, and similar artificial molecules that employ Ig-derived CDRs to impart antigen specificity. A “mAb” or “mAh” is an Ab expressed by one clonal B cell line or a population of Ab molecules that contains only one species of an antigen binding site capable of immunoreacting with a particular epitope of a particular antigen, A “polyclonal Ab” or “polyclonal Ab” is a mixture of heterogeneous Abs. Typically, a polyclonal Ab will include myriad different Ab molecules which bind a particular antigen with at least some of the different Abs immunorcacting with a different epitope of the antigen. As used herein, a polyclonal Ab can be a mixture of two or more mAbs.

[0011] An “antigen-binding portion” of an Ab is contained within the variable region of the Fab portion of an Ab and is the portion of the Ab that confers antigen specificity to the Ab (Le,, typically the three-dimensional pocket formed by the CDRs of the heavy and light chains of the Ab). A "Fab portion” or "Fab region" is the proteolytic fragment of a papain-digested Ig that contains the antigen-binding portion of that Ig. A "non-Fab portion" is that portion of an Ab not within the Fab portion, e.g., an “Pe portion” or “Fc region.” A “constant region” of an Ab is that portion of the Ab outside of the variable region. Generally encompassed within the constant region is the “effector portion” of an Ab, which is the portion of an Ab that is responsible tor binding other immune system components that facilitate the immune response. Thus, for example, the she on an Ab that binds complement components or Pc receptors (not via its antigen-binding portion) is an effector portion of that Ab. [00i2[ When referring to a protein molecule such as an Ab, ‘‘purified” means separated from components that naturally accompany such molecules. Typically, an Ab or protein is purified when it is at least about 1.0% (e.g., 9%, 10%, 20%, 30% 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99%, 99.9%, and 100%), by weight, free from the non-Ab proteins or other naturally-occurring organic molecules with which it is naturally associated. Purity can be measured by any appropriate method, e,g.f column chromatography, polyacrylamide get electrophoresis, or HPLC analysis, A chemically-synthesized protein or other recombinant protein produced in a cell type other than the cell type in which it naturally occurs is “purified.” [001.3'j By “bind”, “binds”, or “reacts with” is meant that one molecule recognizes and adheres to a particular second molecule in a sample, but does not substantially recognize or adhere to other molecules in the sample. Generally, an Ab that "specifically binds" another molecule has a .¾ greater than about 1.0s, 106, !0\ 10*, 1.0!>, !0U'„ 10", or 10f“ Kters/moie for that other molecule.

[001.4] A "therapeutically effective amount" is an amount which is capable of producing a medically desirable effect in a treated animal or human (e.g., amelioration or prevention of a disease or symptom of a disease), [0015) Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, sui table methods and materials are described, below. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions will control In addition, the particular embodiments discussed below are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[661.6] The invention encompasses compositions and methods for ameliorating one or more symptoms of a tumor-associated pathology in a subject. The below described preferred embodiments illustrate adaptation of these compositions and methods. Nonetheless, from the description of these embodiments, other aspects of the invention can be made and/or practiced based on the description provided below.

General Methodology [601.7} Methods involving conventional immunological and molecular biological techniques are described herein, immunological methods (for example, assays for detection and localization of antigen-Ab complexes, immunoprecipitation, imnmnoblotting, and the like) are generally known in the art and described in methodology treatises such as Current Protocols in Immunology, Coligan et al, ed., John Wiley <&amp; Sons, New York. Techniques of molecular biology arc described in detail in treatises such as Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., vol 1-3, Sambrook et al,, ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, Ν.Ύ., 2001; and Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Ausubel et al., ed., Greene Publishing and Wiley·-Interscien.ee, New York. Ah methods are described in Handbook of Therapeutic Abs, Dubel, S., ed., Wiley-VCH, 2007. General methods of medical treatment are described in. McPhee and Papadakis, Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2010, 49* Edition, McGraw-Hill Medical, 2010; and Fauci et al, Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, I7dl Edition, McGraw-Hill Professional, 2008

