EP1244784A2 - Methodes et compositions permettant d'inhiber la croissance cellulaire neoplasique - Google Patents

Methodes et compositions permettant d'inhiber la croissance cellulaire neoplasique

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Publication number
EP1244784A2
EP1244784A2 EP00982096A EP00982096A EP1244784A2 EP 1244784 A2 EP1244784 A2 EP 1244784A2 EP 00982096 A EP00982096 A EP 00982096A EP 00982096 A EP00982096 A EP 00982096A EP 1244784 A2 EP1244784 A2 EP 1244784A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
acid sequence
polypeptide
seq
amino acid
pro
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00982096A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Avi J. Ashkenazi
Audrey Goddard
Austin L. Gurney
Mary A. Napier
Colin K. Watanabe
William I. Wood
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Genentech Inc
Original Assignee
Genentech Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from PCT/US2000/000376 external-priority patent/WO2000053755A2/fr
Priority claimed from PCT/US2000/004342 external-priority patent/WO2000078961A1/fr
Priority claimed from PCT/US2000/005841 external-priority patent/WO2000053758A2/fr
Priority claimed from PCT/US2000/008439 external-priority patent/WO2000073454A1/fr
Priority claimed from PCT/US2000/020710 external-priority patent/WO2001009327A2/fr
Application filed by Genentech Inc filed Critical Genentech Inc
Publication of EP1244784A2 publication Critical patent/EP1244784A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K39/0005—Vertebrate antigens
    • A61K39/0011—Cancer antigens
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K45/00—Medicinal preparations containing active ingredients not provided for in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
    • A61K45/06—Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/46—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates
    • C07K14/47—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/705—Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/705—Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants
    • C07K14/71—Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants for growth factors; for growth regulators
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
    • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/54—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by the route of administration
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/545—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by the dose, timing or administration schedule
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/555—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by a specific combination antigen/adjuvant
    • A61K2039/55511—Organic adjuvants
    • A61K2039/55566—Emulsions, e.g. Freund's adjuvant, MF59
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
    • C07K2319/01—Fusion polypeptide containing a localisation/targetting motif
    • C07K2319/02—Fusion polypeptide containing a localisation/targetting motif containing a signal sequence
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
    • C07K2319/20—Fusion polypeptide containing a tag with affinity for a non-protein ligand
    • C07K2319/21—Fusion polypeptide containing a tag with affinity for a non-protein ligand containing a His-tag
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
    • C07K2319/30—Non-immunoglobulin-derived peptide or protein having an immunoglobulin constant or Fc region, or a fragment thereof, attached thereto

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns methods and compositions for inhibiting neoplastic cell growth.
  • the present invention concerns antitumor compositions and methods for the treatment of tumors.
  • the invention further concerns screening methods for identifying growth inhibitory, e.g., antitumor compounds.
  • Malignant tumors are the second leading cause of death in the United States, after heart disease (Boring et al, CA Cancel J. Clin.. 43:7 (1993)).
  • Cancer is characterized by the increase in the number of abnormal, or neoplastic, cells derived from a normal tissue which proliferate to form a tumor mass, the invasion of adjacent tissues by these neoplastic tumor cells, and the generation of malignant cells which eventually spread via the blood or lymphatic system to regional lymph nodes and to distant sites (metastasis). In a cancerous state a cell proliferates under conditions in which normal cells would not grow. Cancer manifests itself in a wide variety of forms, characterized by different degrees of invasiveness and aggressiveness.
  • neoplastic cells such as cancer cells.
  • the present invention relates to methods and compositions for inhibiting neoplastic cell growth. More particularly, the invention concerns methods and compositions for the treatment of tumors, including cancers, such as breast, prostate, colon, lung, ovarian, renal and CNS cancers, leukemia, melanoma, etc., in mammalian patients, preferably humans.
  • cancers such as breast, prostate, colon, lung, ovarian, renal and CNS cancers, leukemia, melanoma, etc.
  • the present invention concerns compositions of matter useful for the inhibition of neoplastic cell growtli comprising an effective amount of a PRO polypeptide as herein defined, or an agonist thereof, in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • the composition of matter comprises a growth inhibitory amount of a PRO polypeptide, or an agonist thereof.
  • the composition comprises a cytotoxic amount of a PRO polypeptide, or an agonist thereof.
  • the compositions of matter may contain one or more additional growth inhibitory and/or cytotoxic and/or other chemotherapeutic agents.
  • the present invention concerns compositions of matter useful for the treatment of a tumor in a mammal comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a PRO polypeptide as herein defined, or an agonist thereof.
  • the tumor is preferably a cancer.
  • the invention concerns a method for inhibiting the growth of a tumor cell comprising exposing the cell to an effective amount of a PRO polypeptide as herein defined, or an agonist thereof.
  • the agonist is an anti-PRO agonist antibody.
  • the agonist is a small molecule that mimics the biological activity of a PRO polypeptide. The method may be performed in vitro or in vivo.
  • the invention concerns an article of manufacture comprising:
  • composition comprising an active agent contained within the container; wherein the composition is effective for inhibiting the neoplastic cell growth, e.g., growth of tumor cells, and the active agent in the composition is a PRO polypeptide as herein defined, or an agonist thereof; and (c) a label affixed to said container, or a package insert included in said container referring to the use of said PRO polypeptide or agonist tliereof, for the inhibition of neoplastic cell growth, wherein the agonist may be an antibody which binds to the PRO polypeptide.
  • the agonist is an anti-PRO agonist antibody.
  • the agonist is a small molecule that mimics the biological activity of a PRO polypeptide.
  • Similar articles of manufacture comprising a PRO polypeptide as herein defined, or an agonist thereof, in an amount that is therapeutically effective for the treatment of tumor are also within the scope of the present invention.
  • articles of manufacture comprising a PRO polypeptide as herein defined, or an agonist thereof, and a further growth inhibitory agent, cytotoxic agent or chemotherapeutic agent.
  • the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a PRO polypeptide.
  • the isolated nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least about 80% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 81 % nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 82% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 83 % nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 84% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 85% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 86% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 87% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 88% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 89% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 90% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 91% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 92% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 93% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about
  • nucleic acid sequence identity to (a) a DNA molecule encoding a PRO polypeptide having a full-length amino acid sequence as disclosed herein, an amino acid sequence lacking the signal peptide as disclosed herein, an extracellular domain of a transmembrane protein, with or without the signal peptide, as disclosed herein or any other specifically defined fragment of the full-length amino acid sequence as disclosed herein, or (b) the complement of the DNA molecule of (a) .
  • the isolated nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least about 80% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 81 % nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 82% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 83 % nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 84% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 85% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 86% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 87% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 88% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 89% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 90% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 91% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 92% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 93% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about
  • nucleic acid sequence identity to (a) a DNA molecule comprising the coding sequence of a full-length PRO polypeptide cDNA as disclosed herein, the coding sequence of a PRO polypeptide lacking the signal peptide as disclosed herein, the coding sequence of an extracellular domain of a transmembrane PRO polypeptide, with or without the signal peptide, as disclosed herein or the coding sequence of any other specifically defined fragment of the full-length amino acid sequence as disclosed herein, or (b) the complement of the DNA molecule of (a).
  • the invention concerns an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least about 80% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 81 % nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 82% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 83% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 84% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 85% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 86% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 87% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 88% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 89% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about
  • nucleic acid sequence identity alternatively at least about 91 % nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 92% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 93 % nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 94% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 95% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 96% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 97% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 98% nucleic acid sequence identity and alternatively at least about 99% nucleic acid sequence identity to (a) a DNA molecule that encodes the same mature polypeptide encoded by any of the human protein cDNAs deposited with the ATCC as disclosed herein, or (b) the complement of the DNA molecule of (a).
  • Another aspect of the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a PRO polypeptide which is either transmembrane domain-deleted or transmembrane domain-inactivated, or is complementary to such encoding nucleotide sequence, wherein the transmembrane domain(s) of such polypeptides are disclosed herein. Therefore, soluble extracellular domains of the herein described PRO polypeptides are contemplated.
  • Another embodiment is directed to fragments of a PRO polypeptide coding sequence, or the complement thereof, that may find use as, for example, hybridization probes, for encoding fragments of a PRO polypeptide that may optionally encode a polypeptide comprising a binding site for an anti-PRO antibody or as antisense oligonucleotide probes.
  • nucleic acid fragments are usually at least about 20 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 30 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 40 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 50 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 60 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 70 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 80 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 90 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 100 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 110 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 120 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 130 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 140 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 150 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 160 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 170 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 180 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 190 nucle
  • novel fragments of a PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleotide sequence may be determined in a routine manner by aligning the PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleotide sequence with other known nucleotide sequences using any of a number of well known sequence alignment programs and determining which PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleotide sequence fragment(s) are novel. All of such PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleotide sequences are contemplated herein. Also contemplated are the PRO polypeptide fragments encoded by these nucleotide molecule fragments, preferably those PRO polypeptide fragments that comprise a binding site for an anti-PRO antibody.
  • the invention provides an isolated PRO polypeptide encoded by any of the isolated nucleic acid sequences hereinabove identified.
  • the invention concerns an isolated PRO polypeptide, comprising an amino acid sequence having at least about 80% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 81% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 82% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 83% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 84% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 85% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 86% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 87% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 88% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 89% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 91 % amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 92% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 93% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 94% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 95% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 96% amino acid
  • the invention concerns an isolated PRO polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least about 80% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 81% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 82% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 83% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 84% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 85% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 86% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 87% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 88% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 89% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 91 % amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 92% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 93 % amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 94% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 95% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 96% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 97% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 98% amino acid sequence identity and alternatively at least
  • the invention provides an isolated PRO polypeptide without the N-terminal signal sequence and/or the initiating methionine and is encoded by a nucleotide sequence that encodes such an amino acid sequence as hereinbefore described.
  • Processes for producing the same are also herein described, wherein those processes comprise culturing a host cell comprising a vector which comprises the appropriate encoding nucleic acid molecule under conditions suitable for expression of the PRO polypeptide and recovering the PRO polypeptide from the cell culture.
  • Another aspect of the invention provides an isolated PRO polypeptide which is either transmembrane domain-deleted or transmembrane domain-inactivated.
  • Processes for producing the same are also herein described, wherein those processes comprise culturing a host cell comprising a vector which comprises the appropriate encoding nucleic acid molecule under conditions suitable for expression of the PRO polypeptide and recovering the PRO polypeptide from the cell culture.
  • the invention concerns agonists of a native PRO polypeptide as defined herein.
  • the agonist is an anti-PRO antibody or a small molecule.
  • the invention concerns a method of identifying agonists to a PRO polypeptide which comprise contacting the PRO polypeptide with a candidate molecule and monitoring a biological activity mediated by said PRO polypeptide.
  • the PRO polypeptide is a native PRO polypeptide.
  • the invention concerns a composition of matter comprising a PRO polypeptide, or an agonist of a PRO polypeptide as herein described, or an anti-PRO antibody, in combination with a carrier.
  • the carrier is a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the use of a PRO polypeptide, or an agonist thereof as hereinbefore described, or an anti-PRO antibody, for the preparation of a medicament useful in the treatment of a condition which is responsive to the PRO polypeptide, an agonist thereof or an anti-PRO antibody.
  • the invention provides vectors comprising DNA encoding any of the herein described polypeptides.
  • Host cells comprising any such vector are also provided.
  • the host cells may be CHO cells, E. coli, yeast, or Baculovirus-infected insect cells.
  • a process for producing any of the herein described polypeptides is further provided and comprises culturing host cells under conditions suitable for expression of the desired polypeptide and recovering the desired polypeptide from the cell culture.
  • the invention provides chimeric molecules comprising any of the herein described polypeptides fused to a heterologous polypeptide or amino acid sequence.
  • Example of such chimeric molecules comprise any of the herein described polypeptides fused to an epitope tag sequence or a Fc region of an immunoglobulin.
  • the invention provides an antibody which specifically binds to any of the above or below described polypeptides.
  • the antibody is a monoclonal antibody, humanized antibody, antibody fragment or single-chain antibody.
  • the invention provides oligonucleotide probes useful for isolating genomic and cDNA nucleotide sequences or as antisense probes, wherein those probes may be derived from any of the above or below described nucleotide sequences.
  • Figure 1 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO : 1) of a native sequence PR0943 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:l is a clone designated herein as "DNA52192-1369".
  • Figure 2 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:2) derived from the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:l shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3) of a native sequence PRO 1250 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID NO:3 is a clone designated herein as "DNA60775-1532".
  • Figure 4 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:4) derived from the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:
  • Figure 5 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:5) of a native sequence PR01337 cDNA, wherein SEQ ID N0:5 is a clone designated herein as "DNA66672-1586".
  • Figure 6 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:6) derived from the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 shown in Figure 5.
  • PRO polypeptide and "PRO” as used herein and when immediately followed by a numerical designation refer to various polypeptides, wherein the complete designation (.. e. , PRO/number) refers to specific polypeptide sequences as described herein.
  • the PRO polypeptides described herein may be isolated from a variety of sources, such as from human tissue types or from another source, or prepared by recombinant or synthetic methods.
  • a “native sequence PRO polypeptide” comprises a polypeptide having the same amino acid sequence as the corresponding PRO polypeptide derived from nature. Such native sequence PRO polypeptides can be isolated from nature or can be produced by recombinant or synthetic means.
  • the term "native sequence PRO polypeptide” specifically encompasses naturally-occurring truncated or secreted forms of the specific PRO polypeptide ⁇ e.g., an extracellular domain sequence), naturally-occurring variant forms ⁇ e.g., alternatively spliced forms) and naturally-occurring allelic variants of the polypeptide.
  • the native sequence PRO polypeptides disclosed herein are mature or full-length native sequence polypeptides comprising the full-length amino acid sequences shown in the accompanying figures. Start and stop codons are shown in bold font and underlined in the figures. However, while the PRO polypeptide disclosed in the accompanying figures are shown to begin with methionine residues designated herein as amino acid position 1 in the figures, it is conceivable and possible that other methionine residues located either upstream or downstream from the amino acid position 1 in the figures may be employed as the starting amino acid residue for the PRO polypeptides.
  • the PRO polypeptide "extracellular domain” or “ECD” refers to a form of the PRO polypeptide which is essentially free of the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. Ordinarily, a PRO polypeptide ECD will have less than 1% of such transmembrane and/or cytoplasmic domains and preferably, will have less than 0.5% of such domains. It will be understood that any transmembrane domains identified for the PRO polypeptides of the present invention are identified pursuant to criteria routinely employed in the art for identifying that type of hydrophobic domain. The exact boundaries of a transmembrane domain may vary but most likely by no more than about 5 amino acids at either end of the domain as initially identified herein.
  • an extracellular domain of a PRO polypeptide may contain from about 5 or fewer amino acids on either side of the transmembrane domain/extracellular domain boundary as identified in the Examples or specification and such polypeptides, with or without the associated signal peptide, and nucleic acid encoding them, are comtemplated by the present invention.
  • cleavage of a signal sequence from a secreted polypeptide is not entirely uniform, resulting in more than one secreted species.
  • These mature polypeptides, where the signal peptide is cleaved within no more than about 5 amino acids on either side of the C-terminal boundary of the signal peptide as identified herein, and the polynucleotides encoding them, are contemplated by the present invention.
  • PRO polypeptide variant means an active PRO polypeptide as defined above or below having at least about 80% amino acid sequence identity with a full-length native sequence PRO polypeptide sequence as disclosed herein, a PRO polypeptide sequence lacking the signal peptide as disclosed herein, an extracellular domain of a PRO polypeptide, with or without the signal peptide, as disclosed herein or any other fragment of a full-length PRO polypeptide sequence as disclosed herein.
  • Such PRO polypeptide variants include, for instance, PRO polypeptides wherein one or more amino acid residues are added, or deleted, at the N- or
  • a PRO polypeptide variant will have at least about 80% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 81% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 82% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 83% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 84% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 85% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 86% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 87% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 88% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 89% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 91 % amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 92% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 93 % amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 94% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 95% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 96% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 97% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 98% amino acid sequence identity
  • PRO variant polypeptides are at least about 10 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 20 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 30 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 40 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 50 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 60 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 70 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 80 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 90 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 100 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 150 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 200 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 300 amino acids in length, or more.
  • Percent (%) amino acid sequence identity with respect to the PRO polypeptide sequences identified herein is defined as the percentage of amino acid residues in a candidate sequence that are identical with the amino acid residues in a PRO sequence, after aligning the sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achieve the maximum percent sequence identity, and not considering any conservative substitutions as part of the sequence identity. Alignment for purposes of determining percent amino acid sequence identity can be achieved in various ways that are within the skill in the art, for instance, using publicly available computer software such as BLAST, BLAST-2, ALIGN, ALIGN-2 or Megalign (DNASTAR) software. Those skilled in the art can determine appropriate parameters for measuring alignment, including any algorithms needed to achieve maximal alignment over the full-length of the sequences being compared.
  • % amino acid sequence identity values are obtained as described below by using the sequence comparison computer program ALIGN-2, wherein the complete source code for the ALIGN-2 program is provided in Table 1.
  • the ALIGN-2 sequence comparison computer program was authored by Genentech, Inc., and the source code shown in Table 1 has been filed with user documentation in the U.S. Copyright Office, Washington D.C., 20559, where it is registered under U.S. Copyright Registration No. TXU510087.
  • the ALIGN-2 program is publicly available through Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California or may be compiled from the source code provided in Table 1.
  • the ALIGN-2 program should be compiled for use on a UNIX operating system, preferably digital UNIX V4.0D. All sequence comparison parameters are set by the ALIGN-2 program and do not vary.
  • % amino acid sequence identity of a given amino acid sequence A to, with, or against a given amino acid sequence B is calculated as follows:
  • X is the number of amino acid residues scored as identical matches by the sequence alignment program ALIGN-2 in that program's alignment of A and B, and where Y is the total number of amino acid residues in
  • % amino acid sequence identity values used herein are obtained as described above using the ALIGN-2 sequence comparison computer program. However, % amino acid sequence identity may also be determined using the sequence comparison program NCBI-BLAST2 (Altschul etal, Nucleic Acids Res.. 25:3389-3402 (1997)). The NCBI-BLAST2 sequence comparison program may be downloaded from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, or otherwise obtained from the National Institute of Health,
  • % amino acid sequence identity of a given amino acid sequence A to, with, or against a given amino acid sequence B is calculated as follows:
  • a % amino acid sequence identity value is determined by dividing (a) the number of matching identical amino acids residues between the amino acid sequence of the PRO polypeptide of interest having a sequence derived from the native PRO polypeptide and the comparison amino acid sequence of interest (.. e.
  • the sequence against which the PRO polypeptide of interest is being compared which may be a PRO variant polypeptide) as determined by WU-BLAST-2 by (b) the total number of amino acid residues of the PRO polypeptide of interest.
  • the amino acid sequence A is the comparison amino acid sequence of interest and the amino acid sequence B is the amino acid sequence of the PRO polypeptide of interest.
  • PRO variant polynucleotide or "PRO variant nucleic acid sequence” means a nucleic acid molecule which encodes an active PRO polypeptide as defined below and which has at least about 80% nucleic acid sequence identity with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a full-length native sequence PRO polypeptide sequence as disclosed herein, a full-length native sequence PRO polypeptide sequence lacking the signal peptide as disclosed herein, an extracellular domain of a PRO polypeptide, with or without the signal peptide, as disclosed herein or any other fragment of a full-length PRO polypeptide sequence as disclosed herein.
  • a PRO variant polynucleotide will have at least about 80% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 81% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 82% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 83% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about
  • nucleic acid sequence identity alternatively at least about 85% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 86% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 87% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 88% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 89% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 90% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 91 % nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 92% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 93 % nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 94% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 95% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 96% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 97% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 98% nucleic acid sequence identity and alternatively at least about 99% nucleic acid sequence identity with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a full-length native sequence PRO polypeptide sequence as disclosed herein, a full-length native sequence PRO
  • PRO variant polynucleotides are at least about 30 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 60 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 90 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about
  • nucleotides in length alternatively at least about 150 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 180 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 210 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 240 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 270 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 300 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 450 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 600 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 900 nucleotides in length, or more.
  • Percent (%) nucleic acid sequence identity with respect to the PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid sequences identified herein is defined as the percentage of nucleotides in a candidate sequence that are identical with the nucleotides in a PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid sequence, after aligning the sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achieve the maximum percent sequence identity. Alignment for purposes of determining percent nucleic acid sequence identity can be achieved in various ways that are within the skill in the art, for instance, using publicly available computer software such as BLAST, BLAST-2, ALIGN, ALIGN-2 or Megalign (DNASTAR) software.
