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Monoclonal Antibodies Against
Wilms' tumor (WT1)
Inventors:
Meenhard
Herlyn, Jennifer Morris, Frank
Rauscher,
Ulrich Rodeck
Tech ID:
HM-10RR
Description:
Scientists at The Wistar Institute have created monoclonal antibodies
that react with the Wilms' tumor (WT1) protein. These antibodies
can be used diagnostically in a variety of malignancies that over-express
the WT1 protein. In particular, they can be used for distinguishing
mesotheliomas from other tumors or nonmalignant conditions that
affect the pleura. In addition, the antibodies may be used to monitor
disease activity in acute leukemias.
The wt1 gene was originally identified as a candidate
tumor suppressor gene by researchers investigating the causes of
Wilms' tumor, a childhood kidney tumor. The gene codes for the WT1
protein, which has the structural features of a DNA-binding transcription
factor. The WT1 protein has been shown to be over-expressed in a
variety of tumors.
Three monoclonal antibodies have been developed,
designated 6F-H2, 6F-H7, 6F-H17, and the isotype for each is IgG1 .
The hybridomas producing these antibodies resulted
from the fusion of spleen cells from mice immunized with a peptide
comprising the N-terminal 173 amino acids of the WT1 protein and
cells of the myeloma fusion partner P3x63AG8/653. This N-terminal
region of the WT1 protein has little sequence homology to any other
known protein. The resulting antibodies do not cross react with
other transcription factors containing the zinc finger motif. Consequently,
these monoclonal antibodies are more specific than either polyclonal
or monoclonal antibodies to WT1 that have been produced by other
researchers.
Application: All
three monoclonal antibodies work in a variety of applications including
ELISA, immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, and immunoblotting
(i.e., Western blot) assays. H2 has been used in immunohistology
on frozen sections as well as on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded
sections.
Intellectual
Property Status:
United States Patents, Nos. 5,622,835
and 5,633,142, have been issued.
Contact:
Meryle J. Melnicoff, Ph.D.
Director, Business Development The Wistar Institute
Phone: (215) 898-0049
melnicoff@wistar.org
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