Treatmen t of a Tumor-associated Disease [.0618] The compositions and methods described herein are useful for treating a tumor-associated disease in a mammalian subject by administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition including an amount of an anti-IL-la Ab effective to improve at least one characteristic of the tumor-associated disease in the subject. The mammalian subject might be any that suffers from a tumor-associated disease including, human beings, dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. Human subjects might be male, female, adults, children, seniors (65 and older), and those with other diseases. Particularly preferred subjects are those whose disease has progressed after treatment with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and/or biologic agents. Any type of a tumor-associated disease susceptible to treatment with an anti-IL-ia Ab might be targeted, Anti-lX-la Ab administration is thought to be particularly effective for treating colorectal tumors (e,g., colorectal cancers with a KRAS mutation), EBV-associaied neoplasms such as nasopharyngeal cancer or Burkitfs lymphoma, NSCLC, and blood cell neoplasms such as in Castleman's disease. A disease with tumors expressing IL-la or tumors infiltrated with IL-.1 a inflammatory cells might also be targeted. The particular characteristic of a tumor-associated disease to be improved can be tumor size (e.g., TO, Tis, or Tl-4), state of metastasis (e.g., MO, Ml), number of observable tumors, node involvement (e.g., NO, Ml-4, N'x), grade fie,, grades 1, 2, 3, or 4), stage (e.g., 0, l, II, III, or IV), presence or concentration of certain markers on the cells or In bodily fluids (e.g., AFP, B2M, beta-HCG, BTA, CA 15-3, CA 27.29, CA 125, CA 72.4, CA 19-9, calcitonin, CEA, chromgrainin A, EGFR, hormone receptors, HER2, HCG, immunoglobulins, NSE, NMP22, PSA, PAP, PSMA, S-100, TA-90, and thyroglobuhn), and/or associated pathologic (e.g., ascites or edema) or symptoms (e.g,, cachexia, fever, anorexia, or pain). The improvement, if measureable by percent, can be at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90% (e.g., volume or linear dimensions of a tumor).

Antibodies and other Agents that Target IL-la [M19J Any suitable type of Ab or other biologic agent (e,g,, a fusion protein including an 11,-la-binding component such as an .11,-1 receptor) that specifically binds IE-ία and reduces a characteristic of a tumor-associated disease in a subject might be used in the invention. For example, the anti-IL-Ια Ab used might be mAb, a polyclonal Ab, a mixture of mAbs, or an Ab fragment or engineered Ab-like molecule such as an scFv. The Ka of the Ab is preferably at least 1 xHfi M'1 or greater (e.g., greater than 9 xl010 M'1, 8 xiO10 M'\ 7 xl0to M\ 6 x!0K’ M\ 5 xl0iO M‘\ 4 xH)Ui M-\ 3 xi0fO M‘\ 2 xl010 M4, or 1. xi0fO M”1). In a preferred embodiment, the invention utilizes a fully human mAb that includes (i) an antigenbinding variable region that exhibits very high binding affinity (e.g,, at least nano or picotnolar) for human IL-la and (ii) a constant region. The human Ab is preferably mi IgGl, although it might be of a different isotype such as IgM, IgA, or IgE, or subclass such as igG2, IgG3, or lgG4. One example of a particularly useful mAb is MABpl, an IL- la-spec Me IgGl mAb described in U.S. patent application serial number 12/455,458 filed on June l, 2009. Other useful inAbs arc those that include at least one but preferably all the CDRs of MABpl.

[0020} Because .8 lymphocytes which express Ig specific for human IL-la occur naturally in human beings, a presently preferred method for raising mAbs is to first Isolate such a B lymphocyte from a subject and then immortalize it so that it can be continuously replicated in culture. Subjects lacking large numbers of naturally occurring B lymphocytes which express Jg specific for human IL-lamay he immunized with one or more human IL-Ία antigens to increase the number of such B lymphocytes. Human mAbs are prepared by immortalizing a hitman Ah secreting ceil (e.g,, a human plasma ceil). See, e.g., U.S. patent no. 4,634,664.

[0021.] hi an exemplary method, one or more (e.g., 5, 10, 25, 50, .100, 1000, or more) human subjects are screened for the presence of such human 11,-1 α-speeific Ab in their blood. Those subjects that express the desired Ab can then be used as B lymphocyte donors. In one possible method, peripheral blood is obtained from a human donor that possesses B lymphocytes that express human IL-la-specific Ab, Such B lymphocytes are then isolated from the blood sample, e.g., by cells sorting (e.g., fluorescence activated cell sorting, “FACS”; or magnetic bead cell sotting) to select B lymphocytes expressing human 1L-la-specific Ig. These cells can then be immortalized by viral transformation (e.g,, using EB'V) or by fusion to another immortalized cell such as a human myeloma according to known techniques. The B lymphocytes within this population that express l.g specific for human IL-Ία can then be isolated by limiting dilution methods (e.g., cells in wells of a .microtiter plate that are positive for Ig specific for human IL-Ία are selected and subcuftured, and the process repeated until a desired clonal line can be isolated). See, e.g.. Coding, MAbs; Principles and Practice, pp, 59-.103, Academic Press, 1.986« Those clonal cell lines that express Ig having at least nanomolar or picoroolar binding affinities for human TL-ia are preferred. MAbs secreted by these clonal cell lines can be purified from the culture medium or a bodily fluid (e.g,, ascites) by conventional ig purification procedures such as salt cuts, size exclusion, ion exchange separation, and affinity chromatography.