  • ALIGN-2 sequence comparison computer program
  • Table 1 complete source code for the ALIGN-2 program is provided in Table 1.
  • the ALIGN-2 sequence comparison computer program was authored by Genentech, Inc., and the source code shown in Table 1 has been filed with user documentation in the U.S. Copyright Office, Washington D.C., 20559, where it is registered under U.S. Copyright Registration No. TXU510087.
  • the ALIGN-2 program is publicly available through Genentech, Inc.
  • ALIGN-2 program should be compiled for use on a UNIX operating system, preferably digital UNIX V4.0D. All sequence comparison parameters are set by the ALIGN-2 program and do not vary.
  • % nucleic acid sequence identity of a given nucleic acid sequence C to, with, or against a given nucleic acid sequence D is calculated as follows:
  • % nucleic acid sequence identity values used herein are obtained as described above using the ALIGN-2 sequence comparison computer program. However, % nucleic acid sequence identity may also be determined using the sequence comparison program NCBI-BLAST2 (Altschul etal, Nucleic Acids Res.. 25:3389-3402 (1997)).
  • NCBI-BLAST2 sequence comparison program may be downloaded from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, or otherwise obtained from the National Institute of Health, Befhesda, MD.
  • % nucleic acid sequence identity of a given nucleic acid sequence C to, with, or against a given nucleic acid sequence D is calculated as follows:
  • a % nucleic acid sequence identity value is determined by dividing (a) the number of matching identical nucleotides between the nucleic acid sequence of the PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecule of interest having a sequence derived from the native sequence PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid and the comparison nucleic acid molecule of interest ⁇ i.e., the sequence against which the PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecule of interest is being compared which may be a variant PRO polynucleotide) as determined by WU-BLAST-2 by (b) the total number of nucleotides of the PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecule of interest.
  • nucleic acid sequence A is the comparison nucleic acid molecule of interest and the nucleic acid sequence B is the nucleic acid sequence of the PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecule of interest.
  • PRO variant polynucleotides are nucleic acid molecules that encode an active PRO polypeptide and which are capable of hybridizing, preferably under stringent hybridization and wash conditions, to nucleotide sequences encoding the full-length PRO polypeptide shown in the accompanying figures herein.
  • PRO variant polypeptides may be those that are encoded by a PRO variant polynucleotide.
  • isolated when used to describe the various polypeptides disclosed herein, means a polypeptide that has been identified and separated and/or recovered from a component of its natural environment. Preferably, the isolated polypeptide is free of association with all components with which it is naturally associated. Contaminant components of its natural environment are materials that would typically interfere with diagnostic or therapeutic uses for the polypeptide, and may include enzymes, hormones, and other proteinaceous or non- proteinaceous solutes.
  • the polypeptide will be purified (1) to a degree sufficient to obtain at least 15 residues of N-terminal or internal amino acid sequence by use of a spinning cup sequenator, or (2) to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE under non-reducing or reducing conditions using Coomassie blue or, preferably, silver stain.
  • Isolated polypeptides includes polypeptides in situ within recombinant cells, since at least one component of the PRO polypeptide natural environment will not be present. Ordinarily, however, isolated polypeptides will be prepared by at least one purification step.
  • An "isolated" nucleic acid molecule encoding a PRO polypeptide or an “isolated” nucleic acid molecule encoding an anti-PRO antibody is a nucleic acid molecule that is identified and separated from at least one contaminant nucleic acid molecule with which it is ordinarily associated in the natural source of the PRO- encoding nucleic acid or the natural source of the anti-PRO-encoding nucleic acid.
  • the isolated nucleic acid is free of association with all components with which it is naturally associated.
  • An isolated PRO- encoding nucleic acid molecule or an isolated anti-PRO-encoding nucleic acid molecule is other than in the form or setting in which it is found in nature.
  • Isolated nucleic acid molecules therefore are distinguished from the PRO-encoding nucleic acid molecule or from the anti-PRO-encoding nucleic acid molecule as it exists in natural cells.
  • an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a PRO polypeptide or an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding an anti-PRO antibody includes PRO-nucleic acid molecules or anti-PRO-nucleic acid molecules contained in cells that ordinarily express PRO polypeptides or anti-PRO antibodies where, for example, the nucleic acid molecule is in a chromosomal location different from that of natural cells.
  • control sequences refers to DNA sequences necessary for the expression of an operably linked coding sequence in a particular host organism.
  • control sequences that are suitable for prokaryotes include a promoter, optionally an operator sequence, and a ribosome binding site.
  • Eukaryotic cells are known to utilize promoters, polyadenylation signals, and enhancers.
  • Nucleic acid is "operably linked" when it is placed into a functional relationship with another nucleic acid sequence.
  • DNA for a presequence or secretory leader is operably linked to DNA for a PRO polypeptide if it is expressed as a preprotein that participates in the secretion of the polypeptide; a promoter or enhancer is operably linked to a coding sequence if it affects the transcription of the sequence; or a ribosome binding site is operably linked to a coding sequence if it is positioned so as to facilitate translation.
  • "operably linked" means that the DNA sequences being linked are contiguous, and, in the case of a secretory leader, contiguous and in reading phase. However, enhancers do not have to be contiguous. Linking is accomplished by ligation at convenient restriction sites. If such sites do not exist, the synthetic oligonucleotide adaptors or linkers are used in accordance with conventional practice.
  • antibody is used in the broadest sense and specifically covers, for example, single anti-PRO monoclonal antibodies (including agonist antibodies), anti-PRO antibody compositions with polyepitopic specificity, single chain anti-PRO antibodies, and fragments of anti-PRO antibodies ⁇ see below).
  • monoclonal antibody refers to an antibody obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, i.e., the individual antibodies comprising the population are identical except for possible naturally-occurring mutations that may be present in minor amounts. "Stringency" of hybridization reactions is readily determinable by one of ordinary skill in the art, and generally is an empirical calculation dependent upon probe length, washing temperature, and salt concentration.
  • Hybridization generally depends on the ability of denatured DNA to reanneal when complementary strands are present in an environment below their melting temperature. The higher the degree of desired homology between the probe and hybridizable sequence, the higher the relative temperature that can be used. As a result, it follows that higher relative temperatures would tend to make the reaction conditions more stringent, while lower temperatures less so.
  • stringency of hybridization reactions see, Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Wiley Interscience Publishers, 1995). "Stringent conditions” or “high-stringency conditions”, as defined herein, may be identified by those that:
  • (1) employ low ionic strength and high temperature for washing, for example, 0.015 M sodium chloride/0.0015 M sodium citrate/0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate at 50 °C; (2) employ during hybridization a denaturing agent, such as formamide, for example, 50% (v/v) formamide with 0.1% bovine serum albumin/0.1% Ficoll/0.1% polyvinylpyrrolidone/50mM sodium phosphate buffer atpH 6.5 with 750 mM sodium chloride, 75 mM sodium citrate at 42°C; or (3) employ 50% formamide, 5 x SSC (0.75 M NaCl, 0.075 M sodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 6.8), 0.1% sodium pyrophosphate, 5 x Denhardt's solution, sonicated salmon sperm DNA (50 ⁇ g/ml), 0.1% SDS, and 10% dextran sulfate at 42 °C, with washes at 42 °C in 0.2 x
  • Modely-stringent conditions may be identified as described by Sambrook etal, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (New York: Cold Spring Harbor Press, 1989), and include the use of washing solution and hybridization conditions ⁇ e.g. , temperature, ionic strength, and % SDS) less stringent than those described above.
  • washing solution and hybridization conditions ⁇ e.g. , temperature, ionic strength, and % SDS
  • An example of moderately stringent conditions is overnight incubation at 37 °C in a solution comprising:
  • epitope tagged when used herein refers to a chimeric polypeptide comprising a PRO polypeptide fused to a "tag polypeptide" .
  • the tag polypeptide has enough residues to provide an epitope against which an antibody can be made, yet is short enough such that it does not interfere with activity of the polypeptide to which it is fused.
  • the tag polypeptide preferably also is fairly unique so that the antibody does not substantially cross-react with other epitopes.
  • Suitable tag polypeptides generally have at least six amino acid residues and usually between about 8 and 50 amino acid residues (preferably, between about 10 and 20 amino acid residues).
  • immunoadhesin designates antibody-like molecules which combine the binding specificity of a heterologous protein (an “adhesin”) with the effector functions of immunoglobulin constant domains.
  • the immunoadhesins comprise a fusion of an amino acid sequence with the desired binding specificity which is other than the antigen recognition and binding site of an antibody (i.e., is
  • heterologous an immunoglobulin constant domain sequence
  • the adhesin part of an immunoadhesin molecule typically is a contiguous amino acid sequence comprising at least the binding site of a receptor or a ligand.
  • the immunoglobulin constant domain sequence in the immunoadhesin may be obtained from any immunoglobulin, such as IgG-1, IgG-2, IgG-3, or IgG-4 subtypes, IgA (including IgA-1 and IgA-2), IgE, IgD or IgM.
  • Active or “activity” for the purposes herein refers to form(s) of PRO polypeptides which retain a biological and/or an immunological activity of native or naturally-occurring PRO polypeptides, wherein "biological” activity refers to a biological function (either inhibitory or stimulatory) caused by a native or naturally-occurring PRO polypeptide other than the ability to induce the production of an antibody against an antigenic epitope possessed by a native or naturally-occurring PRO polypeptide and an "immunological” activity refers to the ability to induce the production of an antibody against an antigenic epitope possessed by a native or naturally-occurring PRO polypeptide.
  • Bioactivity in the context of an antibody or another agonist that can be identified by the screening assays disclosed herein ⁇ e.g., an organic or inorganic small molecule, peptide, etc. is used to refer to the ability of su ⁇ h molecules to invoke one or more of the effects listed herein in connection with the definition of a
  • biological activity is the ability to inhibit neoplastic cell growth or proliferation.
  • a preferred biological activity is inhibition, including slowing or complete stopping, of the growth of a target tumor ⁇ e.g., cancer) cell.
  • Another preferred biological activity is cytotoxic activity resulting in the death of the target tumor ⁇ e.g. , cancer) cell.
  • Yet another preferred biological activity is the induction of apoptosis of a target tumor ⁇ e.g., cancer) cell.
  • immunological activity means immunological cross-reactivity with at least one epitope of a PRO polypeptide.
  • immunological cross-reactivity means that the candidate polypeptide is capable of competitively inhibiting the qualitative biological activity of a PRO polypeptide having this activity with polyclonal antisera raised against the known active PRO polypeptide.
  • antisera are prepared in conventional fashion by injecting goats or rabbits, for example, subcutaneously with the known active analogue in complete Freund's adjuvant, followed by booster intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injection in incomplete Freunds.
  • the immunological cross-reactivity preferably is "specific", which means that the binding affinity of the immunologically cross-reactive molecule ⁇ e.g.
  • tumor refers to all neoplastic cell growth and proliferation, whether malignant or benign, and all pre-cancerous and cancerous cells and tissues.
  • cancer refers to or describe the physiological condition in mammals that is typically characterized by unregulated cell growth.
  • cancer include but are not limited to, carcinoma, lymphoma, blastoma, sarcoma, and leukemia. More particular examples of such cancers include breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, squamous cell cancer, small-cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, liver cancer, bladder cancer, hepatoma, colorectal cancer, endometrial carcinoma, salivary gland carcinoma, kidney cancer, vulval cancer, thyroid cancer, hepatic carcinoma and various types of head and neck cancer.
  • Treatment is an intervention performed with the intention of preventing the development or altering the pathology of a disorder. Accordingly, “treatment” refers to both therapeutic treatment and prophylactic or preventative measures. Those in need of treatment include those already with the disorder as well as those in which the disorder is to be prevented.
  • a therapeutic agent may directly decrease the pathology of tumor cells, or render the tumor cells more susceptible to treatment by other therapeutic agents, e.g., radiation and/or chemotherapy.
  • the "pathology” of cancer includes all phenomena that compromise the well-being of the patient. This includes, without limitation, abnormal or uncontrollable cell growth, metastasis, interference with the normal functioning of neighboring cells, release of cytokines or other secretory products at abnormal levels, suppression or aggravation of inflammatory or immunological response, etc.
  • an "effective amount” of a polypeptide disclosed herein or an agonist thereof, in reference to inhibition of neoplastic cell growth is an amount capable of inhibiting, to some extent, the growth of target cells.
  • the term includes an amount capable of invoking a growth inhibitory, cytostatic and/or cytotoxic effect and/or apoptosis of the target cells.
  • An "effective amount" of a PRO polypeptide or an agonist thereof for purposes of inhibiting neoplastic cell growtli may be determined empirically and in a routine manner.
  • a “therapeutically effective amount”, in reference to the treatment of tumor, refers to an amount capable of invoking one or more of the following effects: (1) inhibition, to some extent, of tumor growth, including, slowing down and complete growth arrest; (2) reduction in the number of tumor cells; (3) reduction in tumor size; (4) inhibition (i. e. , reduction, slowing down or complete stopping) of tumor cell infiltration into peripheral organs; (5) inhibition ⁇ i.e., reduction, slowing down or complete stopping) of metastasis; (6) enhancement of anti-tumor immune response, which may, but does not have to, result in the regression or rejection of the tumor; and/or (7) relief, to some extent, of one or more symptoms associated with the disorder.
  • a “therapeutically effective amount” of a PRO polypeptide or an agonist thereof for purposes of treatment of tumor may be determined empirically and in a routine manner.
  • a “growth inhibitory amount” of a PRO polypeptide or an agonist thereof is an amount capable of inhibiting the growth of a cell, especially tumor, e.g. , cancer cell, either in vitro or in vivo.
  • a “growth inhibitory amount” of a PRO polypeptide or an agonist thereof for purposes of inhibiting neoplastic cell growth may be determined empirically and in a routine manner.
  • a "cytotoxic amount” of a PRO polypeptide or an agonist thereof is an amount capable of causing the destruction of a cell, especially tumor, e.g., cancer cell, either in vitro or in vivo.
  • a "cytotoxic amount" of a PRO polypeptide or an agonist thereof is an amount capable of causing the destruction of a cell, especially tumor, e.g., cancer cell, either in vitro or in vivo.
  • PRO polypeptide or an agonist thereof for purposes of inhibiting neoplastic cell growth may be determined empirically and in a routine manner.
  • cytotoxic agent refers to a substance that inhibits or prevents the function of cells and/or causes destruction of cells.
  • the term is intended to include radioactive isotopes ⁇ e.g. , I 131 , 1 125 , Y 90 and Re 186 ), chemotherapeutic agents, and toxins such as enzymatically active toxins of bacterial, fungal, plant or animal origin, or fragments thereof.
  • chemotherapeutic agent is a chemical compound useful in the treatment of tumor, e.g., cancer.
  • chemotherapeutic agents include adriamycin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, 5-fluorouracil, cytosine arabinoside ("Ara-C"), cyclophosphamide, thiotepa, busulfan, cytoxin, taxoids, e.g., paclitaxel (Taxol, Bristol- Myers Squibb Oncology, Princeton, NJ), and doxetaxel (Taxotere, Rh ⁇ ne-Poulenc Rorer, Antony, Rnace), toxotere, methotrexate, cisplatin, melphalan, vinblastine, bleomycin, etoposide, ifosfamide, mitomycin C, mitoxantrone, vincristine, vinorelbine, carboplatin, tenipos
  • a “growth inhibitory agent” when used herein refers to a compound or composition which inhibits growth of a cell, especially tumor, e.g., cancer cell, either in vitro or in vivo.
  • the growth inhibitory agent is one which significantly reduces the percentage of the target cells in S phase.
  • growth inhibitory agents include agents that block cell cycle progression (at a place other than S phase), such as agents that induce Gl arrest and M-phase arrest.
  • Classical M-phase blockers include the vincas (vincristine and vinblastine), taxol, and topo II inhibitors such as doxorubicin, epirubicin, daunorubicin, etoposide, and bleomycin.
  • DNA alkylating agents such as tamoxifen, prednisone, dacarbazine, mechlorethamine, cisplatin, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, and ara-C. Further information can be found in The Molecular Basis of Cancer, Mendelsohn and Israel, eds., Chapter 1, entitled “Cell cycle regulation, oncogens, and antineoplastic drugs” by Murakami et al, (WB Saunders: Philadelphia, 1995), especially p. 13.
  • cytokine is a generic term for proteins released by one cell population which act on another cell as intercellular mediators.
  • cytokines are lymphokines, monokines, and traditional polypeptide hormones. Included among the cytokines are growth hormone such as human growth hormone, N- methionyl human growth hormone, and bovine growth hormone; parathyroid hormone; thyroxine; insulin; proinsulin; relaxin; prorelaxin; glycoprotein hormones such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH); hepatic growth factor; fibroblast growth factor; prolactin; placental lactogen; tumor necrosis factor- ⁇ and - ⁇ ; mullerian-inhibiting substance; mouse gonadotropin-associated peptide; inhibin; activin; vascular endothelial growth factor; integrin; thrombopoietin (TPO); nerve growth factors such as NGF- ⁇ ; platelet-growth factor;
  • cytokine includes proteins from natural sources or from recombinant cell culture and biologically active equivalents of the native sequence cytokines.
  • prodrug refers to a precursor or derivative form of a pharmaceutically active substance that is less cytotoxic to tumor cells compared to the parent drug and is capable of being enzymatically activated or converted into the more active parent form.
  • the prodrugs of this invention include, but are not limited to, phosphate-containing prodrugs, thiophosphate-containing prodrugs, glycosylated prodrugs or optionally substituted phenylacetamide-containing prodrugs, 5-fluorocytosine and other 5-fluorouridine prodrugs which can be derivatized into a prodrug form for use in this invention include, but are not limited to, those chemotherapeutic agents described above.
  • the term "agonist" is used in the broadest sense and includes any molecule that mimics a biological activity of a native PRO polypeptide disclosed herein. Suitable agonist molecules specifically include agonist antibodies or antibody fragments, fragments or amino acid sequence variants of native PRO polypeptides, peptides, small organic molecules, etc.
  • Methods for identifying agonists of a PRO polypeptide may comprise contacting a tumor cell with a candidate agonist molecule and measuring the inhibition of tumor cell growth.
  • Chronic administration refers to administration of the agent(s) in a continuous mode as opposed to an acute mode, so as to maintain the initial therapeutic effect (activity) for an extended period of time.
  • Intermittent administration is treatment that is not consecutively done without interruption, but rather is cyclic in nature.
  • “Mammal” for purposes of treatment refers to any animal classified as a mammal, including humans, domestic and farm animals, and zoo, sports, or pet animals, such as dogs, cats, cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, goats, rabbits, etc. Preferably, the mammal is human.
  • Administration "in combination with” one or more further therapeutic agents includes simultaneous (concurrent) and consecutive administration in any order.
  • Carriers as used herein include pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients, or stabilizers which are nontoxic to the cell or mammal being exposed thereto at the dosages and concentrations employed. Often the physiologically acceptable carrier is an aqueous pH buffered solution.
  • physiologically acceptable carriers include buffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids; antioxidants including ascorbic acid; low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptides; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, arginine or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates including glucose, mannose, or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugar alcohols such as mannitol or sorbitol; salt-forming counterions such as sodium; and/or nonionic surfactants such as TWEENTM, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and PLURONICSTM.
  • buffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids
  • antioxidants including ascorbic acid
  • low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptides proteins, such as serum album
  • “Native antibodies” and “native immunoglobulins” are usually heterotetrameric glycoproteins of about 150,000 daltons, composed of two identical light (L) chains and two identical heavy (H) chains. Each light chain is linked to a heavy chain by one covalent disulfide bond, while the number of disulfide linkages varies among the heavy chains of different immunoglobulin isotypes. Each heavy and light chain also has regularly spaced intrachain disulfide bridges. Each heavy chain has at one end a variable domain (V H ) followed by a number of constant domains.
  • V H variable domain
  • Each light chain has a variable domain at one end (V L ) and a constant domain at its other end; the constant domain of the light chain is aligned with the first constant domain of the heavy chain, and the light-chain variable domain is aligned with the variable domain of the heavy chain.
  • Particular amino acid residues are believed to form an interface between the light- and heavy-chain variable domains.
  • the term "variable” refers to the fact that certain portions of the variable domains differ extensively in sequence among antibodies and are used in the binding and specificity of each particular antibody for its particular antigen. However, the variability is not evenly distributed throughout the variable domains of antibodies. It is concentrated in three segments called complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) or hypervariable regions both in the light-chain and the heavy-chain variable domains.
  • CDRs complementarity-determining regions
  • variable domains The more highly conserved portions of variable domains are called the framework regions (FR).
  • the variable domains of native heavy and light chains each comprise four FR regions, largely adopting a ⁇ -sheet configuration, connected by three CDRs, which form loops connecting, and in some cases forming part of, the ⁇ -sheet structure.
  • the CDRs in each chain are held together in close proximity by the FR regions and, with the CDRs from the other chain, contribute to the formation of the antigen-binding site of antibodies ⁇ see, Kabat et al. , NIH Publ. No.91-3242, Vol. I, pages 647-669 (1991)).
  • the constant domains are not involved directly in binding an antibody to an antigen, but exhibit various effector functions, such as participation of the antibody in antibody-dependent cellular toxicity.
  • hypervariable region when used herein refers to the amino acid residues of an antibody which are responsible for antigen-binding.
  • the hypervariable region comprises amino acid residues from a "complementarity determining region" or "CDR" ⁇ i.e., residues 24-34 (LI), 50-56 (L2) and 89-97 (L3) in the light chain variable domain and 31-35 (HI), 50-65 (H2) and 95-102 (H3) in the heavy chain variable domain; Kabat etal..- Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD.
  • residues from a "hypervariable loop” ⁇ i.e., residues 26-32 (LI), 50-52 (L2) and 91-96 (L3) in the light chain variable domain and 26-32 (HI), 53-55 (H2) and 96-101 (H3) in the heavy chain variable domain; Clothia and Lesk, J. Mol. BioL, 196:901-917 [1987]).
  • "Framework" or "FR" residues are those variable domain residues other than the hypervariable region residues as herein defined.
  • Antibody fragments comprise a portion of an intact antibody, preferably the antigen binding or variable region of the intact antibody.
  • antibody fragments include Fab, Fab', F(ab') 2 , and Fv fragments; diabodies; linear antibodies (Zapata et al., Protein Eng., 8(10): 1057-1062 [1995]); single-chain antibody molecules; and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments.
  • Papain digestion of antibodies produces two identical antigen-binding fragments, called “Fab” fragments, each with a single antigen-binding site, and a residual "Fc” fragment, a designation reflecting the ability to crystallize readily.
  • Pepsin treatment yields an F(ab') 2 fragment that has two antigen-combining sites and is still capable of cross-linking antigen.
  • Fv is the minimum antibody fragment which contains a complete antigen-recognition and -binding site. This region consists of a dimer of one heavy- and one light-chain variable domain in tight, non-covalent association. It is in this configuration that the three CDRs of each variable domain interact to define an antigen- binding site on the surface of the V H -V L dimer. Collectively, the six CDRs confer antigen-binding specificity to the antibody. However, even a single variable domain (or half of an Fv comprising only three CDRs specific for an antigen) has the ability to recognize and bind antigen, although at a lower affinity than the entire binding site.
  • the Fab fragment also contains the constant domain of the light chain and the first constant domain (CH 1 ) of the heavy chain.
  • Fab fragments differ from Fab' fragments by the addition of a few residues at the carboxy terminus of the heavy chain CHI domain including one or more cysteines from the antibody hinge region.
  • SH is the designation herein for Fab' in which the cysteine residue(s) of the constant domains bear a free thiol group.
  • F(ab') 2 antibody fragments originally were produced as pairs of Fab' fragments which have hinge cysteines between them. Other chemical couplings of antibody fragments are also known.
  • the "light chains" of antibodies (immunoglobulins) from any vertebrate species can be assigned to one of two clearly distinct types, called kappa and lambda, based on the amino acid sequences of their constant domains.
  • immunoglobulins can be assigned to different classes. There are five major classes of immunoglobulins: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM, and several of these may be further divided into subclasses (isotypes), e.g., IgGl, ⁇ gG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA, and IgA2.
  • the term "monoclonal antibody” as used herein refers to an antibody obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, i.e., the individual antibodies comprising the population are identical except for possible naturally occurring mutations that may be present in minor amounts .
  • Monoclonal antibodies are highly specific, being directed against a single antigenic site.
  • each monoclonal antibody is directed against a single determinant on the antigen.
  • the monoclonal antibodies are advantageous in that they are synthesized by the hybridoma culture, uncontaminated by other immunoglobulins.
  • the modifier "monoclonal” indicates the character of the antibody as being obtained from a substantially homogeneous population of antibodies, and is not to be construed as requiring production of the antibody by any particular method.
  • the monoclonal antibodies to be used in accordance with the present invention may be made by the hybridoma method first described by Kohler etal, Nature.256:495 [ 1975] , or may be made by recombinant DNA methods ⁇ see, e.g., U.S. Patent No.4,816,567).
  • the “monoclonal antibodies” may also be isolated fromphage antibody libraries using the techniques described in Clackson et al. , Nature, 352:624-628 [1991] and Marks e. _./.. J. Mol. Biol. 222:581-597 (1991), for example.
  • the monoclonal antibodies herein specifically include "chimeric" antibodies (immunoglobulins) in which a portion of the heavy and/or light chain is identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from a particular species or belonging to a particular antibody class or subclass, while the remainder of the chain(s) is identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from another species or belonging to another antibody class or subclass, as well as fragments of such antibodies, so long as they exhibit the desired biological activity (U.S . Patent No.4,816,567; Morrison etal, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 81:6851-6855 [1984]).
  • chimeric antibodies immunoglobulins in which a portion of the heavy and/or light chain is identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from a particular species or belonging to a particular antibody class or subclass, while the remainder of the chain(s) is identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in
  • Humanized forms of non-human ⁇ e.g., murine antibodies are chimeric immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin chains or fragments thereof (such as Fv, Fab, Fab', F(ab') 2 or other antigen-binding subsequences of antibodies) which contain minimal sequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin.
  • humanized antibodies are human immunoglobulins (recipient antibody) in which residues from a CDR of the recipient are replaced by residues from a CDR of a non-human species (donor antibody) such as mouse, rat or rabbit having the desired specificity, affinity, and capacity.
  • humanized antibodies may comprise residues which are found neither in the recipient antibody nor in the imported CDR or framework sequences. These modifications are made to further refine and maximize antibody performance.
  • the humanized antibody will comprise substantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains, in which all or substantially all of the CDR regions correspond to those of a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the FR regions are those of a human immunoglobulin sequence.
  • the humanized antibody optimally also will comprise at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a human immunoglobulin.
  • Fc immunoglobulin constant region
  • the humanized antibody includes a PRIMATIZEDTM antibody wherein the antigen-binding region of the antibody is derived from an antibody produced by immunizing macaque monkeys with the antigen of interest.
  • Single-chain Fv or “sFv” antibody fragments comprise the V H and V L domains of antibody, wherein these domains are present in a single polypeptide chain.
  • the Fv polypeptide further comprises a polypeptide linker between the V H and V L domains which enables the sFv to form the desired structure for antigen binding.
  • diabodies refers to small antibody fragments with two antigen-binding sites, which fragments comprise a heavy-chain variable domain (V H ) connected to a light-chain variable domain (V L ) in the same polypeptide chain (V H - V L ).
  • V H heavy-chain variable domain
  • V L light-chain variable domain
  • the domains are forced to pair with the complementary domains of another chain and create two antigen-binding sites.
  • Diabodies are described more fully in, for example, EP 404,097; WO 93/11161; and Hollinger etal, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90:6444-6448 (1993).
  • an “isolated” antibody is one which has been identified and separated and/or recovered from a component of its natural environment. Contaminant components of its natural environment are materials which would interfere with diagnostic or therapeutic uses for the antibody, and may include enzymes, hormones, and other proteinaceous or nonproteinaceous solutes.
  • the antibody will be purified (1) to greater than 95% by weight of antibody as determined by the Lowry method, and most preferably more than 99% by weight, (2) to a degree sufficient to obtain at least 15 residues of N-terminal or internal amino acid sequence by use of a spinning cup sequenator, or (3) to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE under reducing or nonreducing conditions using Coomassie blue or, preferably, silver stain.
  • Isolated antibody includes the antibody in situ within recombinant cells since at least one component of the antibody's natural environment will not be present. Ordinarily, however, isolated antibody will be prepared by at least one purification step.
  • An antibody that "specifically binds to" or is "specific for" a particular polypeptide or an epitope on a particular polypeptide is one that binds to that particular polypeptide or epitope on a particular polypeptide without substantially binding to any other polypeptide or polypeptide epitope.
  • label when used herein refers to a detectable compound or composition which is conjugated directly or indirectly to the antibody so as to generate a "labeled" antibody.
  • the label may be detectable by itself ⁇ e.g., radioisotope labels or fluorescent labels) or, in the case of an enzymatic label, may catalyze chemical alteration of a substrate compound or composition which is detectable.
  • the label may also be a non-detectable entity such as a toxin.
  • solid phase is meant a non-aqueous matrix to which the antibody of the present invention can adhere.
  • solid phases encompassed herein include those formedpartially or entirely of glass ⁇ e.g., controlled pore glass), polysaccharides ⁇ e.g., agarose), polyacrylamides, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol and silicones.
  • the solid phase can comprise the well of an assay plate; in others it is a purification column ⁇ e.g., an affinity chromatography column). This term also includes a discontinuous solid phase of discrete particles, such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 4,275,149.
  • a “liposome” is a small vesicle composed of various types of lipids, phospholipids and/or surfactant which is useful for delivery of a drug (such as a PRO polypeptide or antibody thereto) to a mammal.
  • a drug such as a PRO polypeptide or antibody thereto
  • the components of the liposome are commonly arranged in a bilayer formation, similar to the lipid arrangement of biological membranes.
  • a "small molecule” is defined herein to have a molecular weight below about 500 Daltons.
  • Table 1 provides the complete source code for the ALIGN-2 sequence comparison computer program. This source code may be routinely compiled for use on a UNIX operating system to provide the ALIGN-2 sequence comparison computer program.
  • Tables 2-5 show hypothetical exemplifications for using the above described method to determine % amino acid sequence identity (Tables 2-3) and % nucleic acid sequence identity (Tables 4-5) using the ALIGN-2 sequence comparison computer program, wherein "PRO” represents the amino acid sequence of a hypothetical PRO polypeptide of interest, “Comparison Protein” represents the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide against which the "PRO” polypeptide of interest is being compared, “PRO-DNA” represents a hypothetical PRO-encoding nucleic acid sequence of interest, “Comparison DNA” represents the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid molecule against which the "PRO-DNA” nucleic acid molecule of interest is being compared, “X”, “Y”, and “Z” each represent different hypothetical amino acid residues and "N", “L” and “V” each represent different hypothetical nucleotides.
  • filel and file2 are two dna or two protein sequences.
  • Max file length is 65535 (limited by unsigned short x in the jmp struct)
  • a sequence with 1/3 or more of its elements ACGTU is assumed to be DNA
  • the program may create a tmp file in /tmp to hold info about traceback.
  • *ps[i] toupper(*ps[i]); po[i] + + ; ps[i] + + ;
  • nw() */ include "nw.h” #include ⁇ sys/file.h> char *jname " ⁇ mp/homgXXXXX"; /* tmp file for jmps */ FILE *fj; int cleanupO; /* cleanup tmp file */ long lseek();
  • *py++ *px; else if (islower(*px))
  • *py++ toupper(*px); if (index("ATGCU",*(py-l))) natgc+ + ;
  • the present invention provides newly identified and isolated nucleotide sequences encoding polypeptides referred to in the present application as PRO polypeptides.
  • cDNAs encoding the PRO polypeptide has been identified and isolated, as disclosed in further detail in the Examples below.
  • cDNA clones encoding PRO polypeptides have been deposited with the ATCC.
  • the actual nucleotide sequences of the clones can readily be determined by the skilled artisan by sequencing of the deposited clones using routine methods in the art.
  • the predicted amino acid sequences can be determined from the nucleotide sequences using routine skill.
  • Applicants have identified what is believed to be the reading frame best identifiable with the sequence information available at the time.
  • PRO variants can be prepared.
  • PRO variants can be prepared by introducing appropriate nucleotide changes into the PRO DNA, and/or by synthesis of the desired PRO polypeptide.
  • amino acid changes may alter post-translational processes of the PRO polypeptide, such as changing the number or position of glycosylation sites or altering the membrane anchoring characteristics.
  • Variations in the native full-length sequence PRO polypeptide or in various domains of the PRO polypeptide described herein can be made, for example, using any of the techniques and guidelines for conservative and non-conservative mutations set forth, for instance, in U.S. Patent No. 5,364,934.
  • Variations may be a substitution, deletion or insertion of one or more codons encoding the PRO polypeptide that results in a change in the amino acid sequence of the PRO polypeptide as compared with the native sequence PRO polypeptide.
  • the variation is by substitution of at least one amino acid with any other amino acid in one or more of the domains of the PRO polypeptide.
  • Guidance in determining which amino acid residue may be inserted, substituted or deleted without adversely affecting the desired activity may be found by comparing the sequence of the PRO polypeptide with that of homologous known protein molecules and minimizing the number of amino acid sequence changes made in regions of high homology.
  • Amino acid substitutions can be the result of replacing one amino acid with another amino acid having similar structural and/or chemical properties, such as the replacement of a leucine with a serine, i.e., conservative amino acid replacements.
  • Insertions or deletions may optionally be in the range of about 1 to 5 amino acids. The variation allowed may be determined by systematically making insertions, deletions or substitutions of amino acids in the sequence and testing the resulting variants for activity exhibited by the full-length or mature native sequence.
  • PRO polypeptide fragments are provided herein. Such fragments may be truncated at the N-terminus or C-terminus, or may lackinternal residues, for example, when compared with a full length native protein. Certain fragments lack amino acid residues that are not essential for a desired biological activity of the PRO polypeptide.
  • PRO fragments may be prepared by any of a number of conventional techniques. Desired peptide fragments may be chemically synthesized. An alternative approach involves generating PRO fragments by enzymatic digestion, e.g., by treating the protein with an enzyme known to cleave proteins at sites defined by particular amino acid residues, or by digesting the DNA with suitable restriction enzymes and isolating the desired fragment. Yet another suitable technique involves isolating and amplifying a DNA fragment encoding a desired polypeptide fragment, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Oligonucleotides that define the desired termini of the DNA fragment are employed at the 5' and 3' primers in the PCR. Preferably, PRO polypeptide fragments share at least one biological and/or immunological activity with the native PRO polypeptide shown in the accompanying figures.
  • PCR polymerase chain reaction
  • conservative substitutions of interest are shown in Table 6 under the heading of preferred substitutions. If such substitutions result in a change in biological activity, then more substantial changes, denominated exemplary substitutions in Table 6, or as further described below in reference to amino acid classes, are introduced and the products screened.
  • Substantial modifications in function or immunological identity of the PRO polypeptide are accomplished by selecting substitutions that differ significantly in their effect on maintaining (a) the structure of the polypeptide backbone in the area of the substitution, for example, as a sheet or helical conformation, (b) the charge or hydrophobicity of the molecule at the target site, or (c) the bulk of the side chain.
  • Naturally occurring residues are divided into groups based on common side-chain properties: (1) hydrophobic: norleucine, met, ala, val, leu, ile; (2) neutral hydrophilic: cys, ser, thr;
  • Non-conservative substitutions will entail exchanging a member of one of these classes for another class. Such substituted residues also may be introduced into the conservative substitution sites or, more preferably, into the remaining (non-conserved) sites.
  • Alanine is typically a preferred scanning amino acid among this group because it eliminates the side-chain beyond the beta-carbon and is less likely to alter the main-chain conformation of the variant [Cunningham and Wells, Science.244: 1081-1085 (1989)]. Alanine is also typically preferred because it is the most common amino acid. Further, it is frequently found in both buried and exposed positions [Creighton, The Proteins. (W.H. Freeman & Co., N.Y.); Chothia, J. Mol. Biol. 150:1 (1976)]. If alanine substitution does not yield adequate amounts of variant, an isoteric amino acid can be used.
  • Covalent modifications of PRO polypeptides are included within the scope of this invention.
  • One type of covalent modification includes reacting targeted amino acid residues of a PRO polypeptide with an organic derivatizing agent that is capable of reacting with selected side chains or the N- or C- terminal residues of the PRO polypeptide.
  • Derivatization with bifunctional agents is useful, for instance, for crosslinking PRO polypeptides to a water-insoluble support matrix or surface for use in the method for purifying anti-PRO antibodies, and vice-versa.
  • crosslinking agents include, e.g., l,l-bis(diazoacetyl)-2- phenylethane, glutaraldehyde, N-hydroxysuccinimide esters, for example, esters with 4-azidosalicylic acid, homobifunctional imidoesters, including disuccinimidyl esters such as 3,3'-dithiobis(succinimidyl ⁇ ropionate), bifunctional maleimides such as bis-N-maleimido-l,8-octane and agents such as methyl-3-[(p- azidophenyl)ditl ⁇ io]propioimidate.
  • Another type of covalent modification of the PRO polypeptide included within the scope of this invention comprises altering the native glycosylation pattern of the polypeptide.
  • "Altering the native glycosylation pattern” is intended for purposes herein to mean deleting one or more carbohydrate moieties found in native sequence PRO polypeptides (either by removing the underlying glycosylation site or by deleting the glycosylation by chemical and/or enzymatic means), and/or adding one or more glycosylation sites that are not present in the native sequence PRO polypeptide.
  • the phrase includes qualitative changes in the glycosylation of the native proteins, involving a change in the nature and proportions of the various carbohydrate moieties present.
  • Addition of glycosylation sites to the PRO polypeptide may be accomplished by altering the amino acid sequence.
  • the alteration may be made, for example, by the addition of, or substitution by, one or more serine or threonine residues to the native sequence PRO polypeptide (for O-linked glycosylation sites).
  • the PRO polypeptide amino acid sequence may optionally be altered through changes at the DNA level, particularly by mutating the DNA encoding the PRO polypeptide at preselected bases such that codons are generated that will translate into the desired amino acids.
  • Another means of increasing the number of carbohydrate moieties on the PRO polypeptide is by chemical or enzymatic coupling of glycosides to the polypeptide. Such methods are described in the art, e.g., in WO 87/05330 published 11 September 1987, and in Aplin and Wriston, CRC Crit. Rev. Biochem., pp. 259-306 (1981). Removal of carbohydrate moieties present on the PRO polypeptide may be accomplished chemically or enzymatically or by mutational substitution of codons encoding for amino acid residues that serve as targets for glycosylation. Chemical deglycosylation techniques are known in the art and described, for instance, by Hakimuddin, et al, Arch. Biochem. Biophvs..
  • Enzymatic cleavage of carbohydrate moieties on polypeptides can be achieved by the use of a variety of endo- and exo-glycosidases as described by Thotakura et al. , Meth. Enzvmol., 138:350 (1987).
  • PRO polypeptides comprises linking the PRO polypeptide to one of a variety of nonproteinaceous polymers, e.g., polyethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene glycol, or polyoxyalkylenes, in the manner set forth in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,640,835; 4,496,689; 4,301,144; 4,670,417; 4,791,192 or 4,179,337.
  • the PRO polypeptide of the present invention may also be modified in a way to form a chimeric molecule comprising a PRO polypeptide fused to another, heterologous polypeptide or amino acid sequence.
  • such a chimeric molecule comprises a fusion of the PRO polypeptide with a tag polypeptide which provides an epitope to which an anti-tag antibody can selectively bind.
  • the epitope tag is generally placed at the amino- or carboxyl- terminus of the PRO polypeptide. The presence of such epitope- tagged forms of the PRO polypeptide can be detected using an antibody against the tag polypeptide. Also, provision of the epitope tag enables the PRO polypeptide to be readily purified by affinity purification using an anti-tag antibody or another type of affinity matrix that binds to the epitope tag.
  • tag polypeptides and their respective antibodies are well known in the art.
  • poly-histidine or poly- histidine-glycine (poly-His-gly) tags
  • flu HA tag polypeptide and its antibody 12C A5 [Field et al. , Mol. Cell. Biol.. 8:2159-2165 (1988)]
  • the c-myc tag and the 8F9, 3C7, 6E10, G4, B7 and 9E10 antibodies thereto [Evan etal, Molecular and Cellular Biology, 5:3610-3616 (1985)]
  • the Herpes Simplex virus glycoprotein D (gD) tag andits antibody [Paborskvef-. .. Protein Engineering, 3(6):547-553 (1990)1.
  • Other tag polypeptides include the Flag-peptide [Hopp et al, BioTechnology. 6:1204-1210 (1988)]; the KT3 epitope peptide [Martin et al,
  • the chimeric molecule may comprise a fusion of the PRO polypeptide with an immunoglobulin or a particular region of an immunoglobulin.