[0022J Although immortalized B lymphocytes might be used in in vitro cultures to directly produce mAbs, in certain cases it might be desirable to use heterologous expression systems to produce mAbs. See, e.g., the methods described in U.S. patent application number 11/754,899. For example, the genes encoding an mAb specific for human IL-la might be cloned and introduced into an expression vector (e.g., a plasmid-based expression vector) for expression in a heterologous host cell (e.g., CHO cells, COS cells, myeloma cells, and E. coli cells). Because Igs include heavy (H) and light (L) drams in an H2L2 configuration, the genes encoding each may be separately isolated and expressed in different vectors.

[0023( Although generally less preferred due to the greater likelihood that a subject will develop an anii~Ab response, chimeric mAbs (e.g., “humanized” mAbs), which are antigen-binding molecules having different portions derived from different animal species (e.g,, variable region of a mouse lg fused to the constant region of a human Ig), might be used in the invention. Such chimeric Abs can be prepared by methods known in the art See, e.g., Morrison et al, Proc, Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 81:6851, 1984; Neuberger et al, Nature, 312:604, 1984; Takeda et al, Nature, 314:452, 1984. Similarly, Abs can be humanized by methods known in the art. For example, mAbs with a desired binding specificity can be humanized by various vendors or as described m U.S. Fat. Nos. 5,693,762; 5,530,101; or 5,585,089.

[00241 The mAbs described herein might be affinity matured to enhance or otherwise alter their binding specificity by known methods such as VH and VI, domain shuffling (Marks et al, Bio/Teclmology 10:779-783, 1992), random mutagenesis of the hypervariable regions (HVRs) and/or .framework residues (Barbas et al. Proc Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 91:3809-3813, 1994; Sehier etal, Gene .169:147-155, .1995; Yelton et al. J, Immunol, 155:1994-2004, 1995; Jackson et al., J. Immunol. 154(7):3310-9, 1995; and Hawkins et al, 1 Mol Biol. 226:889-896, 1992, Amino acid sequence variants of an Ab may be prepared by introducing appropriate changes into the nucleotide sequence encoding the Ab. In addition, modifications to nucleic acid sequences encoding mAbs might be altered (e.g., without changing the amino acid sequence of the mAb) for enhancing production of the mAb in certain expression systems (e.g., intron elimination and/or codon optimization for a given expression system). The mAbs described herein can also be modified by conjugation to another protein (e.g., another mAb) or non-protein molecule. For example, a mAb might be conjugated to a water soluble polymer such as polyethylene glycol or a carbon nanotube (See, e.g., Karo et aL Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 102:11600-11605,2005). See, U.S, patent application number 11/754,899. |0O25| Preferably, to ensure that high titers of human lL-ία -specific mAb can be administered to a subject with minima! adverse effects, the mAb compositions of the invention are at least 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,20,25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99,9 or more percent by weight pure (excluding any excipients). The mAb compositions of the invention might include only a single type of mAb (i.e., one produced from a single clonal B lymphocyte line) or might include a mixture of two or more (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more) different types of roAbs. |0Θ26| To modify or enhance their function, the human. TL~la mAbs might be conjugated with another molecule such as a eytotoxin. A human IL-Ια specific mAb might be conjugated with one or more eytotoxins to more effectively kill cells expressing IL-la. Cytotoxim for use in the invention can be any cytotoxic agent (e.g., molecule that can kill a cell after contacting the cell) that can be conjugated to a human IL-Ια specific mAb, Examples of eytotoxins include, without, limitation, radionuclides (e.g., >5S, !4C, HP, ml, mI, *°Yf mZt, 20lTl, mRe, mRe, 5?Cu, and 211 At)* conjugated radionuclides, and chemotherapeutic agents. Farther examples of eytotoxins include, but are not limited to, aniimetabolites (e.g., 5-iluorourieil (5-FU), methotrexate (MTX), fiudarabine, etc.), anti-microtubule agents (e.g., vincristine, vinblastine, colchicine, taxanes (such as paelitaxel and docetaxel), etc.), alkylating agents (e.g., eyelophasphamkle, melphalan, bischloroethylnitrosurea (BCNO), etc.), platinum agents (e.g., cisplatin (also termed cDDP), earboplatin, oxaiiplatin, JM.-216, Cl-973, etc.), anthraeyeimes (e.g., doxorubicin, daimorubicin, etc,), antibiotic agents (e.g., mitomycin-C), topoisoracrase inhibitors (e.g,, etoposi.de, tenoposide, and caraptothecins), or other cytotoxic agents such as ricin, diptheria toxin (DT), Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE) A, PE-40, abrin, saporiu, pokeweed viral protein, ethidium bromide, glucocorticoid, anthrax toxin and others. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,188. J0027| While the IL-Ια specific Abs described above are preferred for use in the invention, in some cases, other agents that specifically target IL-Ια might be used so long as their administration leads to improvement of a characteristic of a tumor-associated disease. These other agents might include small organic molecules, aptamers, peptides, and proteins that specifically bind IL-la (e.g., anakiora or rilonacept).