  • the chimeric molecule may comprise a fusion of the PRO polypeptide with an immunoglobulin or a particular region of an immunoglobulin.
  • immunoglobulin fusions could be to the Fc region of an IgG molecule.
  • the Ig fusions preferably include the substitution of a soluble (transmembrane domain deleted or inactivated) form of a PRO polypeptide in place of at least one variable region within an Ig molecule.
  • the immunoglobulin fusion includes the hinge, CH2 and CH3, or the hinge, CHI, CH2 and CH3 regions of an IgGl molecule.
  • PRO polypeptide sequence or portions thereof, may be produced by direct peptide synthesis using solid-phase techniques [see, e.g., Stewart et al, Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis. W.H. Freeman Co., San Francisco, CA (1969); Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85:2149-2154 (1963)].
  • In vitro protein synthesis may be performed using manual techniques or by automation. Automated synthesis may be accomplished, for instance, using an Applied Biosystems Peptide Synthesizer (Foster City, CA) using manufacturer's instructions.
  • PRO polypeptide may be chemically synthesized separately and combined using chemical or enzymatic methods to produce the full-length PRO polypeptide.
  • DNA encoding PRO polypeptides may be obtained from a cDNA library prepared from tissue believed to possess the PRO inRNA and to express it at a detectable level. Accordingly, human PRO DNA can be conveniently obtained from a cDNA library prepared from human tissue, such as described in the Examples.
  • the PRO-encoding gene may also be obtained from a genomic library or by known synthetic procedures ⁇ e.g., automated nucleic acid synthesis).
  • Probes such as antibodies to the PRO polypeptide or oligonucleotides of at least about 20-80 bases
  • Screening the cDNA or genomic library with the selected probe may be conducted using standard procedures, such as described in Sambrook et al, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989).
  • An alternative means to isolate the gene encoding the PRO polypeptide is to use PCR methodology [Sambrook et al, supra; Dieffenbach et al, PCR Primer: A Laboratory Manual (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1995)].
  • the oligonucleotide sequences selected as probes should be of sufficient length and sufficiently unambiguous that false positives are minimized.
  • the oligonucleotide is preferably labeled such that it can be detected upon hybridization to DNA in the library being screened. Methods of labeling are well known in the art, and include the use of radiolabels like 32 P-labeled ATP, biotinylation or enzyme labeling. Hybridization conditions, including moderate stringency and high stringency, are provided in Sambrook et al, supra.
  • Sequences identified in such library screening methods can be compared and aligned to other known sequences deposited and available in public databases such as GenBank or other private sequence databases. Sequence identity (at either the amino acid or nucleotide level) within defined regions of the molecule or across the full-length sequence can be determined using methods known in the art and as described herein. Nucleic acid having protein coding sequence may be obtained by screening selected cDNA or genomic libraries using the deduced amino acid sequence disclosed herein for the first time, and, if necessary, using conventional primer extension procedures as described in Sambrook et al, supra, to detect precursors and processing intermediates of mRNA that may not have been reverse-transcribed into cDNA.
  • Host cells are transfected or transformed with expression or cloning vectors described herein for PRO polypeptide production and cultured in conventional nutrient media modified as appropriate for inducing promoters, selecting transformants, or amplifying the genes encoding the desired sequences.
  • the culture conditions such as media, temperature, pH and the like, can be selected by the skilled artisan without undue experimentation. In general, principles, protocols, and practical techniques for maximizing the productivity of cell cultures can be found in Mammalian Cell Biotechnology: a Practical Approach. M. Butler, ed. (IRL Press,
  • Methods of eukaryotic cell transfection and prokaryotic cell transformation are known to the ordinarily skilled artisan, for example, CaCl 2 , CaP0 4 , liposome-mediated and electroporation.
  • transformation is performed using standard techniques appropriate to such cells.
  • the calcium treatment employing calcium chloride, as described in Sambrook et al, supra, or electroporation is generally used for prokaryotes.
  • Infection with Agrobacterium tumefaciens is used for transformation of certain plant cells, as described by Shaw etal, Gene, 23:315 (1983) and WO 89/05859 published 29 June 1989.
  • DNA into cells such as by nuclear microinjection, electroporation, bacterial protoplast fusion with intact cells, or polycations, e.g., polybrene, polyornithine, may also be used.
  • polycations e.g., polybrene, polyornithine.
  • Suitable host cells for cloning or expressing the DNA in the vectors herein include prokaryote, yeast, or higher eukaryote cells.
  • Suitable prokaryotes include but are not limited to eubacteria, such as Gram-negative or Gram-positive organisms, for example, Enterobacteriaceae such as E. coli.
  • Various E. coli strains are publicly available, such as E. coli K12 strain MM294 (ATCC 31,446); E. coli X1776 (ATCC 31,537); E. coli strain W3110 (ATCC 27,325) and K5 772 (ATCC 53,635).
  • suitable prokaryotic host cells include Enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia, e.g., E. coli, Enterobacter, Erwinia, Klebsiella, Proteus, Salmonella, e.g., Salmonella typhimurium, Serratia, e.g., Serratia marcescans, and Shigella, as well as Bacilli such as B. subtilis and B. licheniformis ⁇ e.g., B. licheniformis 41P disclosed in DD 266,710 published 12 April 1989), Pseudomo as such as P. aeruginosa, and Streptomyces. These examples are illustrative rather than limiting.
  • Strain W3110 is one particularly preferred host or parent host because it is a common host strain for recombinant DNA product fermentations. Preferably, the host cell secretes minimal amounts of proteolytic enzymes.
  • strain W3110 may be modified to effect a genetic mutation in the genes encoding proteins endogenous to the host, with examples of such hosts including E. coli W3110 strain 1A2, which has the complete genotype tonA ; E. coli W3110 strain 9E4, which has the complete genotype tonA ptr3; E.
  • coli W3110 strain 27C7 (ATCC 55,244), which has the complete genotype tonA ptr3 phoA El 5 (argF-lac)169 degP ompT kat ; E. coli W3110 strain 37D6, which has the complete genotype tonA ptr3 phoA E15 (argF-lac)169 degP ompT rbs7 ilvG ka ; E. coli W3110 strain 40B4, which is strain 37D6 with a non-kanamycin resistant degP deletion mutation; and an E. coli strain having mutant periplasmic protease disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,946,783 issued 7 August 1990.
  • in vitro methods of cloning e.g., PCR or other nucleic acid polymerase reactions, are suitable.
  • eukaryotic microbes such as filamentous fungi or yeast are suitable cloning or expression hosts for PRO-encoding vectors.
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a commonly used lower eukaryotic host microorganism.
  • Others include Schizosaccharomvces pombe (Beach and Nurse. Nature.290: 140 [1981]; EP 139,383 published 2 May 1985); Kluyveromyces hosts (U.S. Patent No. 4,943,529; Fleer et al, Bio Technology.9:968-975 (1991)) such as, e.g., K. lactis (MW98-8C, CBS683, CBS4574; Louvencourt etal, J. BacterioL.
  • K. fragilis ATCC 12,424)
  • K. bulgaricus ATCC 16,045)
  • K. wickeramii ATCC 24,178
  • K. waltii ATCC 56,500
  • K. drosophilarum ATCC 36,906; Van den Berg et al, Bio/Technology.
  • K. the ⁇ notolerans, and K. marxianus K. the ⁇ notolerans, and K. marxianus
  • yarrowia EP 402,226
  • Pichia pastoris EP 183,070; Sreekrishna et al, J. Basic MicrobioL. 28:265-278 [1988]
  • Candida Trichoderma reesia (EP 244,234); Neurospora crassa (Case etal, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA.
  • Schwanniomyces such as Schwanniomyces occidentalis (EP 394,538 published 31 October 1990); and filamentous fungi such as, e.g., Neurospora, Penicillium, Tolypocladium (WO 91/00357 published 10 January 1991), and Aspergillus hosts such as A. nidulans (Ballance et al, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.. 112:284-289 [1983]; Tilburn et al, Gene.26:205-221 fl9831: Yelton etal. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA.81: 1470-1474 [1984]) and A.
  • Methylotropic yeasts are suitable herein and include, but are not limited to, yeast capable of growth on methanol selected from the genera consisting of Hansenula, Candida, Kloeckera, Pichia, Saccharomyces, Torulopsis, and Rhodotorula.
  • yeast capable of growth on methanol selected from the genera consisting of Hansenula, Candida, Kloeckera, Pichia, Saccharomyces, Torulopsis, and Rhodotorula.
  • yeast capable of growth on methanol selected from the genera consisting of Hansenula, Candida, Kloeckera, Pichia, Saccharomyces, Torulopsis, and Rhodotorula.
  • a list of specific species that are exemplary of this class of yeasts may be found in C. Anthony, The Biochemistry of Methylotrophs. 269 (1982).
  • Suitable host cells for the expression of glycosylated PRO polypeptides are derived from multicellular organisms.
  • invertebrate cells include insect cells such as Drosophila S2 and Spodoptera Sf9, as well as plant cells.
  • useful mammalian host cell lines include Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and COS cells. More specific examples include monkey kidney CV1 line transformed by SV40 (COS-7, ATCC CRL 1651); human embryonic kidney line (293 or 293 cells subcloned for growth in suspension culture, Graham etal, J. Gen. Virol..36:59 (1977)); Chinese hamster ovary cellsADHFR (CHO, Urlaub and Chasin, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
  • mice sertoli cells TM4, Mather, Biol.Reprod..23:243-251 (1980)
  • human lung cells W138, ATCC CCL 75
  • human liver cells Hep G2, HB 8065
  • mouse mammary tumor MMT 060562, ATCC CCL51. The selection of the appropriate host cell is deemed to be within the skill in the art.
  • the nucleic acid ⁇ e.g., cDNA or genomic DNA) encoding PRO polypeptides may be inserted into a replicable vector for cloning (amplification of the DNA) or for expression.
  • a replicable vector for cloning (amplification of the DNA) or for expression.
  • the vector may, for example, be in the form of a plasmid, cosmid, viral particle, or phage.
  • the appropriate nucleic acid sequence may be inserted into the vector by a variety of procedures. In general, DNA is inserted into an appropriate restriction endonuclease site(s) using techniques known in the art.
  • Vector components generally include, but are not limited to, one or more of a signal sequence, an origin of replication, one or more marker genes, an enhancer element, a promoter, and a transcription termination sequence.
  • the PRO polypeptide may be produced recombinantly not only directly, but also as a fusion polypeptide with a heterologous polypeptide, which may be a signal sequence or other polypeptide having a specific cleavage site at the N-terminus of the mature protein or polypeptide.
  • a heterologous polypeptide which may be a signal sequence or other polypeptide having a specific cleavage site at the N-terminus of the mature protein or polypeptide.
  • the signal sequence may be a component of the vector, or it may be a part of the PRO-encoding DNA that is inserted into the vector.
  • the signal sequence may be a prokaryotic signal sequence selected, for example, from the group of the alkaline phosphatase, penicillinase, lpp, or heat-stable enterotoxin II leaders.
  • the signal sequence may be, e.g., the yeast invertase leader, alpha factor leader (including Saccharomyces and Kluyveromyces - factor leaders, the latter described in U.S. Patent No. 5,010,182), or acid phosphatase leader, the C. albicans glucoamylase leader (EP 362,179 published 4 April 1990), or the signal described in WO 90/13646 published 15 November 1990.
  • mammalian signal sequences may be used to direct secretion of the protein, such as signal sequences from secreted polypeptides of the same or related species, as well as viral secretory leaders.
  • Both expression and cloning vectors contain a nucleic acid sequence that enables the vector to replicate in one or more selected host cells. Such sequences are well known for a variety of bacteria, yeast, and viruses.
  • the origin of replication from the plasmid ⁇ BR322 is suitable for most Gram-negative bacteria, the 2 ⁇ plasmid origin is suitable for yeast, and various viral origins (S V40, polyoma, adenovirus, VSV or BPV) are useful for cloning vectors in mammalian cells.
  • Selection genes will typically contain a selection gene, also termed a selectable marker.
  • Typical selection genes encode proteins that (a) confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxins, e.g., ampicillin, neomycin, methotrexate, or tetracycline, (b) complement auxotrophic deficiencies, or (c) supply critical nutrients not available from complex media, e.g., the gene encoding D-alanine racemase for Bacilli.
  • suitable selectable markers for mammalian cells are those that enable the identification of cells competent to take up the PRO-encoding nucleic acid, such as DHFR or thymidine kinase.
  • An appropriate host cell when wild-type DHFR is employed is the CHO cell line deficient in DHFR activity, prepared and propagated as described by Urlaub etal, Proc. Nail. Acad. Sci. USA.77:4216 (1980).
  • a suitable selection gene for use in yeast is the trpl gene present in the yeast plasmid YR ⁇ 7 [Stinchcomb et al, Nature. 282:39 (1979); Kingsman et al, Gene. 7:141 (1979); Tschemper et al, Gene, 10:157 (1980)].
  • the trpl gene provides a selection marker for a mutant strain of yeast lacking the ability to grow in tryptophan, for example, ATCC No. 44076 or PEP4-1 [Jones, Genetics. 85:12 (1977)].
  • Expression and cloning vectors usually contain a promoter operably linked to the PRO-encoding nucleic acid sequence to direct mRNA synthesis. Promoters recognized by a variety of potential host cells are well known. Promoters suitable for use with prokaryotic hosts include the ⁇ -lactamase and lactose promoter systems [Chang et al, Nature.
  • Promoters for use in bacterial systems also will contain a Shine-Dalgarno (S.D.) sequence operably linked to the DNA encoding the PRO polypeptide.
  • S.D. Shine-Dalgarno
  • Suitable promoting sequences for use with yeast hosts include the promoters for 3- phosphoglycerate kinase [Hitzeman etal, J. Biol. Chem., 255:2073 (1980)] or other glycolytic enzymes [Hess et al, J. Adv. Enzyme Reg..
  • yeast promoters which are inducible promoters having the additional advantage of transcription controlled by growth conditions, are the promoter regions for alcohol dehydrogenase 2, isocytochrome C, acid phosphatase, degradative enzymes associated with nitrogen metabolism, metallothionein, glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate dehydrogenase, and enzymes responsible for maltose and galactose utilization. Suitable vectors and promoters for use in yeast expression are further described in EP 73,657.
  • PRO transcription from vectors in mammalian host cells is controlled, for example, by promoters obtained from the genomes of viruses such as polyoma virus, fowlpox virus (UK 2,211,504 published 5 July 1989), adenovirus (such as Adenovirus 2), bovine papilloma virus, avian sarcoma virus, cytomegalovirus, a retrovirus, hepatitis-B virus and Simian Virus 40 (SV40), from heterologous mammalian promoters, e.g., the actin promoter or an immunoglobulin promoter, and from heat-shock promoters, provided such promoters are compatible with the host cell systems.
  • viruses such as polyoma virus, fowlpox virus (UK 2,211,504 published 5 July 1989), adenovirus (such as Adenovirus 2), bovine papilloma virus, avian sarcoma virus, cytomegalovirus, a retrovirus, he
  • Enhancers are cis-acting elements of DNA, usually about from 10 to 300 bp, that act on a promoter to increase its transcription.
  • Many enhancer sequences are now known from mammalian genes (globin, elastase, albumin, ⁇ -fetoprotein, and insulin). Typically, however, one will use an enhancer from a eukaryotic cell virus.
  • Examples include the S V40 enhancer on the late side of the replication origin (bp 100-270), the cytomegalovirus early promoter enhancer, the polyoma enhancer on the late side of the replication origin, and adenovirus enhancers.
  • the enhancer may be spliced into the vector at a position 5' or 3' to the PRO polypeptide coding sequence, but is preferably located at a site 5' from the promoter.
  • Expression vectors used in eukaryotic host cells yeast, fungi, insect, plant, animal, human, or nucleated cells from other multicellular organisms
  • sequences are commonly available from the 5' and, occasionally 3', untranslated regions of eukaryotic or viral DNAs or cDNAs. These regions contain nucleotide segments transcribed as polyadenylated fragments in the untranslated portion of the mRNA encoding the PRO polypeptide.
  • Gene amplification and/or expression may be measured in a sample directly, for example, by conventional
  • Southern blotting Northern blotting to quantitate the transcription of mRNA [Thomas, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 77:5201-5205 (1980)], dot blotting (DNA analysis), or in situ hybridization, using an appropriately labeled probe, based on the sequences provided herein.
  • antibodies may be employed that can recognize specific duplexes, including DNA duplexes, RNA duplexes, and DNA-RNA hybrid duplexes or DNA-protein duplexes. The antibodies in turn may be labeled and the assay may be carried out where the duplex is bound to a surface, so that upon the formation of duplex on the surface, the presence of antibody bound to the duplex can be detected.
  • Gene expression may be measured by immunological methods, such as immunohistochemical staining of cells or tissue sections and assay of cell culture or body fluids, to quantitate directly the expression of gene product.
  • Antibodies useful for immunohistochemical staining and/or assay of sample fluids may be either monoclonal or polyclonal, and may be prepared in any mammal. Conveniently, the antibodies may be prepared against a native sequence PRO polypeptide or against a synthetic peptide based on the DNA sequences provided herein or against exogenous sequence fused to PRO DNA and encoding a specific antibody epitope.
  • PRO polypeptides may be recovered from culture medium or from host cell lysates. If membrane-bound, it can be released from the membrane using a suitable detergent solution (e.g., Triton-X 100) or by enzymatic cleavage. Cells employed in expression of PRO polypeptides can be disrupted by various physical or chemical means, such as freeze-thaw cycling, sonication, mechanical disruption, or cell lysing agents. It may be desired to purify PRO polypeptides from recombinant cell proteins or polypeptides.
  • a suitable detergent solution e.g., Triton-X 100
  • Cells employed in expression of PRO polypeptides can be disrupted by various physical or chemical means, such as freeze-thaw cycling, sonication, mechanical disruption, or cell lysing agents. It may be desired to purify PRO polypeptides from recombinant cell proteins or polypeptides.
  • the following procedures are exemplary of suitable purification procedures: by fractionation on an ion-exchange column; ethanol precipitation; reverse phase HPLC; chromatography on silica or on a cation-exchange resin such as DEAE; chromatofocusing; SDS-PAGE; ammonium sulfate precipitation; gel filtration using, for example, Sephadex G-75; protein A Sepharose columns to remove contaminants such as IgG; and metal chelating columns to bind epitope-tagged forms of the PRO polypeptide.
  • Various methods of protein purification may be employed and such methods are known in the art and described for example in Deutscher, Methods in Enzvmology. 182 (1990); Scopes, Protein Purification: Principles and Practice. Springer- Verlag, New York (1982).
  • the purification step(s) selected will depend, for example, on the nature of the production process used and the particular PRO polypeptide produced.
  • Some drug candidates for use in the compositions and methods of the present invention are antibodies and antibody fragments which mimic the biological activity of a PRO polypeptide.
  • polyclonal antibodies can be raised in a mammal, for example, by one or more injections of an immunizing agent and, if desired, an adjuvant.
  • the immunizing agent and/or adjuvant will be injected in the mammal by multiple subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injections.
  • the immunizing agent may include the PRO polypeptide or a fusion protein thereof. It may be useful to conjugate the immunizing agent to a protein known to be immunogenic in the mammal being immunized. Examples of such immunogenic proteins include but are not limited to keyhole limpet hemocyanin, serum albumin, bovine thyroglobulin, and soybean trypsin inhibitor.
  • adjuvants examples include Freunds complete adjuvant and MPL-TDM adjuvant (monophosphoryl Lipid A, synthetic trehalose dicorynomycolate).
  • the immunization protocol may be selected by one skilled in the art without undue experimentation.
  • the antibodies may, alternatively, be monoclonal antibodies.
  • Monoclonal antibodies may be prepared using hybridoma methods, such as those described by Kohler and Milstein, Nature. 256:495 (1975).
  • a hybridoma method a mouse, hamster, or other appropriate host animal, is typically immunized with an immunizing agent to elicit lymphocytes that produce or are capable of producing antibodies that will specifically bind to the immunizing agent.
  • the lymphocytes may be immunized in vitro.
  • the immunizing agent will typically include the PRO polypeptide or a fusion protein thereof.
  • peripheral blood lymphocytes are used if cells of human origin are desired, or spleen cells or lymph node cells are used if non-human mammalian sources are desired.
  • the lymphocytes are then fused with an immortalized cell line using a suitable fusing agent, such as polyethylene glycol, to form a hybridoma cell [Goding, Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice. Academic Press, (1986) pp.59-103].
  • Immortalized cell lines are usually transformed mammalian cells, particularly myeloma cells of rodent, bovine and human origin. Usually, rat or mouse myeloma cell lines are employed.
  • the hybridoma cells may be cultured in a suitable culture medium that preferably contains one or more substances that inhibit the growth or survival of the unfused, immortalized cells.
  • a suitable culture medium that preferably contains one or more substances that inhibit the growth or survival of the unfused, immortalized cells.
  • the culture medium for the hybridomas typically will include hypoxanfhine, aminopterin, and thymidine ("HAT medium"), which substances prevent the growth of HGPRT- deficient cells.
  • Preferred immortalized cell lines are those that fuse efficiently, support stable high level expression of antibody by the selected antibody-producing cells, and are sensitive to a medium such as HAT medium. More preferred immortalized cell lines are murine myeloma lines, which can be obtained, for instance, from the Salk Institute Cell Distribution Center, San Diego, California and the American Type Culture Collection, Manassas,
  • the binding specificity of monoclonal antibodies produced by the hybridoma cells is determined by immunoprecipitation or by an in vitro binding assay, such as radioimmunoassay (RIA) or enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA).
  • RIA radioimmunoassay
  • ELISA enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay
  • the binding affinity of the monoclonal antibody can, for example, be determined by the Scatchard analysis of Munson and Pollard, Anal. Biochem.. 107:220 (1980).
  • the clones may be subcloned by limiting dilution procedures and grown by standard methods [Goding, supra]. Suitable culture media for this purpose include, for example, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium and RPMI- 1640 medium. Alternatively, the hybridoma cells may be grown in vivo as ascites in a mammal.
  • the monoclonal antibodies secreted by the subclones may be isolated or purified from the culture medium or ascites fluid by conventional immunoglobulin purification procedures such as, for example, protein A- Sepharose, hydroxylapatite chromatography, gel electrophoresis, dialysis, or affinity chromatography.
  • the monoclonal antibodies may also be made by recombinant DNA methods, such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 4,816,567.
  • DNA encoding the monoclonal antibodies of the invention can be readily isolated and sequenced using conventional procedures ⁇ e.g., by using oligonucleotide probes that are capable of binding specifically to genes encoding the heavy and light chains of murine antibodies).
  • the hybridoma cells of the invention serve as a preferred source of such DNA.
  • the DNA may be placed into expression vectors, which are then transfected into host cells such as simian COS cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, or myeloma cells that do not otherwise produce immunoglobulin protein, to obtain the synthesis of monoclonal antibodies in the recombinant host cells.
  • the DNA also may be modified, for example, by substituting the coding sequence for human heavy and light chain constant domains in place of the homologous murine sequences [U.S. Patent No. 4,816,567; Morrison et al, supra] or by covalently joining to the immunoglobulin coding sequence all or part of the coding sequence for a non-imrnunoglobulin polypeptide.
  • a non- immunoglobulin polypeptide can be substituted for the constant domains of an antibody of the invention, or can be substituted for the variable domains of one antigen-combining site of an antibody of the invention to create a chimeric bivalent antibody.
  • the antibodies may be monovalent antibodies.
  • Methods for preparing monovalent antibodies are well known in the art. For example, one method involves recombinant expression of immunoglobulin light chain and modified heavy chain.
  • the heavy chain is truncated generally at any point in the Fc region so as to prevent heavy chain crosslinking.
  • the relevant cysteine residues are substituted with another amino acid residue or are deleted so as to prevent crosslinking.
  • In vitro methods are also suitable for preparing monovalent antibodies. Digestion of antibodies to produce fragments thereof, particularly, Fab fragments, can be accomplished using routine techniques known in the art.
  • the antibodies of the invention may further comprise humanized antibodies or human antibodies.
  • Humanized forms of non-human ⁇ e.g., murine) antibodies are chimeric immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin chains or fragments thereof (such as Fv, Fab, Fab', F(ab') 2 or other antigen-binding subsequences of antibodies) which contain minimal sequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin.
  • Humanized antibodies include human immunoglobulins (recipient antibody) in which residues from a complementary determining region
  • CDR CDR of the recipient are replaced by residues from a CDR of a non-human species (donor antibody) such as mouse, rat or rabbit having the desired specificity, affinity and capacity.
  • donor antibody such as mouse, rat or rabbit having the desired specificity, affinity and capacity.
  • Fv framework residues of the human immunoglobulin are replaced by corresponding non-human residues.
  • Humanized antibodies may also comprise residues which are found neither in the recipient antibody nor in the imported
  • the humanized antibody will comprise substantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains, in which all or substantially all of the CDR regions correspond to those of a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the FR regions are those of a human immunoglobulin consensus sequence.
  • the humanized antibody optimally also will comprise at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a human immunoglobulin [Jones et al, Nature.
  • a humanized antibody has one or more amino acid residues introduced into it from a source which is non-human. These non- human amino acid residues are often referred to as "import" residues, which are typically taken from an "import” variable domain.
  • Humanization can be essentially performed following the method of Winter and co-workers [Jones et al, Nature. 321:522-525 (1986); Riechmann et al, Nature, 332:323-327 (1988); Verhoeyen et al, Science. 239:1534-1536 (1988)], by substituting rodent CDRs or CDR sequences for the corresponding sequences of ahuman antibody.
  • humanized antibodies arechimeric antibodies (U.S. Patent No. 4,816,567), wherein substantially less than an intact human variable domain has been substituted by the corresponding sequence from a non-human species.
  • humanized antibodies are typically human antibodies in which some CDR residues and possibly some FR residues are substituted by residues from analogous sites in rodent antibodies.
  • Human antibodies can also beproduced using various techniques known in the art, including phage display libraries [Hoogenboom and Winter, J. Mol. BioL 227:381 (1991); Marks etal, J. Mol. Biol.222:581 (1991)].
  • the techniques of Cole et al, and Boerner et al, are also available for the preparation of human monoclonal antibodies (Cole et al, Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy. Alan R. Liss, p. 77 (1985) and Boerner etal, J. Immunol.. 147(1): 86-95 (1991)].
  • human antibodies can be made by the introducing of human immunoglobulin loci into transgenic animals, e.g., mice in which the endogenous immunoglobulin genes have been partially or completely inactivated. Upon challenge, human antibody production is observed, which closely resembles that seen in humans in all respects, including gene rearrangement, assembly, and antibody repertoire. This approach is described, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,545,807; 5,545,806; 5,569,825; 5,625,126;
  • Bispecific antibodies are monoclonal, preferably human or humanized, antibodies that have binding specificities for at least two different antigens.
  • one of the binding specificities is for the PRO polypeptide
  • the other one is for any other antigen, and preferably for a cell-surface protein or receptor or receptor subunit.
  • Methods for making bispecific antibodies are known in the art. Traditionally, the recombinant production of bispecific antibodies is based on the co-expression of two immunoglobulin heavy-chain/light-chain pairs, where the two heavy chains have different specificities [Milstein and Cuello, Nature. 305:537-539 (1983)].
  • Antibody variable domains with the desired binding specificities can be fused to immunoglobulin constant domain sequences.
  • the fusion preferably is with an immunoglobulin heavy-chain constant domain, comprising at least part of the hinge, CH2, and CH3 regions. It is preferred to have the first heavy-chain constant region (CHI) containing the site necessary for light-chain binding present in at least one of the fusions.
  • CHI first heavy-chain constant region
  • the interface between a pair of antibody molecules can be engineered to maximize the percentage of heterodimers which are recovered fromrecombinant cell culture.
  • the preferred interface comprises at least a part of the CH3 region of an antibody constant domain.
  • one or more small amino acid side chains from the interface of the first antibody molecule are replaced with larger side chains ⁇ e.g., tyrosine or tryptophan).
  • Compensatory "cavities" of identical or similar size to the large side chain(s) are created on the interface of the second antibody molecule by replacing large amino acid side chains with smaller ones ⁇ e.g. , alanine or threonine). This provides a mechanism for increasing the yield of the heterodimer over other unwanted end-products such as homodimers.
  • Bispecific antibodies can be prepared as full length antibodies or antibody fragments ⁇ e.g., F(ab') 2 bispecific antibodies). Techniques for generating bispecific antibodies from antibody fragments have been described in the literature. For example, bispecific antibodies can be prepared using chemical linkage. Brennan et al, Science, 229:81 (1985) describe a procedure wherein intact antibodies are proteolytically cleaved to generate F(ab') 2 fragments. These fragments are reduced in the presence of the dithiol complexing agent sodium arsenite to stabilize vicinal dithiols and prevent intermolecular disulfide formation. The Fab' fragments generated are then converted to thionitrobenzoate (TNB) derivatives.
  • TAB thionitrobenzoate
  • One of the Fab'-TNB derivatives is then reconverted to the Fab'-thiol by reduction with mercaptoethylamine and is mixed with an equimolar amount of the other Fab'-TNB derivative to form the bispecific antibody.
  • the bispecific antibodies produced can be used as agents for the selective immobilization of enzymes.
  • Fab' fragments may be directly recovered from E. coli and chemically coupled to form bispecific antibodies. Shalaby et al, J. Exp. Med.. 175:217-225 (1992) describe the production of a fully humanized bispecific antibody F(ab') 2 molecule. Each Fab' fragment was separately secreted from E. coli and subjected to directed chemical coupling in vitro to form the bispecific antibody. The bispecific antibody thus formed was able to bind to cells overexpressing the ErbB2 receptor and normal human T cells, as well as trigger the lytic activity of human cytotoxic lymphocytes against human breast tumor targets.
  • bispecific antibodies have been produced using leucine zippers.
  • the leucine zipper peptides from the Fos and Jun proteins were linked to the Fab' portions of two different antibodies by gene fusion.
  • the antibody homodimers were reduced at the hinge region to form monomers and then re-oxidized to form the antibody heterodimers.
  • This method can also be utilized for the production of antibody homodimers.
  • the "diabody” technology described by Hollinger et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 90:6444-6448 (1993) has provided an alternative mechanism for making bispecific antibody fragments .
  • the fragments comprise a heavy-chain variable domain
  • V H connected to a light-chain variable domain (V L ) by a linker which is too short to allow pairing between the two domains on the same chain. Accordingly, the V H and V L domains of one fragment are forced to pair with the complementary V L and V H domains of another fragment, thereby forming two antigen-binding sites.
  • sFv single-chain Fv
  • Antibodies with more than two valencies are contemplated.
  • trispecific antibodies can be prepared. Tutt et al, J. Immunol.. 147:60 (1991).
  • Exemplary bispecific antibodies may bind to two different epitopes on a given PRO polypeptide herein.
  • an anti-PRO polypeptide arm may be combined with an arm which binds to a triggering molecule on a leukocyte such as a T-cell receptor molecule ⁇ e.g., CD2, CD3, CD28, or B7), or Fc receptors for IgG (Fc ⁇ R), such as Fc ⁇ RI (CD64), Fc ⁇ RII (CD32) and Fc ⁇ RIII (CD 16) so as to focus cellular defense mechanisms to the cell expressing the particular PRO polypeptide.
  • Bispecific antibodies may also be used to localize cytotoxic agents to cells which express a particular PRO polypeptide.
  • These antibodies possess a PRO-binding arm and an arm which binds a cytotoxic agent or a radionuclide chelator, such as EOTUBE, DPTA, DOTA, or TETA.
  • a cytotoxic agent or a radionuclide chelator such as EOTUBE, DPTA, DOTA, or TETA.
  • Another bispecific antibody of interest binds the PRO polypeptide and further binds tissue factor (TF).
  • Heteroconjugate antibodies are also within the scope of the present invention.
  • Heteroconjugate antibodies are composed of two covalently joined antibodies. Such antibodies have, for example, been proposed to target immune system cells to unwanted cells [U.S. Patent No. 4,676,980], and for treatment of HIV infection [WO 91/00360; WO 92/200373; EP 03089].
  • the antibodies may be prepared in vitro using known methods in synthetic protein chemistry, including those involving crosslinking agents.
  • immunotoxins may be constructed using a disulfide exchange reaction or by forming a thioether bond. Examples of suitable reagents for this purpose include iminothiolate and methyl-4-mercaptobutyrimidate and those disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,676,980.
  • an antibody of the invention may be desirable to modify the antibody of the invention with respect to effector function, so as to enhance, e.g., the effectiveness of the antibody in treating cancer.
  • cysteine residue(s) may be introduced into the Fc region, thereby allowing interchain disulfide bond formation in this region.
  • the homodimeric antibody thus generated may have improved internalization capability and/or increased complement-mediated cell killing and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). See, Caron et al. , J. Exp. Med.. 176: 1191-1195 (1992) and Shopes, J. Immunol.. 148: 2918-2922 (1992).
  • Homodimeric antibodies with enhanced anti-tumor activity may also be prepared using heterobifunctional cross-linkers as described in Wolff etal. Cancer Research.53: 2560-2565 (1993).
  • an antibody can be engineered that has dual
  • Fc regions and may thereby have enhanced complement lysis and ADCC capabilities. See, Stevenson et al, Anti-Cancer Drug Design. 3: 219-230 (1989).
  • the invention also pertains to immunoconjugates comprising an antibody conjugated to a cytotoxic agent such as a chemotherapeutic agent, toxin ⁇ e.g. , an enzymatically active toxin of bacterial, fungal, plant, or animal origin, or fragments thereof), or a radioactive isotope ⁇ i.e., a radioconjugate).
  • a cytotoxic agent such as a chemotherapeutic agent, toxin ⁇ e.g. , an enzymatically active toxin of bacterial, fungal, plant, or animal origin, or fragments thereof
  • a radioactive isotope i.e., a radioconjugate
  • Enzymatically active toxins and fragments thereof that can be used include diphtheria A chain, nonbinding active fragments of diphtheria toxin, exotoxin A chain (from Pseudomonas aeruginosd), ricin A chain, abrin A chain, modeccin A chain, alpha-sarcin, Aleurites fordii proteins, dianthin proteins, Phytolaca americana proteins (PAPI, PAPII, and PAP-S), momordica charantia inhibitor, curcin, crotin, sapaonaria officinalis inhibitor, gelonin, mitogellin, restrictocin, phenomycin, enomycin, and the tricothecenes.
  • radionuclides are available for the production of radioconjugated antibodies. Examples include 212 Bi, 131 1, 131 In, 90 Y, and 186 Re. Conjugates of the antibody and cytotoxic agent are made using a variety of bifunctional protein-coupling agents such as N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithiol) propionate (SPDP), iminothiolane (IT), bifunctional derivatives of imidoesters (such as dimethyl adipimidate HCL), active esters (such as disuccinimidyl suberate), aldehydes (such as glutareldehyde), bis-azido compounds (such as bis (p-azidobenzoyl) hexanediamine), bis- diazonium derivatives (such as bis-(p-diazoniumbenzoyl)-ethylenediamine), diisocyanates (such as tolyene 2,6- diisocyanate), and bis-active fluoride
  • a ricin immunotoxin can be prepared as described in Vitetta et al. , Science, 238: 1098(1987).
  • Carbon- 14-labeIed l-isothiocyanatobenzyl-3-methyldiethylene triaminepentaacetic acid (MX-DTPA) is an exemplary chelating agent for conjugation of radionucleotide to the antibody. See, W094/11026.
  • the antibody may be conjugated to a "receptor” (such as streptavidin) for utilization in tumor pretargeting wherein the antibody-receptor conjugate is administered to the patient, followed by removal of unbound conjugate from the circulation using a clearing agent and then administration of a "ligand” ⁇ e.g., avidin) that is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent ⁇ e.g., a radionucleotide).
  • a "receptor” such as streptavidin
  • Liposomes containing the antibody are prepared by methods known in the art, such as described in Epstein et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
  • Particularly useful liposomes can be generated by the reverse-phase evaporation method with a lipid composition comprising phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and PEG-derivatized phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE). Liposomes are extruded through filters of defined pore size to yield liposomes with the desired diameter.
  • Fab' fragments of the antibody of the present invention can be conjugated to the liposomes as described in Martin et al, J. Biol. Chem.. 257: 286-288 (1982) via a disulfide-interchange reaction.
  • a chemotherapeutic agent such as Doxorubicin is optionally contained within the liposome. See, Gabizon et al. ,
  • the proteins disclosed in the present application have been assayed in a panel of 60 tumor cell lines currently used in the investigational, disease-oriented, in vitro drug-discovery screen of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
  • NCI National Cancer Institute
  • the purpose of this screen is to identify molecules that have cytotoxic and/or cytostatic activity against different types of tumors.
  • NCI screens more than 10,000 new molecules per year (Monks etal, J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 83:757-766 (1991); Boyd, Cancer: Princ. Pract. Oncol. Update. 3(10):1-12 ([1989]).
  • the tumor cell lines employed in this study have been described in Monks et al. , supra.
  • the cell lines the growth of which has been significantly inhibited by the proteins of the present application are specified in the Examples.
  • cell-based assays and animal models for tumors can also be used to verify the findings of the NCI cancer screen, and to further understand the relationship between the protein identified herein and the development and pathogenesis of neoplastic cell growth.
  • primary cultures derived from tumors in transgenic animals as described below can be used in the cell-based assays herein, although stable cell lines are preferred. Techniques to derive continuous cell lines from transgenic animals are well known in the art ⁇ see, e.g., Small et al, Mol. Cell. Biol., 5:642-648 [1985]).
  • Animal models of tumors and cancers ⁇ e.g. , breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, etc.
  • Non-recombinant animal models include, for example, rodent, e.g. , murine models.
  • Such models can be generated by introducing tumor cells into syngeneic mice using standard techniques, e.g., subcutaneous injection, tail vein injection, spleen implantation, intraperitoneal implantation, implantation under the renal capsule, or orthopin implantation, e.g. , colon cancer cells implanted in colonic tissue.
  • standard techniques e.g., subcutaneous injection, tail vein injection, spleen implantation, intraperitoneal implantation, implantation under the renal capsule, or orthopin implantation, e.g. , colon cancer cells implanted in colonic tissue.
  • mice Probably the most often used animal species in oncological studies are immunodeficient mice and, in particular, nude mice.
  • the autosomal recessive nu gene has been introduced into a very large number of distinct congenic strains of nude mouse, including, for example, ASW, A/He, AKR, BALB/c, B10.LP, C17, C3H, C57BL, C57, CBA, DBA, DDD, I/st, NC, NFR, NFS,
  • the cells introduced into such animals can be derived from known tumor/cancer cell lines, such as, any of the above-listed tumor cell lines, and, for example, the B 104-1-1 cell line (stable NIH-3T3 cell line transfected with the neu protooncogene); ra_--_ransfected NIH-3T3 cells; Caco-2 (ATCC HTB-37); a moderately well-differentiated grade II human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, HT-29 (ATCC HTB-38), or from tumors and cancers.
  • Samples of tumor or cancer cells can be obtained from patients undergoing surgery, using standard conditions, involving freezing and storing in liquid nitrogen (Karmali et al, Br. J. Cancer.
  • Tumor cells can be introduced into animals, such as nude mice, by a variety of procedures.
  • the subcutaneous (s.c.) space in mice is very suitable for tumor implantation.
  • Tumors can be transplanted s.c. as solid blocks, as needle biopsies by use of a trochar, or as cell suspensions.
  • tumor tissue fragments of suitable size are introduced into the s.c. space.
  • Cell suspensions are freshly prepared from primary tumors or stable tumor cell lines, and injected subcutaneously. Tumor cells can also be injected as subdermal implants. In this location, the inoculum is deposited between the lower part of the dermal connective tissue and the s.c. tissue.
  • Animal models of breast cancer can be generated, for example, by implanting rat neuroblastoma cells (from which the neu oncogen was initially isolated), or ..e_.-transformed NIH-3T3 cells into nude mice, essentially as described by Drebin et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 83:9129-9133 (1986).
  • animal models of colon cancer can be generated by passaging colon cancer cells in animals, e.g. , nude mice, leading to the appearance of tumors in these animals.
  • An orthotopic transplant model of human colon cancer in nude mice has been described, for example, by Wang et al, Cancer Research.
  • Tumors that arise in animals can be removed and cultured in vitro. Cells from the in vitro cultures can then be passaged to animals. Such tumors can serve as targets for further testing or drug screening. Alternatively, the tumors resulting from the passage can be isolated and RNA from pre-passage cells and cells isolated after one or more rounds of passage analyzed for differential expression of genes of interest. Such passaging techniques can be performed with any known tumor or cancer cell lines. For example, Meth A, CMS4, CMS5, CMS21, and WEHI-164 are chemically induced fibrosarcomas of
  • mice (DeLeo et al. , J. Exp. Med.. 146:720 [1977]), which provide a highly controllable model system for studying the anti-tumor activities of various agents (Palladino et al, J. Immunol. 138:4023-4032 [1987]).