Pharmaceutical Compositions and Methods (0028} The anti-IL-la Ab compositions may be administered to animals or humans in pharmaceutically acceptable carriers (e.g., sterile saline), that are selected on the basis of .mode and route of administration and standard pharmaceutical practice. A list of pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, as well as pharmaceutical formulations, can be found in Remington’s Pharmaceutical Sciences, a .standard text in this field, and in USP/NF. Other substances may be added to the compositions and other steps taken to stabilize and/or preserve the compositions, and/or to facilitate their administration to a subject. |0029| For example, the Ab compositions might be lyophilized (see Draber et al, J. Immunol, Methods. 181:37, 1995; and PCT/US90/01383); dissolved in a solution including sodium and chloride ions; dissolved in a solution including one or more stabilizing agents such as albumin, glucose, maltose, sucrose, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol, and glycine; filtered (e,g,, using a 0.45 and/or 0.2 micron filter); contacted with bela-propiolactone; and/or dissolved in a solution including a microbicide (e.g., a detergent, an organic solvent, and a mixture of a detergent and organic solvent, [00301 The Ab compositions may be administered to animals or humans by any suitable technique. Typically, such administration will he parenteral (e.g., intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, or iniraperitoneal introduction). The compositions may also be administered directly to the target she (e.g,, intratumoraily) by, for example, injection. Other methods of delivery, e.g„ liposomal delivery or diffusion from a device impregnated with the composition, are known in the art. The composition may be administered in a single bolus, multiple injections, or by continuous infusion (e.g., intravenously or by peritoneal dialysis), (003:11 A therapeutically effective amount is an amount which is capable of producing a medically desirable result in a treated animal or human. An effective amount of ami-IL-Ια Ab compositions is an amount which shows clinical efficacy in patients as measured by the improvement in one or more a tumor-associated disease characteristics described above. As is well known in the medical arts, dosage for any one animal or human depends on many factors, including the subject’s size, body surface area, age, the particular composition to be administered, sex, time and route of administration, general health, and other drugs being administered concurrently. Preferred doses range from about 0.2 to 20 (e.g., 0.15, 0.2,0.3, 0,4, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, or 100) mg/kg body weight. The dose may be given repeatedly, e.g,, hourly, daily, semi-weekly, weekly, bi-weekly, tri-weekly, or monthly.

EXAMPLES

Example 1 - Xilonlx™ (.0032] Xilonix™ is a sterile injectable liquid formulation of 15 mg/mL MABpl. in a stabilizing isotonic buffer (pH 6.4). Each 10-raL Type 1 borosilicate glass serum vial contains 5 raL of the formulation, and is sealed with a 20-ram Daikyo Flurotec butyl rubber stopper and flip-off aluminum seal. The product is stored at $±3°€, with excursions to room temperature permitted. The exact composition of the drug product is shown below:

Method of Administration: (00331 The calculated volume is withdrawn from the drug (mAb)-eontaming vial(s) using a suitable syringe. The drug is then injected into a small IV bag containing 100 raL of norma! saline (0.9% NaCl) and mixed by inversion. The diluted drug product can be stored at room temperature for 3 hours prior to administration and is infused over a i-hour period, with the subject being monitored for signs of an infusion reaction. The infusion is chased with a minimum of 30 ra'Ls of normal saline to deliver any product that may he held up in the infusion set.