  • tumor cells are propagated in vitro in cell culture. Prior to injection into the animals, the cell lines are washed and suspended in buffer, at a cell density of about lOxlO 6 to lOxlO 7 cells/ml. The animals are then infected subcutaneously with 10 to 100 ⁇ l of the cell suspension, allowing one to three weeks for a tumor to appear.
  • the Lewis lung (3LL) carcinoma of mice which is one of the most thoroughly studied experimental tumors, can be used as an investigational tumor model. Efficacy in this tumor model has been correlated with beneficial effects in the treatment of human patients diagnosed with small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL).
  • SCCL small cell carcinoma of the lung
  • This tumor can be introduced in normal mice upon injection of tumor fragments from an affected mouse or of cells maintained in culture (Zupi et al, Br. J. Cancer. 41. suppl. 4:309 [1980]), and evidence indicates that tumors can be started from injection of even a single cell and that a very high proportion of infected tumor cells survive. For further information about this tumor model see, Zacharski, Haemostasis. 16:300-320 (1986).
  • One way of evaluating the efficacy of a test compound in an animal model on an implanted tumor is to measure the size of the tumor before and after treatment.
  • the size of implanted tumors has been measured with a slide caliper in two or three dimensions.
  • the measure limited to two dimensions does not accurately reflect the size of the tumor, therefore, it is usually converted into the corresponding volume by using a mathematical formula.
  • the measurement of tumor size is very inaccurate.
  • the therapeutic effects of a drug candidate can be better described as treatment-induced growth delay and specific growth delay.
  • Another important variable in the description of tumor growth is the tumor volume doubling time.
  • Computer programs for the calculation and description of tumor growth are also available, such as the program reported by Rygaard and Spang-Thomsen, Proc. 6th Int. Workshop on Immune-Deficient Animals, Wu and Sheng eds . ,
  • necrosis and inflammatory responses following treatment may actually result in an increase in tumor size, at least initially. Therefore, these changes need to be carefully monitored, by a combination of a morphometric method and flow cytometric analysis.
  • Recombinant (transgenic) animal models can be engineered by introducing the coding portion of the genes identified herein into the genome of animals of interest, using standard techniques for producing transgenic animals.
  • Animals that can serve as a target for transgenic manipulation include, without limitation, mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, sheep, goats, pigs, and non-human primates, e.g., baboons, chimpanzees and monkeys.
  • Techniques known in the art to introduce a transgene into such animals include pronucleic microinjection (Hoppe and Wanger, U.S. Patent No. 4,873,191); retrovirus-mediated gene transfer into germ lines ⁇ e.g., Van der Putten et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 82:6148-615 [1985]); gene targeting in embryonic stem cells
  • transgenic animals include those that carry the transgene only in part of their cells ("mosaic animals").
  • the transgene can be integrated either as a single transgene, or in concatamers, e.g. , head-to-head or head-to-tail tandems. Selective introduction of a transgene into a particular cell type is also possible by following, for example, the technique of Lasko et al. , Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 89:6232-636 (1992).
  • transgene expression in transgenic animals can be monitored by standard techniques. For example, Southern blot analysis or PCR amplification can be used to verify the integration of the transgene.
  • the level of mRNA expression can then be analyzed using techniques such as in situ hybridization, Northern blot analysis, PCR, or immunocytochemistry. The animals are further examined for signs of tumor or cancer development.
  • SCC feline oral squamous cell carcinoma
  • Feline oral SCC is a highly invasive, malignant tumor that is the most common oral malignancy of cats, accounting for over 60% of the oral tumors reported in this species. It rarely metastasizes to distant sites, although this low incidence of metastasis may merely be a reflection of the short survival times for cats with this tumor.
  • These tumors are usually not amenable to surgery, primarily because of the anatomy of the feline oral cavity. At present, there is no effective treatment for this tumor.
  • each cat Prior to entry into the study, each cat undergoes complete clinical examination, biopsy, and is scanned by computed tomography (CT). Cats diagnosed with sublingual oral squamous cell tumors are excluded from the study. The tongue can become paralyzed as a result of such tumor, and even if the treatment kills the tumor, the animals may not be able to feed themselves.
  • CT computed tomography
  • Each cat is treated repeatedly, over a longer period of time. Photographs of the tumors will be taken daily during the treatment period, and at each subsequent recheck.
  • CT scans and thoracic radiograms are evaluated every 8 weeks thereafter. The data are evaluated for differences in survival, response and toxicity as compared to control groups. Positive response may require evidence of tumor regression, preferably with improvement of quality of life and/or increased life span.
  • fibrosarcoma adenocarcinoma
  • lymphoma adenocarcinoma
  • chrondroma Ieiomyosarcoma of dogs, cats
  • baboons a preferred model as its appearance and behavior are very similar to those in humans.
  • the use of this model is limited by the rare occurrence of this type of tumor in animals.
  • Screening assays for drug candidates are designed to identify compounds that competitively bind or complex with the rece ⁇ tor(s) of the polypeptides identified herein, or otherwise signal through such rece ⁇ tor(s) .
  • Such screening assays will include assays amenable to high-throughput screening of chemical libraries, making them particularly suitable for identifying small molecule drug candidates.
  • Small molecules contemplated include synthetic organic or inorganic compounds, including peptides, preferably soluble peptides, (poly)peptide- immunoglobulin fusions, and, in particular, antibodies including, without limitation, poly- and monoclonal antibodies and antibody fragments, single-chain antibodies, anti-idiotypic antibodies, and chimeric or humanized versions of such antibodies or fragments, as well as human antibodies and antibody fragments.
  • the assays can be performed in a variety of formats, including protein-protein binding assays, biochemical screening assays, immunoassays and cell based assays, which are well characterized in the art.
  • a receptor of a polypeptide encoded by the gene identified herein or the drug candidate is immobilized on a solid phase, e.g., on a microtiter plate, by covalent or non-covalent attachments.
  • Non-covalent attachment generally is accomplished by coating the solid surface with a solution of the polypeptide and drying.
  • an immobilized antibody e.g., a monoclonal antibody, specific for the polypeptide to be immobilized can be used to anchor it to a solid surface.
  • the assay is performed by adding the non-immobilized component, which may be labeled by a detectable label, to the immobilized component, e.g., the coated surface containing the anchored component.
  • the non-reacted components are removed, e.g., by washing, and complexes anchored on the solid surface are detected.
  • the detection of label immobilized on the surface indicates that complexing occurred.
  • complexing can be detected, for example, by using a labeled antibody specifically binding the immobilized complex.
  • the candidate compound interacts with but does not bind to a particular receptor, its interaction with that polypeptide can be assayed by methods well known for detecting protein-protein interactions.
  • assays include traditional approaches, such as, cross-linking, co-immunoprecipitation, and co-purification through gradients or chromatographic columns.
  • protein-protein interactions can be monitored by using a yeast-based genetic system described by Fields and co-workers [Fields and Song, Nature (London).340:245-246 (1989); Chien et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 88:9578-9582 (1991)] as disclosed by Chevray and Nathans .Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA.
  • yeast GAL4 Many transcriptional activators, such as yeast GAL4, consist of two physically discrete modular domains, one acting as the DNA-binding domain, while the other one functioning as the transcription activation domain.
  • the yeast expression system described in the foregoing publications (generally referred to as the "two-hybrid system") takes advantage of this property, and employs two hybrid proteins, one in which the target protein is fused to the DNA-binding domain of GAL4, and another, in which candidate activating proteins are fused to the activation domain.
  • the expression of a GALl-Z ⁇ cZ reporter gene under control of a GAL4-activated promoter depends on reconstitution of GAL4 activity via protein-protein interaction.
  • Colonies containing interacting polypeptides are detected with a chromogenic substrate for ⁇ -galactosidase.
  • a complete kit (MATCHMAKERTM) for identifying protein-protein interactions between two specific proteins using the two-hybrid technique is commercially available from Clontech. This system can also be extended to map protein domains involved in specific protein interactions as well as to pinpoint amino acid residues that are crucial for these interactions.
  • polypeptides of the present invention can be administered for the treatment of tumors, including cancers, in the form of pharmaceutical compositions.
  • antibody fragments the smallest inhibitory fragment which specifically binds to the binding domain of the target protein is preferred.
  • peptide molecules can be designed which retain the ability to bind the target protein sequence.
  • Such peptides can be synthesized chemically and/or produced by recombinant DNA technology ⁇ see, e.g., Marasco et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 90:7889-7893 [1993]).
  • the formulation herein may also contain more than one active compound as necessary for the particular indication being treated, preferably those with complementary activities that do not adversely affect each other.
  • the composition may comprise an agent that enhances its function, such as, for example, a cytotoxic agent, cytokine, chemotherapeutic agent, or growth-inhibitory agent.
  • cytotoxic agent such as, for example, a cytotoxic agent, cytokine, chemotherapeutic agent, or growth-inhibitory agent.
  • Such molecules are suitably present in combination in amounts that are effective for the purpose intended.
  • Therapeutic formulations of the polypeptides identified herein, or agonists thereof are prepared for storage by mixing the active ingredient having the desired degree of purity with optional pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients or stabilizers (Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences. 16th edition, Osol, A. ed.
  • Acceptable carriers, excipients, or stabilizers are nontoxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed, and include buffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids; antioxidants including ascorbic acid and methionine; preservatives (such as octadecyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride; hexamethonium chloride; benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride; phenol, butyl or benzyl alcohol; alkyl parabens such as methyl or propyl paraben; catechol; resorcinol; cyclohexanol; 3-pentanol; and m-cresol); low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptides; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino
  • the formulation herein may also contain more than one active compound as necessary for the particular indication being treated, preferably those with complementary activities that do not adversely affect each other.
  • the composition may comprise a cytotoxic agent, cytokine or growth inhibitory agent.
  • cytotoxic agent cytokine or growth inhibitory agent.
  • Such molecules are suitably present in combination in amounts that are effective for the purpose intended.
  • the active ingredients may also be entrapped in microcapsules prepared, for example, by coacervation techniques or by interf acial polymerization, for example, hydroxymethylcellulose or gelatin-microcapsules and poly-(methylmethacylate) microcapsules, respectively, in colloidal drug delivery systems (for example, liposomes, albumin microspheres, microemulsions, nano-particles and nanocapsules) or in macroemulsions.
  • colloidal drug delivery systems for example, liposomes, albumin microspheres, microemulsions, nano-particles and nanocapsules
  • compositions to be used for in vivo administration must be sterile. This is readily accomplished by filtration through sterile filtration membranes, prior to or following lyophilization and reconstitution.
  • Therapeutic compositions herein generally are placed into a container having a sterile access port, for example, an intravenous solution bag or vial having a stopper pierceable by a hypodermic injection needle.
  • sustained-release preparations may be prepared. Suitable examples of sustained-release preparations include semipermeable matrices of solid hydrophobic polymers containing the antibody, which matrices are in the form of shaped articles, e.g., films, or microcapsules. Examples of sustained-release matrices include polyesters, hydrogels (for example, poly(2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate), or poly(vinylalcohol)), polylactides
  • copolymers of L-glutamic acid and ⁇ efhyl-L-glutamate non-degradable ethylene- vinyl acetate
  • degradable lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers such as the LUPRON DEPOTTM (injectable microspheres composed of lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer and leuprolide acetate)
  • poly-D-(-)-3- hydroxybutyric acid While polymers such as ethylene- vinyl acetate and lactic acid-glycolic acid enable release of molecules for over 100 days, certain hydrogels release proteins for shorter time periods.
  • encapsulated antibodies When encapsulated antibodies remain in the body for a long time, they may denature or aggregate as a result of exposure to moisture at 37 °C, resulting in a loss of biological activity and possible changes in immunogenicity. Rational strategies can be devised for stabilization depending on the mechanism involved. For example, if the aggregation mechanism is discovered to be intermolecular S-S bond formation through thio-disulfide interchange, stabilization may be achieved by modifying sulfhydryl residues, lyophilizing from acidic solutions, controlling moisture content, using appropriate additives, and developing specific polymer matrix compositions.
  • the polypeptides of the present invention and their agonists may be used to treat various tumors, e.g. , cancers.
  • exemplary conditions or disorders to be treated include benign or malignant tumors ⁇ e.g., renal, liver, kidney, bladder, breast, gastric, ovarian, colorectal, prostate, pancreatic, lung, vulval, thyroid, hepatic carcinomas; sarcomas; glioblastomas; and various head and neck tumors); leukemias and lymphoid malignancies; other disorders such as neuronal, glial, astrocytal, hypothalamic and other glandular, macrophagal, epithelial, stromal and blastocoelic disorders; and inflammatory, angiogenic and immunologic disorders.
  • the anti-tumor agents of the present invention are administered to a mammal, preferably a human, in accord with known methods, such as intravenous administration as a bolus or by continuous infusion over a period of time, or by intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intracerobrospinal, intraocular, intraarterial, intralesional, subcutaneous, intraarticular, intrasynovial, intrathecal, oral, topical, or inhalation routes.
  • chemotherapeutic agents may be administered to the patient. Preparation and dosing schedules for such chemotherapeutic agents may be used according to manufacturers' instructions or as determined empirically by the skilled practitioner. Preparation and dosing schedules for such chemotherapy are also described in Chemotherapy Service, ed., M.C. Perry, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD (1992). The chemotherapeutic agent may precede, or follow administration of the anti-tumor agent of the present invention, or may be given simultaneously therewith.
  • the anti-cancer agents of the present invention may be combined with an anti-oestrogen compound such as tamoxifen or an anti-progesterone such as onapristone ⁇ see, EP 616812) in dosages known for such molecules.
  • the anti-cancer agents herein are co-administered with a growth inhibitory agent.
  • the growth inhibitory agent may be administered first, followed by the administration of an anti-cancer agent of the present invention.
  • Suitable dosages for the growth inhibitory agent are those presently used and may be lowered due to the combined action (synergy) of the growth inhibitory agent and the antibody herein.
  • an anti-tumor agent for the prevention or treatment of disease, will depend on the type of disease to be treated, as defined above, the severity and course of the disease, whether the agent is administered for preventive or therapeutic purposes, previous therapy, the patient's clinical history and response to the agent, and the discretion of the attending physician.
  • the agent is suitably administered to the patient at one time or over a series of treatments. Animal experiments provide reliable guidance for the determination of effective doses for human therapy. Interspecies scaling of effective doses can be performed following the principles laid down by Mordenti, J. and Chappell, W. "The use of interspecies scaling in toxicokinetics" in Toxicokinetics and New Drug Development. Yacobi et al, eds., Pergamon Press, New York 1989, pp. 42-96.
  • an antitumor agent is an initial candidate dosage for administration to the patient, whether, for example, by one or more separate administrations, or by continuous infusion.
  • a typical daily dosage might range from about 1 ⁇ g/kg to 100 mg/kg or more, depending on the factors mentioned above.
  • the treatment is sustained until a desired suppression of disease symptoms occurs .
  • other dosage regimens may be useful. The progress of this therapy is easily monitored by conventional techniques and assays. Guidance as to particular dosages and methods of delivery is provided in the literature; see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.
  • an article of manufacture containing materials useful for the diagnosis or treatment of the disorders described above comprises a container and a label.
  • Suitable containers include, for example, bottles, vials, syringes, and test tubes.
  • the containers may be formed from a variety of materials such as glass or plastic.
  • the container holds a composition which is effective for diagnosing or treating the condition and may have a sterile access port (for example the container may be an intravenous solution bag or a vial having a stopper pierceable by a hypodermic injection needle).
  • the active agent in the composition is an anti-tumor agent of the present invention.
  • the label on, or associated with, the container indicates that the composition is used for diagnosing or treating the condition of choice.
  • the article of manufacture may further comprise a second container comprising a pharmaceutically- acceptable buffer, such as phosphate-buffered saline, Ringer's solution and dextrose solution. It may further include other materials desirable from a commercial and user standpoint, including other buffers, diluents, filters, needles, syringes, and package inserts with instructions for use.
  • a pharmaceutically- acceptable buffer such as phosphate-buffered saline, Ringer's solution and dextrose solution.
  • It may further include other materials desirable from a commercial and user standpoint, including other buffers, diluents, filters, needles, syringes, and package inserts with instructions for use.
  • EXAMPLE 1 Extracellular Domain Homology Screening to Identify Novel Polypeptides and cDNA Encoding Therefor
  • the extracellular domain (ECD) sequences (including the secretion signal sequence, if any) from about 950 known secreted proteins from the Swiss-Prot public database were used to search EST databases.
  • the EST databases included public databases ⁇ e.g., Dayhoff, GenBank), and proprietary databases ⁇ e.g. LIFESEQ ® ,
  • Forward and reverse PCR primers generally range from 20 to 30 nucleotides and are often designed to give a PCR product of about 100-1000 bp in length.
  • the probe sequences are typically 40-55 bp in length.
  • additional oligonucleotides are synthesized when the consensus sequence is greater than about 1-1.5 kbp.
  • DNA from the libraries was screened by PCR amplification, as per Ausubel et al, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, supra, with the PCR primer pair. A positive library was then used to isolate clones encoding the gene of interest using the probe oligonucleotide and one of the primer pairs.
  • the cDNA libraries used to isolate the cDNA clones were constructed by standard methods using commercially available reagents such as those from Invitrogen, San Diego, CA.
  • the cDNA was primed with oligo dT containing a Notl site, linked with blunt to Sail hemikinased adaptors, cleaved with Notl, sized appropriately by gel electrophoresis, and cloned in a defined orientation into a suitable cloning vector (such as pRKB or pRKD; pRK5B is a precursor of pRK5D that does not contain the Sfil site; see, Holmes etal, Science. 253:1278-1280 (1991)) in the unique Xhol and Notl sites.
  • a suitable cloning vector such as pRKB or pRKD; pRK5B is a precursor of pRK5D that does not contain the Sfil site; see, Holmes etal, Science. 253:
  • the signal sequence algorithm computes a secretion signal score based on the character of the DNA nucleotides surrounding the first and optionally the second methionine codon(s) (ATG) at the 5'-end of the sequence or sequence fragment under consideration.
  • the nucleotides following the first ATG must code for at least 35 unambiguous amino acids without any stop codons. If the first ATG has the required amino acids, the second is not examined. If neither meets the requirement, the candidate sequence is not scored.
  • the DNA and corresponding amino acid sequences surrounding the ATG codon are scored using a set of seven sensors (evaluation parameters) known to be associated with secretion signals. Use of this algorithm resulted in the identification of numerous polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid sequences.
  • DNA36360 Isolation of cDNA Clones Encoding Human PRQ943
  • DNA36360 consensus sequence derives from an intermediate consensus DNA sequence which was extended using repeated cycles of BLAST and phrap to extend that intermediate consensus sequence as far as possible using the sources of EST sequences discussed above.
  • oligonucleotides were synthesized : 1) to identify by PCR a cDNA library that contained the sequence of interest, and 2) for use as probes to isolate a clone of the full-length coding sequence for PR0943.
  • Forward and reverse PCR primers generally range from 20 to 30 nucleotides and are often designed to give a PCR product of about 100-1000 bp in length.
  • the probe sequences are typically 40-55 bp in length.
  • additional oligonucleotides are synthesized when the consensus sequence is greater than about 1-1.5 kbp.
  • DNA from the libraries was screened by PCR amplification, as per Ausubel et al , Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, supra, with the PCR primer pair. A positive library was then used to isolate clones encoding the gene of interest using the probe oligonucleotide and one of the primer pairs.
  • PCR primers forward and reverse were synthesized: forward PCR primer 5'-CGAGATGACGCCGAGCCCCC-3' (SEQ ID NO:7) reverse PCR primer 5'-CGGTTCGACACGCGGCAGGTG-3' (SEQ ID NO:8) Additionally, a synthetic oligonucleotide hybridization probe was constructed from the consensus DNA36360 sequence which had the following nucleotide sequence: hybridization probe 5'-TGCTGCTCCTGCTGCCGCCGCTGCTGCTGGGGGCCTTCCCGCCGG-3' (SEQ ID NO:9) RNA for construction of the cDNA libraries was isolated from human fetal brain tissue.
  • the cDNA libraries used to isolate the cDNA clones were constructed by standard methods using commercially available reagents such as those from Invitrogen, S an Diego, CA.
  • the cDNA was primed with oligo dT containing a Notl site, linked with blunt to Sail hemikinased adaptors, cleaved with Notl, sized appropriately by gel electrophoresis, and cloned in a defined orientation into a suitable cloning vector (such as pRKB or pRKD; ⁇ RK5B is a precursor of pRK5D that does not contain the Sfil site; see, Holmes etal, Science.253:1278-1280 (1991)) in the unique Xhol and Notl sites.
  • a suitable cloning vector such as pRKB or pRKD; ⁇ RK5B is a precursor of pRK5D that does not contain the Sfil site; see, Holmes etal, Science.253
  • DNA sequencing of the clones isolated as described above gave the full-length DNA sequence for a full-length PR0943 polypeptide (designated herein as DNA52192-1369 [ Figure 1, SEQ ID NO:l]) and the derived protein sequence for that PR0943 polypeptide.
  • the predicted polypeptide precursor is 504 amino acids long (Figure 2), has a calculated molecular weight of approximately 54,537 daltons and an estimated pi of approximately 10.04.
  • Analysis of the full length PR0943 sequence shown in Figure 2 evidences the presence of a variety of important polypeptide domains as shown in Figure 2, wherein the locations given for those important polypeptide domains are approximate as described above.
  • Anaylsis of the full-length PR0943 sequence shown in Figure 2 evidences the presence of the following: a signal peptide from about amino acid 1 to about amino acid 17; a transmembrane domain from about amino acid 376 to about amino acid 396; tyrosine kinase phosphorylation sites from about amino acid 212 to about amino acid 220 and from about amino acid 329 to about amino acid 337; potential N-glycosylation sites from about amino acid 111 to about amino acid 115, from about amino acid 231 to about amino acid 235, from about amino acid 255 to about amino acid 259, and from about amino acid 293 to about amino acid 297; and an immunoglobulin and MHC protein sequence homology block from about amino acid 219 to about amino acid 237.
  • Clone DNA52192-1369 has been deposited with the ATCC on July 1, 1998 and is assigned ATCC deposit no. 203042.
  • Clone DNA60775-1532 contains a single open reading frame with an apparent translation initiation site at nucleotide positions 74-76 and ending at the stop codon (TAG) at nucleotide positions 2291-2293 ( Figure 3).
  • the predicted PRO 1250 polypeptide precursor ( SEQ ID NO:4) is 739 amino acids long ( Figure 4) .
  • the PRO 1250 protein shown in Figure 4 has an estimated molecular weight of about 82,263 daltons and a pi of about 7.55.
  • PRO1250 polypeptide evidences the presence of the following: a type II transmembrane domain from about amino acid residues 61 to about 80, a putative AMP-binding domain signature sequence from about amino acid residue 314 to about 326, and. potential N-glycosylation sites from about amino acid residues 102 to about 106, from about amino acid residues 588 to about 594 and from about amino acid residues 619 to about 623.
  • SEQ ID NO:4 Analysis of PRO1250 polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:4) evidences the presence of the following: a type II transmembrane domain from about amino acid residues 61 to about 80, a putative AMP-binding domain signature sequence from about amino acid residue 314 to about 326, and. potential N-glycosylation sites from about amino acid residues 102 to about 106, from about amino acid residues 588 to about 594 and from about amino acid residues 619 to about 623.
  • EXAMPLE 5 Isolation of cDNA clones Encoding Human PRO 1337 Using the method described in Example 1 above, a single Incyte EST was identified (EST No.1747546) and also referred to herein as "DNA4417". To assemble a consensus sequence, repeated cycles of BLAST and phrap were used to extend the DNA4417 sequence as far as possible using the sources of EST sequences discussed above. The consensus sequence is designated herein as "DNA45669”. Based on the DNA45669 consensus sequence, oligonucleotides were synthesized: 1) to identify by PCR a cDNA library that contained the sequence of interest, and 2) for use as probes to isolate a clone of the full-length coding sequence for
  • PCR primers (forward and reverse) were synthesized: forward PCR primer 45699.fl:
  • DNA45669 sequence which had the following nucleotide sequence: hybridization probe 45669.pl:
  • DNA sequencing of the clones isolated as described above gave the full-length DNA sequence for PR01337 (designated herein as DNA66672-1586 [Figure 5, SEQ ID NO:5]; and the derived protein sequence for PR01337.
  • the entire coding sequence of PR01337 is shown in Figure 5 (SEQ ID NO:5).
  • Clone DNA66672-1586 contains a single open reading frame with an apparent translational initiation site at nucleotide positions 60-62 and an apparent stop codon at nucleotide positions 1311-1313.
  • the predicted polypeptide precursor is 417 amino acids long.
  • the full-length PR01337 protein shown in Figure 6 has an estimated molecular weight of about 46,493 daltons and a pi of about 9.79.
  • PR01337 polypeptide evidences the presence of the following: a signal peptide from about amino acid 1 to about amino acid 20; an N-glycosylation sites from about amino acid 101 to about amino acid 105 and from about amino acid 390 to about amino acid 394; a tyrosine kinase phosphorylation site from about amino acid 377 to about amino acid 385; and an N-myristoylation sites from about amino acid 7 to about amino acid 13, from about amino acid 97 to about amino acid 103, from about amino acid 326 to about amino acid 332, and from about amino acid 363 to about amino acid 369.
  • In situ Hybridization is a powerful and versatile technique for the detection and localization of nucleic acid sequences within cell or tissue preparations. It may be useful, for example, to identify sites of gene expression, analyze the tissue distribution of transcription, identify and localize viral infection, follow changes in specific mRNA synthesis, and aid in chromosome mapping.
  • In situ hybridization was performed following an optimized version of the protocol by Lu and Gillett, Cell Vision. 1: 169-176 (1994), using PCR-generated 33 P-labeled riboprobes. Briefly, formalin-fixed, paraffin- embedded human tissues were sectioned, deparaffinized, deproteinated in proteinase K (20 g/ml) for 15 minutes at 37 °C, and further processed for in situ hybridization as described by Lu and Gillett, supra. A t 33 -P)UTP- labeled antisense riboprobe was generated from a PCR product and hybridized at 55 °C overnight. The slides were dipped in Kodak NTB2TM nuclear track emulsion and exposed for 4 weeks. - P-Riboprobe synthesis
  • the tubes were incubated at 37°C for one hour. A total of 1.0 ⁇ l RQ1 DNase was added, followed by incubation at 37 °C for 15 minutes. A total of 90 ⁇ l TE (10 mM Tris pH 7.6/1 mM EDTA pH 8.0) was added, and the mixture was pipetted onto DE81 paper. The remaining solution was loaded in a MICROCON-50TM ultrafiltration unit, and spun using program 10 (6 minutes). The filtration unit was inverted over a second tube and spun using program 2 (3 minutes). After the final recovery spin, a total of 100 ⁇ l TE was added, then 1 ⁇ l of the final product was pipetted on DE81 paper and counted in 6 ml of BIOFLUOR ⁇ TM.
  • the probe was run on a TBE/urea gel. A total of 1-3 ⁇ l of the probe or 5 ⁇ l of RNA Mrk III was added to 3 ⁇ l of loading buffer. After heating on a 95 °C heat block for three minutes, the gel was immediately placed on ice. The wells of gel were flushed, and the sample was loaded and run at 180-250 volts for 45 minutes. The gel was wrapped in plastic wrap (SARANTM brand) and exposed to XAR film with an intensifying screen in a -70°C freezer one hour to overnight.
  • SARANTM brand plastic wrap
  • the slides were removed from the freezer, placed on aluminum trays, and thawed at room temperature for 5 minutes.
  • the trays were placed in a 55 °C incubator for five minutes to reduce condensation.
  • the slides were fixed for 10 minutes in 4% paraformaldehyde on ice in the fume hood, and washed in 0.5 x SSC for 5 minutes, at room temperature (25 ml 20 x SSC + 975 ml SQ H 2 0). After deproteination in 0.5 ⁇ g/ml proteinase K for
  • the slides were laid out in a plastic box lined with Box buffer (4 x SSC, 50% formamide) - saturated filter paper.
  • the tissue was covered with 50 ⁇ l of hybridization buffer (3.75 g dextran sulfate + 6 ml SQ H 2 0), vortexed, and heated in the microwave for 2 minutes with the cap loosened. After cooling on ice, 18.75 ml formamide, 3.75 ml 20 x SSC, and 9 ml SQ H 2 0 were added, and the tissue was vortexed well and incubated at 42 °C for 1-4 hours.
  • Hybridization 1.0 x 10 6 cpm probe and 1.0 ⁇ l tRNA (50 mg/ml stock) per slide were heated at 95 °C for 3 minutes. The slides were cooled on ice, and 48 ⁇ l hybridization buffer was added per slide. After vortexing, 50 ⁇ l 33 P mix was added to 50 ⁇ l prehybridization on the slide. The slides were incubated overnight at 55 °C.
  • the stringency wash conditions were as follows: 2 hours at 55 °C, 0.1 x SSC, EDTA (20 ml 20 x SSC + 16 ml
  • EXAMPLE 7 Use of PRO as a Hybridization Probe
  • DNA comprising the coding sequence of full-length or mature PRO as disclosed herein or a fragment thereof is employed as a probe to screen for homologous DNAs (such as those encoding naturally-occurring variants of PRO) in human tissue cDNA libraries or human tissue genomic libraries.
  • Hybridization and washing of filters containing either library DNAs is performed under the following high- stringency conditions.
  • Hybridization of radiolabeled probe derived from the gene encoding a PRO polypeptide to the filters is performed in a solution of 50% formamide, 5x SSC, 0.1% SDS, 0.1% sodium pyrophosphate, 50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.8, 2x Denhardt's solution, and 10% dextran sulfate at 42°C for 20 hours. Washing of the filters is performed in an aqueous solution of O.lx SSC and 0.1% SDS at 42°C.
  • DNAs having a desired sequence identity with the DNA encoding full-length native sequence PRO can then be identified using standard techniques known in the art.
  • EXAMPLE 8 Expression of PRO in E. coli This example illustrates preparation of an unglycosylated form of PRO by recombinant expression in E. coli.
  • the DNA sequence encoding PRO is initially amplified using selected PCR primers.
  • the primers should contain restriction enzyme sites which correspond to the restriction enzyme sites on the selected expression vector.
  • restriction enzyme sites A variety of expression vectors may be employed.
  • An example of a suitable vector is pBR322 (derived from E. coli; see, Bolivar et al, Gene. 2:95 (1977)) which contains genes for ampicillin and tetracycline resistance.
  • the vector is digested with restriction enzyme and dephosphorylated.
  • the PCR amplified sequences are then ligated into the vector.
  • the vector will preferably include sequences which encode for an antibiotic resistance gene, a trp promoter, a poly-His leader (including the first six STII codons, poly-His sequence, and enterokinase cleavage site), the PRO coding region, lambda transcriptional terminator, and an argU gene.
  • the ligation mixture is then used to transform a selected E. coli strain using the methods described in
  • Selected clones can be grown overnight in liquid culture medium such as LB broth supplemented with antibiotics.
  • the overnight culture may subsequently be used to inoculate a larger scale culture.
  • the cells are then grown to a desired optical density, during which the expression promoter is turned on.
  • the cells After culturing the cells for several more hours, the cells can be harvested by centrifugation.
  • the cell pellet obtained by the centrifugation can be solubilized using various agents known in the art, and the solubilized PRO protein can then be purified using a metal chelating column under conditions that allow tight binding of the protein.
  • PRO may be expressed in E. coli in a poly-His tagged form, using the following procedure.
  • the DNA encoding PRO is initially amplified using selected PCR primers.
  • the primers will contain restriction enzyme sites which correspond to the restriction enzyme sites on the selected expression vector, and other useful sequences providing for efficient and reliable translation initiation, rapid purification on a metal chelation column, and proteolytic removal with enterokinase.
  • the PCR-amplified, poly-His tagged sequences are then ligated into an expression vector, which is used to transform an E. coli host based on strain 52 (W3110 fuhA(tonA) Ion galE rpoHts(htpRts) clpP(lacIq).
  • Transformants are first grown in LB containing 50 mg/ml carbenicillin at 30°C with shaking until an OD 600 of 3-5 is reached. Cultures are then diluted 50-100 fold into CRAP media (prepared by mixing 3.57 g (NH 4 ) 2 S0 4 , 0.71 g sodium citrate « 2H 2 0, 1.07 g KC1, 5.36 g Difco yeast extract, 5.36 g Sheffield hycase SF in 500 ml water, as well as 110 mM MPOS, pH 7.3, 0.55% (w/v) glucose and 7 mM MgS0 4 ) and grown for approximately 20-30 hours at 30 °C with shaking. Samples are removed to verify expression by SDS-PAGE analysis, and the bulk culture is centrifuged to pellet the cells. Cell pellets are frozen until purification and refolding.
  • CRAP media prepared by mixing 3.57 g (NH 4 ) 2 S0 4 , 0.71 g sodium citrate « 2H 2 0, 1.07 g KC1, 5.
  • E. coli paste from 0.5 to 1 L fermentations (6-10 g pellets) is resuspended in 10 volumes (w/v) in 7 M guanidine, 20 mM Tris, pH 8 buffer.
  • Solid sodium sulfite and sodium tetrathionate is added to make final concentrations of 0.1M and 0.02 M, respectively, and the solution is stirred overnight at 4 °C. This step results in a denatured protein with all cysteine residues blocked by sulfitolization.
  • the solution is centrifuged at 40, 000 rpm in a Beckman Ultracentifuge for 30 min.
  • the supernatant is diluted with 3-5 volumes of metal chelate column buffer (6 M guanidine, 20 mM Tris, pH 7.4) and filtered through 0.22 micron filters to clarify.
  • the clarified extract is loaded onto a 5 ml Qiagen Ni 2+ -NTA metal chelate column equilibrated in the metal chelate column buffer.
  • the column is washed with additional buffer containing 50 mM imidazole (Calbiochem, Utrol grade), pH 7.4.
  • the protein is eluted with buffer containing 250 mM imidazole. Fractions containing the desired protein are pooled and stored at 4°C. Protein concentration is estimated by its absorbance at 280 nm using the calculated extinction coefficient based on its amino acid sequence.
  • the proteins are refolded by diluting the sample slowly into freshly prepared refolding buffer consisting of: 20 mM Tris, pH 8.6, 0.3 M NaCl, 2.5 M urea, 5 mM cysteine, 20 mM glycine and 1 mM EDTA. Refolding volumes are chosen so that the final protein concentration is between 50 to 100 micrograms/ml.
  • the refolding solution is stirred gently at 4 C C for 12-36 hours.
  • the refolding reaction is quenched by the addition of TFA to a final concentration of 0.4% (pH of approximately 3).
  • the solution is filtered through a 0.22 micron filter and acetonitrile is added to 2-10% final concentration.
  • the refolded protein is chromatographed on a Poros Rl/H reversed phase column using a mobile buffer of 0.1% TFA with elution with a gradient of acetonitrile from 10 to 80%. Aliquots of fractions with A 280 absorbance are analyzed on SDS polyacrylamide gels and fractions containing homogeneous refolded protein are pooled. Generally, the properly refolded species of most proteins are eluted at the lowest concentrations of acetonitrile since those species are the most compact with their hydrophobic interiors shielded from interaction with the reversed phase resin. Aggregated species are usually eluted at higher acetonitrile concentrations. In addition to resolving misfolded forms of proteins from the desired form, the reversed phase step also removes endotoxin from the samples.
  • Fractions containing the desired folded PRO polypeptide are pooled and the acetonitrile removed using a gentle stream of nitrogen directed at the solution. Proteins are formulated into 20 mM Hepes, pH 6.8 with 0.14 M sodium chloride and 4% mannitol by dialysis or by gel filtration using G25 Superfine (Pharmacia) resins equilibrated in the formulation buffer and sterile filtered.
  • This example illustrates preparation of a potentially glycosylated form of PRO by recombinant expression in mammalian cells.
  • the PRO DNA is ligated into pRK5 with selected restriction enzymes to allow insertion of the PRO DNA using ligation methods such as described in Sambrook et al. , supra.
  • the resulting vector is called pRK5-
  • the selected host cells may be 293 cells.
  • Human 293 cells (ATCC CCL 1573) are grown to confluence in tissue culture plates in medium such as DMEM supplemented with fetal calf serum and optionally, nutrient components and or antibiotics.
  • About 10 ⁇ g pRK5-PRO DNA is mixed with about 1 ⁇ g DNA encoding the VA RNA gene [Thimmappaya et al. , Cell, 31:543 (1982)] and dissolved in 500 ⁇ l of 1 mM
  • Tris-HCl 0.1 mM EDTA, 0.227 M CaCl 2 .
  • To this mixture is added, dropwise, 500 ⁇ l of 50 mM HEPES (pH 7.35), 280 mM NaCl, 1.5 mM NaP0 4 , and a precipitate is allowed to form for 10 minutes at 25 °C.
  • the precipitate is suspended and added to the 293 cells and allowed to settle for about four hours at 37°C.
  • the culture medium is aspirated off and 2 ml of 20% glycerol in PBS is added for 30 seconds.
  • the 293 cells are then washed with serum free medium, fresh medium is added and the cells are incubated for about 5 days.
  • the culture medium is removed and replaced with culture medium (alone) or culture medium containing 200 ⁇ Ci/ml 35 S-cysteine and 200 ⁇ Ci/ml 35 S-methionine. After a 12 hour incubation, the conditioned medium is collected, concentrated on a spin filter, and loaded onto a 15%
  • the processed gel may be dried and exposed to film for a selected period of time to reveal the presence of the
  • PRO polypeptide The cultures containing transfected cells may undergo further incubation (in serum free medium) and the medium is tested in selected bioassays.
  • PRO may be introduced into 293 cells transiently using the dextran sulfate method described by Somparyrac etal, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci..12:7575 (1981). 293 cells are grown to maximal density in a spinner flask and 700 ⁇ g pRK5-PRO DNA is added. The cells are first concentrated from the spinner flask by centrifugation and washed with PBS. The DNA-dextran precipitate is incubated on the cell pellet for four hours.
  • the cells are treated with 20% glycerol for 90 seconds, washed with tissue culture medium, and re-introduced into the spinner flask containing tissue culture medium, 5 ⁇ g/ml bovine insulin and 0.1 ⁇ g/ml bovine transferrin. After about four days, the conditioned media is centrifuged and filtered to remove cells and debris. The sample containing expressed PRO can then be concentrated and purified by any selected method, such as dialysis and/or column chromatography.
  • PRO in another embodiment, can be expressed in CHO cells.
  • the pRK5-PRO can be transfected into CHO cells using known reagents such as CaP0 4 or DEAE-dextran.
  • the cell cultures can be incubated, and the medium replaced with culture medium (alone) or medium containing a radiolabel such as 35 S-methionine.
  • the culture medium may be replaced with serum free medium.
  • the cultures are incubated for about 6 days, and then the conditioned medium is harvested.
  • the medium containing the expressed PRO polypeptide can then be concentrated and purified by any selected method.
  • Epitope-tagged PRO may also be expressed in host CHO cells.
  • the PRO may be subcloned out of the pRK5 vector.
  • the subclone insert can undergo PCR to fuse in frame with a selected epitope tag such as a poly-
  • the poly-His tagged PRO insert can then be subcloned into a SV40 driven vector containing a selection marker such as DHFR for selection of stable clones. Finally, the CHO cells can be transfected (as described above) with the S V40 driven vector. Labeling may be performed, as described above, to verify expression. The culture medium containing the expressed poly-His tagged PRO can then be concentrated and purified by any selected method, such as by Ni 2+ -chelate affinity chromatography.
  • PRO may also be expressed in CHO and/or COS cells by a transient expression procedure or in CHO cells by another stable expression procedure.
  • Stable expression in CHO cells is performed using the following procedure.
  • the proteins are expressed as an IgG construct (immunoadhesin), in which the coding sequences for the soluble forms ⁇ e.g., extracellular domains) of the respective proteins are fused to an IgGl constant region sequence containing the hinge, CH2 and CH2 domains and/or as a poly-His tagged form.
  • CHO expression vectors are constructed to have compatible restriction sites 5' and 3' of the DNA of interest to allow the convenient shuttling of cDNA's.
  • the vector used in expression in CHO cells is as described in Lucas et al, Nucl. Acids Res.. 24:9 (1774-1779 (1996), and uses the SV40 early promoter/enhancer to drive expression of the cDNA of interest and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR).
  • DHFR expression permits selection for stable maintenance of the plasmid following transfection.
  • the cells are grown as described in Lucas et al, supra. Approximately 3 x IO 7 cells are frozen in an ampule for further growth and production as described below.
  • the ampules containing the plasmid DNA are thawed by placement into a water bath and mixed by vortexing.