Example 2 ~ Treatment of Colorectal Cancer with an IL-1 a-speclfte MAb (Xitonix™). (0034) The human subject was a 63 year-old female diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer (KRAS mutation positive). Prior to treatment with Xilonix™, the subject underwent right hemicolectomy and was reportedly staged T3N1MX, She thereafter received adjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFQX for a total of 12 cycles over about six months, A PET €T scan performed about two months after completion of FOLFQX revealed a mass in her pelvis. The subject was hospitalized at the time for placement of ureteral stent doe to obstructive hydronephrosis apparently from the tumor. She started FOLFIRI and Avastin shortly thereafter and received 8 cycles of therapy. The subject then underwent re-staging PET CT scan which confirmed disease in the pelvis, and also revealed small pulmonary nodules consistent with metastatic disease, A CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis revealed a 12 cm pelvic mass, a 2 cm omental mass, and the hydronephrosis on the right side with, associated ureteral stent. She received 2 extra cycles of FOLFIRI and Avastin. A subsequent PET CT scan showed progression of the bilateral pulmonary nodules. The subject then started irinotecan and Erbitux* (Cehrximab) therapy, A follow up PET CT scan demonstrated disease progression in the lungs.

[0035| The subject was initiated on a phase 1 trial with DoxiF* (Doxorubicin Liposomal), Veleadev (Bortezoraib), and Gemxarv (Gemcitabine) but unfortunately the first re-staging suggested disease progression. She also completed another phase 1 trial with oxaliplatin in combination with azacitydroeon and completed 2 cycles before disease progression. At the conclusion of her participation on this last clinical phase 1 trial, the subject was enrolled in the current clinical trial.

[0036| She was enrolled in the first dosing cohort (0.25 mg/ml} and completed 5 -21 day cycles on the protocol, thus receiving a total of five infusions of MABpl (0.25 mg/kg) every 21 days. The subject’s dose was increased to 0.75 mg/kg on Cycle 6 Day I, An initial PET CT scan revealed about a 17% reduction in the sum of diameters in the patient’s tumors that were being tracked. Following additional doses of MABpl , an over 30% reduction in the stun of diameters in the patient's tracked tumors was observed A Chest CT showed a paratrocheal lymph node that previously measured 3.5 cm was reduced to 2.9 cm at the end of Cycle 6. A left lung metastasis decreased from 2.2 cm to 1.9 cm, and an implant from the left rectos muscle decreased from 3.2 cm to 2.7 cm. The CEA tumor marker at baseline was 81, decreased to 69.2 at the end of cycle 3, and was 27,9 as of Cycle 7 Dayl. This patient has continued on therapy for over 71 weeks and the disease has remained stable.

Example 3 ~ Treatment of Nasopharygeal Cancer with an 1L~ la-specific MAh (Xilonix™). 1.0037] The subject was a 47 year old Chinese male having E8V+ (Epstem-Barr virus) nasopharyngeal carcinoma with the histological subtype lymphoepithelioma (old terminology) or non-keratinmng carcinoma. The subject was previously treated with cisplatin, 5-FU, radiotherapy, Taxotere*' (Docetaxel), Gemzarf5 (Gemcitabine), Xeloda® (Capecitabine), adoptive EBV-directed T cell transfer, and Cymevene*' ^Ganciclovir) in combination with Gemzar# (Gemcitabine) . Prior to starting therapy, the patient had fatigue, fevers and sweats, and was receiving frequent therapeutic paracentesis for ascites. |0038j The subject began MABpl treatment on day 0 at 1.25 mg/kg IV every two weeks. By days 3 and 4, a marked decrease in the subjects fatigue, fevers, and sweats was noted. The ascites also resolved. Abdominal CT abdomen scans showed a reduction in the size of a metastatic liver tumor from 50.4mm on day 1 to 35.8mm by day 36 (almost 30%) of one of the masses. Multiple other liver lesions decreased in size, and bone lesions appeared to be stable.

Example 4 - Treatment of Castleman’s Syndrome with an 1L-la-specific MAb (Xilonix™). 10039] The subject was a 55-year-old woman suffering from Castleman’s disease (the variant known as POEMS syndrome). Her symptoms included fatigue, edema, and nerve pain. Prior treatment with Rituxan*‘ (Rituximab) and an investigational auti-iL-6 therapy failed. The subject was administered a total of four infusions of MABpl (0.75 mg/kg) every 2.1 days. The subject’s dose was increased to 1.25 mg/kg in the next cycle.