  • the contents are pipetted into a centrifuge tube containing 10 ml of media and centrifuged at 1000 rpm for 5 minutes.
  • the supernatant is aspirated and the cells are resuspended in 10 ml of selective media (0.2 ⁇ m filtered PS20 with 5% 0.2 ⁇ m diafiltered fetal bovine serum).
  • the cells are then aliquoted into a 100 ml spinner containing 90 ml of selective media. After 1-2 days, the cells are transferred into a 250 ml spinner filled with 150 ml selective growth medium and incubated at 37°C.
  • spinners After another 2-3 days, 250 ml, 500 ml and 2000 ml spinners are seeded with 3 x IO 5 cells/ml.
  • the cell media is exchanged with fresh media by centrifugation and resuspension in production medium.
  • any suitable CHO media may be employed, a production medium described in U.S. Patent No. 5,122,469, issued June 16, 1992 may actually be used.
  • a 3L production spinner is seeded at 1.2 x IO 6 cells/ml. On day 0, the cell number and pH is determined. On day 1, the spinner is sampled and sparging with filtered air is commenced.
  • the spinner On day 2, the spinner is sampled, the temperature shifted to 33°C, and 30 ml of 500 g/L glucose and 0.6 ml of 10% antifoam ⁇ e.g., 35% polydimethylsiloxane emulsion, Dow Corning 365 Medical Grade Emulsion) taken. Throughout the production, the pH is adjusted as necessary to keep it at around 7.2. After 10 days, or until the viability drops below 70%, the cell culture is harvested by centrifugation and filtering through a 0.22 ⁇ m filter. The filtrate is either stored at 4°C or immediately loaded onto columns for purification.
  • the proteins are purified using a Ni + -NTA column (Qiagen). Before purification, imidazole is added to the conditioned media to a concentration of 5 mM. The conditioned media is pumped onto a 6 ml Ni 2+ -NTA column equilibrated in 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4, buffer containing 0.3 M NaCl and 5 mM imidazole at a flow rate of 4-5 ml/min. at 4°C. After loading, the column is washed with additional equilibration buffer and the protein eluted with equilibration buffer containing 0.25 M imidazole.
  • the highly purified protein is subsequently desalted into a storage buffer containing 10 mM Hepes, 0.14 M NaCl and 4% mannitol, pH 6.8, with a 25 ml G25 Superfine (Pharmacia) column and stored at -80°C.
  • Immunoadhesin (Fc-containing) constructs are purified from the conditioned media as follows.
  • the conditioned medium is pumped onto a 5 ml Protein A column (Pharmacia) which has been equilibrated in 20 mM Na phosphate buffer, pH 6.8. After loading, the column is washed extensively with equilibration buffer before elution with 100 mM citric acid, pH 3.5.
  • the eluted protein is immediately neutralized by collecting 1 ml fractions into tubes containing 275 ⁇ l of 1 M Tris buffer, pH 9.
  • the highly purified protein is subsequently desalted into storage buffer as described above for the poly-His tagged proteins. The homogeneity is assessed by SDS polyacrylamide gels and by N-terminal amino acid sequencing by Edman degradation. Many of the PRO polypeptides disclosed herein were successfully expressed as descibed above.
  • EXAMPLE 10 Expression of PRO in Yeast The following method describes recombinant expression of PRO in yeast.
  • yeast expression vectors are constructed for intracellular production or secretion of PRO from the ADH2/GAPDH promoter.
  • DNA encoding PRO and the promoter is inserted into suitable restriction enzyme sites in the selected plasmid to direct intracellular expression of PRO.
  • DNA encoding PRO can be cloned into the selected plasmid, together with DNA encoding the ADH2/GAPDH promoter, a native PRO signal peptide or other mammalian signal peptide, or, for example, a yeast alpha-factor or invertase secretory signal/leader sequence, and linker sequences (if needed) for expression of PRO.
  • yeast cells such as yeast strain AB 110
  • yeast cells can then be transformed with the expression plasmids described above and cultured in selected fermentation media.
  • the transformed yeast supernatants can be analyzed by precipitation with 10% trichloroacetic acid and separation by SDS-PAGE, followed by staining of the gels with Coomassie Blue stain.
  • Recombinant PRO can subsequently be isolated and purified by removing the yeast cells from the fermentation medium by centrifugation and then concentrating the medium using selected cartridge filters.
  • the concentrate containing PRO may further be purified using selected column chromatography resins. Many of the PRO polypeptides disclosed herein were successfully expressed as described above.
  • EXAMPLE 11 Expression of PRO in Baculovirus-infected Insect Cells
  • the sequence coding for PRO is fused upstream of an epitope tag contained within a baculovirus expression vector.
  • epitope tags include poly-His tags and immunoglobulin tags (like Fc regions of IgG).
  • plasmids may be employed, including plasmids derived from commercially available plasmids such as pVL1393 (Novagen). Briefly, the sequence encoding PRO or the desired portion of the coding sequence of PRO (such as the sequence encoding the extracellular domain of a transmembrane protein or the sequence encoding the mature protein if the protein is extracellular) is amplified by PCR with primers complementary to the 5' and 3' regions. The 5' primer may incorporate flanking (selected) restriction enzyme sites. The product is then digested with those selected restriction enzymes and subcloned into the expression vector.
  • pVL1393 Novagen
  • Recombinant baculovirus is generated by co-transf ecting the above plasmid and BaculoGoldTM virus DNA
  • Expressed poly-His tagged PRO can then be purified, for example, by Ni 2+ -chelate affinity chromatography as follows. Extracts are prepared from recombinant virus-infected Sf9 cells as described by Rupert et al,
  • Sf9 cells are washed, resuspended in sonication buffer (25 ml Hepes, pH 7.9; 12.5 mM MgCl 2 ; 0.1 mM EDTA; 10% glycerol; 0.1% NP-40; 0.4 M KC1), and sonicated twice for 20 seconds on ice.
  • the sonicates are cleared by centrifugation, and the supernatant is diluted 50-fold in loading buffer (50 mM phosphate, 300 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, pH 7.8) and filtered through a 0.45 ⁇ m filter.
  • loading buffer 50 mM phosphate, 300 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, pH 7.8
  • NTA agarose column (commercially available from Qiagen) is prepared with a bed volume of 5 ml, washed with
  • purification of the IgG tagged (or Fc tagged) PRO can be performed using known chromatography techniques, including for instance, Protein A or protein G column chromatography. Many of the PRO polypeptides disclosed herein were successfully expressed as described above.
  • EXAMPLE 12 Preparation of Antibodies that Bind PRO This example illustrates preparation of monoclonal antibodies which can specifically bind the PRO polypeptide or an epitope on the PRO polypeptide without substantially binding to any other polypeptide or polypeptide epitope.
  • Immunogens that may be employed include purified PRO, fusion proteins containing PRO, and cells expressing recombinant PRO on the cell surface. Selection of the immunogen can be made by the skilled artisan without undue experimentation.
  • mice such as Balb/c are immunized with the PRO immunogen emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant and injected subcutaneously or intraperitoneally in an amount from 1-100 micrograms.
  • the immunogen is emulsified in MPL-TDM adjuvant (Ribi Immunochemical Research, Hamilton, MT) and injected into the animal's hind foot pads.
  • MPL-TDM adjuvant Ribi Immunochemical Research, Hamilton, MT
  • the immunized mice are then boosted 10 to 12 days later with additional immunogen emulsified in the selected adjuvant. Thereafter, for several weeks, the mice may also be boosted with additional immunization injections. Serum samples may be periodically obtained from the mice by retro- orbital bleeding for testing in ELISA assays to detect anti-PRO antibodies.
  • the animals "positive" for antibodies can be injected with a final intravenous injection of PRO.
  • the mice Three to four days later, the mice are sacrificed and the spleen cells are harvested.
  • the spleen cells are then fused (using 35% polyethylene glycol) to a selected murine myeloma cell line such as P3X63AgU.l, available from ATCC, No. CRL 1597.
  • the fusions generate hybridoma cells which can then be plated in 96 well tissue culture plates containing HAT (hypoxanfhine, aminopterin, and thymidine) medium to inhibit proliferation of non-fused cells, myeloma hybrids, and spleen cell hybrids.
  • HAT hyperxanfhine, aminopterin, and thymidine
  • the hybridoma cells will be screened in an ELISA for reactivity against PRO. Determination of "positive" hybridoma cells secreting the desired monoclonal antibodies against PRO
  • the positive hybridoma cells can be injected intraperitoneally into syngeneic Balb/c mice to produce ascites containing the anti-PRO monoclonal antibodies.
  • the hybridoma cells can be grown in tissue culture flasks or roller bottles. Purification of the monoclonal antibodies produced in the ascites can be accomplished using ammonium sulfate precipitation, followed by gel exclusion chromatography. Alternatively, affinity chromatography based upon binding of antibody to protein A or protein G can be employed.
  • PRO Polypeptides may be purified by a variety of standard techniques in the art of protein purification. For example, pro-PRO polypeptide, mature PRO polypeptide, or pre-PRO polypeptide is purified by immunoaffinity chromatography using antibodies specific for the PRO polypeptide of interest. In general, an immunoaffinity column is constructed by covalently coupling the anti-PRO polypeptide antibody to an activated chromatographic resin.
  • Polyclonal immunoglobulins are prepared from immune sera either by precipitation with ammonium sulfate or by purification on immobilized Protein A (Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology, Piscataway, N.J.). Likewise, monoclonal antibodies are prepared from mouse ascites fluid by ammonium sulfate precipitation or chromatography on immobilized Protein A. Partially purified immunoglobulin is covalently attached to a chromatographic resin such as CnBr-activated SEPHAROSETM (PharmaciaLKB Biotechnology). The antibody is coupled to the resin, the resin is blocked, and the derivative resin is washed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  • a chromatographic resin such as CnBr-activated SEPHAROSETM (PharmaciaLKB Biotechnology). The antibody is coupled to the resin, the resin is blocked, and the derivative resin is washed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Such an immunoaffinity column is utilized in the purification of the PRO polypeptide by preparing a fraction from cells containing the PRO polypeptide in a soluble form. This preparation is derived by solubilization of the whole cell or of a subcellular fraction obtained via differential centrifugation by the addition of detergent or by other methods well known in the art. Alternatively, soluble PRO polypeptide containing a signal sequence may be secreted in useful quantity into the medium in which the cells are grown. A soluble PRO polypeptide-containing preparation is passed over the immunoaffinity column, and the column is washed under conditions that allow the preferential absorbance of the PRO polypeptide ⁇ e.g., high ionic strength buffers in the presence of detergent).
  • the column is eluted under conditions that disrupt antibody/PRO polypeptide binding ⁇ e.g. , a low pH buffer such as approximately pH 2-3 , or a high concentration of a chaotrope such as urea or thiocyanate ion), and the PRO polypeptide is collected.
  • a low pH buffer such as approximately pH 2-3
  • a high concentration of a chaotrope such as urea or thiocyanate ion
  • Drug Screening This invention is particularly useful for screening compounds by using PRO polypeptides or a binding fragment thereof in any of a variety of drug screening techniques .
  • the PRO polypeptide or fragment employed in such a test may either be free in solution, affixed to a solid support, borne on a cell surface, or located intracellularly.
  • One method of drug screening utilizes eukaryotic or prokaryotic host cells which are stably transformed with recombinant nucleic acids expressing the PRO polypeptide or fragment. Drugs are screened against such transformed cells in competitive binding assays. Such cells, either in viable or fixed form, can be used for standard binding assays. One may measure, for example, the formation of complexes between a PRO polypeptide or a fragment and the agent being tested. Alternatively, one can examine the diminution in complex formation between the PRO polypeptide and its target cell or target receptors caused by the agent being tested.
  • the present invention provides methods of screening for drugs or any other agents which can affect a PRO polypep tide-associated disease or disorder. These methods comprise contacting such an agent with a PRO polypeptide or fragment thereof and assaying (i) for the presence of a complex between the agent and the PRO polypeptide or fragment, or (ii) for the presence of a complex between the PRO polypeptide or fragment and the cell, by methods well known in the art. In such competitive binding assays, the PRO polypeptide or fragment is typically labeled.
  • the free PRO polypeptide or fragment is separated from that present in bound form, and the amount of free or uncomplexed label is a measure of the ability of the particular agent to bind to the PRO polypeptide or to interfere with the PRO polypeptide/cell complex.
  • Another technique for drug screening provides high throughput screening for compounds having suitable binding affinity to a polypeptide and is described in detail in WO 84/03564, published on September 13, 1984. Briefly stated, large numbers of different small peptide test compounds are synthesized on a solid substrate, such as plastic pins or some other surface. As applied to a PRO polypeptide, the peptide test compounds are reacted with the PRO polypeptide and washed. Bound PRO polypeptide is detected by methods well known in the art. Purified PRO polypeptide can also be coated directly onto plates for use in the aforementioned drug screening techniques. In addition, non-neutralizing antibodies can be used to capture the peptide and immobilize it on the solid support.
  • This invention also contemplates the use of competitive drug screening assays in which neutralizing antibodies capable of binding a PRO polypeptide specifically compete with a test compound for binding to the PRO polypeptide or fragments thereof. In this manner, the antibodies can be used to detect the presence of any peptide which shares one or more antigenic determinants with a PRO polypeptide.
  • Rational Drug Design The goal of rational drug design is to produce structural analogs of a biologically active polypeptide of interest ⁇ i. e. , a PRO polypeptide) or of small molecules with which they interact, e.g. , agonists, antagonists, or inhibitors. Any of these examples can be used to fashion drugs which are more active or stable forms of the PRO polypeptide or which enhance or interfere with the function of the PRO polypeptide in vivo ⁇ c.f., Hodgson,
  • the three-dimensional structure of the PRO polypeptide, or of a PRO polypeptide-inhibitor complex is determined by x-ray crystallography, by computer modeling or, most typically, by a combination of the two approaches. Both the shape and charges of the PRO polypeptide must be ascertained to elucidate the structure and to determine active site(s) of the molecule. Less often, useful information regarding the structure of the PRO polypeptide may be gained by modeling based on the structure of homologous proteins. In both cases, relevant structural information is used to design analogous PRO polypeptide-like molecules or to identify efficient inhibitors. Useful examples of rational drug design may include molecules which have improved activity or stability as shown by Braxton and Wells, Biochemistry. 31:7796-7801 (1992) or which act as inhibitors, agonists, or antagonists of native peptides as shown by Athauda et al, J. Biochem.. 113:742-746 (1993).
  • a target-specific antibody selected by functional assay, as described above, and then to solve its crystal structure.
  • This approach in principle, yields a pharmacore upon which subsequent drug design can be based. It is possible to bypass protein crystallography altogether by generating anti-idiotypic antibodies (anti-ids) to a functional, pharmacologically active antibody. As a mirror image of a mirror image, the binding site of the anti-ids would be expected to be an analog of the original receptor. The anti-id could then be used to identify and isolate peptides from banks of chemically or biologically produced peptides. The isolated peptides would then act as the pharmacore.
  • anti-ids anti-idiotypic antibodies
  • PRO polypeptide may be made available to perform such analytical studies as X-ray crystallography.
  • knowledge of the PRO polypeptide amino acid sequence provided herein will provide guidance to those employing computer modeling techniques in place of or in addition to x-ray crystallography.
  • EXAMPLE 16 In Vitro Antitumor Assay The antiproliferative activity of the PR0943, PRO1250, and PR01337 polypeptide was determined in the investigational, disease-oriented in vitro anti-cancer drug discovery assay of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), using a sulforhodamine B (SRB) dye binding assay essentially as described by Skehan et al, J. Natl.
  • NCI National Cancer Institute
  • Cells from approximately 60 human tumor cell lines were harvested with trypsin/EDTA (Gibco), washed once, resuspended in IMEM and their viability was determined.
  • the cell suspensions were added by pipet (100 ⁇ l volume) into separate 96-well microtiter plates. The cell density for the 6-day incubation was less than for the 2-day incubation to prevent overgrowth. Inoculates were allowed a preincubation period of 24 hours at 37 °C for stabilization. Dilutions at twice the intended test concentration were added at time zero in
  • test compounds were evaluated at five half-log dilutions (1000 to 100, 000-fold). Incubations took place for two days and six days in a 5% C0 2 atmosphere and 100% humidity.
  • a test sample is considered positive if it shows at least 40% growth inhibitory effect at one or more concentrations.

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Abstract

La présente invention se rapporte à des procédés et à des compositions permettant d'inhiber la croissance cellulaire néoplasique. Elle se rapporte notamment à des compositions antitumorales et à des méthodes de traitement des tumeurs. L'invention se rapporte également à des méthodes de criblage permettant d'identifier des composés inhibiteurs de croissance, notamment des composés antitumoraux. La présente invention se rapporte à des polypeptides et à des molécules d'acides nucléiques codant lesdits polypeptides. Elle se rapporte en outre à des vecteurs et à des cellules hôtes comportant ces séquences d'acides nucléiques, à des molécules polypeptidiques chimères comportant les polypeptides de la présente invention accolés à des séquences polypeptidiques hétérologues, à des anticorps qui se lient aux polypeptides de la présente invention et à des procédés de production des polypeptides ci-dessus décrits.
EP00982096A 2000-01-06 2000-11-08 Methodes et compositions permettant d'inhiber la croissance cellulaire neoplasique Withdrawn EP1244784A2 (fr)

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PCT/US2000/000376 WO2000053755A2 (fr) 1999-03-08 2000-01-06 Compositions et procedes pour le traitement de tumeur
WOPCT/US00/00376 2000-01-06
PCT/US2000/004342 WO2000078961A1 (fr) 1999-06-23 2000-02-18 Polypeptides secretes et transmembranaires et acides nucleiques codant pour ces polypeptides
WOPCT/US00/04342 2000-02-18
PCT/US2000/005841 WO2000053758A2 (fr) 1999-03-08 2000-03-02 Compositions et methodes de traitement des maladies immunitaires
WOPCT/US00/05841 2000-03-02
PCT/US2000/008439 WO2000073454A1 (fr) 1999-06-02 2000-03-30 Polypeptides transmembranaires secretes et acides nucleiques codants pour ceux-ci
WOPCT/US00/08439 2000-03-30
PCT/US2000/020710 WO2001009327A2 (fr) 1999-07-28 2000-07-28 Procede de prevention de la deterioration ou de la mort des cellules de la retine et de traitement des troubles oculaires
WOPCT/US00/20710 2000-07-28
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CA2429179A1 (fr) 2000-11-14 2002-06-23 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Polynucleotide codant pour une nouvelle serpine humaine (lsi-01) secretee a partir des cellules lymphoides
DE10254601A1 (de) 2002-11-22 2004-06-03 Ganymed Pharmaceuticals Ag Differentiell in Tumoren exprimierte Genprodukte und deren Verwendung
AU2003287918A1 (en) 2002-12-20 2004-07-14 Enkam Pharmaceuticals A/S Method of modulation of interaction between receptor and ligand
DE102004024617A1 (de) 2004-05-18 2005-12-29 Ganymed Pharmaceuticals Ag Differentiell in Tumoren exprimierte Genprodukte und deren Verwendung
EP1790664A1 (fr) 2005-11-24 2007-05-30 Ganymed Pharmaceuticals AG Anticorps monoclonaux contre claudin-18 pour le traitement du cancer
WO2013167153A1 (fr) 2012-05-09 2013-11-14 Ganymed Pharmaceuticals Ag Anticorps utiles dans le diagnostic du cancer

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WO2000046380A2 (fr) * 1999-02-08 2000-08-10 Chiron Corporation Fusion du recepteur du facteur de croissance des fibroblastes avec une immunoglobuline

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US5814307A (en) * 1989-04-10 1998-09-29 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Method for regulating cell growth, leukocyte differentiation and tumor cell growth using Oncostatin M to stimulate synthesis of IL-6
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WO2001009327A2 (fr) * 1999-07-28 2001-02-08 Genentech, Inc. Procede de prevention de la deterioration ou de la mort des cellules de la retine et de traitement des troubles oculaires
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WO2000053755A2 (fr) * 1999-03-08 2000-09-14 Genentech, Inc. Compositions et procedes pour le traitement de tumeur
WO2001000803A2 (fr) * 1999-06-25 2001-01-04 Genset Proteine associee a l'apolipoproteine a-iv (aa4rp): sequences polypeptidiques, polynucleotidiques et marqueurs bialleliques de ces dernieres
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WO2000046380A2 (fr) * 1999-02-08 2000-08-10 Chiron Corporation Fusion du recepteur du facteur de croissance des fibroblastes avec une immunoglobuline

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