[0040] This subject had stable disease through 2 re-stagings, and has been treated for over 4 months. For approximately 2 weeks after each injection, her symptoms of fatigue, edema, and nerve pain improved significantly, and then gradually recurred until the next injection. Her RECIST staging criteria showed 2% increase of lymph node size from baseline at the first restage, and 4% increase of lymph node size from baseline at the second restage.

[0041 | After completing ? cycles, the subject withdrew consent for therapy in order to try another experimental treatment. After being off study for 8 weeks, the subject physician requested that she be allowed to resume therapy with MABp.1 due to “rapid disease progression”. Since resuming treatment, the subject’s disease is stable and she has been on study for over 58 weeks.

Example 5 - Treatment of NSCLC with an IL-la-specific MAb (Xilonix'iM), [0042] The subject was an 84 year old female with a history of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer diagnosed by fine needle aspiration. Three months after diagnosis, the subject began treatment with Tarceva® (Erlotinib) for 8 months at which point disease progression was noted. The subject was then treated with 11 cycles of Alimta^ (Permetrexed) over 8 months, at which time treatment was halted due to the development of renal failure of undetermined etiology. Six months later, progressive disease was noted and the patient was again treated with Tarceva# (Erlotinib) for 3 months. At that point, her CAT scan showed further progressive disease in the lungs with an increase in size of a right upper-lobe mass, pulmonary nodules consistent with metastases, and increasing intra-thoracic adenopathy, [00431 The subject was then enrolled in a trial using Xilonix™. MABpl (3.75 mg/kg) was infused intravenously every 21 days for 9 cycles. After treatment, stable disease was noted for approximately 30 weeks, and in the most recent restaging the right lung lesion appeared to be cavitating.

[0044] Example 6 Treatment of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer with an IL-la-specific MAb (Xilonix™).

[0045] The subject was a 52 yr old female diagnosed with KRAS-positive non-small cell (adenocarcinoma) cancer of the lung on day 0. A PET/CT scan from day .14 revealed a 4 x 3.5 cm left tipper lobe mass, with disease metastasis to the lungs. hilar nodes, right inguinal nodes, right adrenal, 4th right rib, and sacroiliac joint. The subject began treatment with Carhoplatin, Paclitaxel, and Bevacizutaab a few weeks after the scan. The subject had a good initial response and completed five cycles before progressing at about 5 months from the first treatment. Over the next six months, the subject was treated with 3 cycles of Docetaxel and one cycle of Carboplatin. plus Pemetrexed. Despite this therapy, she continued to progress.

[0O4h| The subject subsequently began treatment with MABpl, After only 4 days the subject, began experiencing a worsening of her headaches. These were initially attributed to sinusitis, but MRI revealed brain metastases. The investigator believed that these were likely present prior to beginning therapy, however, the subject came off of study after only one dose of MABpl to receive gamma-knife radiotherapy. The subject was seen in follow up twenty days after the initial MABpl dose, and reported a subjective improvement in symptoms with a decrease in her chest pain. Because of this, the investigator checked a chest x-ray, which showed “an obvious decrease in the size of her lung lesions” after only one dose. A waiver was issued, and the subject resumed therapy. Forty-six days after the initial MABpl dose, the subject underwent resiagmg, and had a 6% decrease in the sum total diameter of lesions as graded by RECIST criteria.

Other Embodiments |004?1 It is to be understood that while the invention has been described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is;

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. A method for treating cancer in a human subject, the method comprising the step of administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an amount of an antibody that specifically binds IL-1 a.
2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cancer is metastatic colorectal cancer.
3. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody which is infused into the subject.
4. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the monoclonal antibody is infused into the subject at least 5 times.
5. 5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sum diameter of the tumors comprising the cancer in the subject is reduced.
6. 6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, prior to the step of administering to the subject the pharmaceutical composition, the cancer progressed after treatment with chemotherapy.
7. 7. The method of claim 2, wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody which is infused into the subject at least 5 times and the sum diameter of the tumors comprising the cancer in the subject is reduced.
8. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein, prior to the step of administering to the subject the pharmaceutical composition, the cancer progressed after treatment with chemotherapy.
9. 9. Use of an antibody that specifically binds IL-1 a and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of cancer in a human subject.
10. 10. Use of claim 9, wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.