Patent ID: 6458354
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: A61K,C07K,C12N

Abstract:
A method for treating a patient having a tumor, comprising:administering to the patient a dose of a molecular complex sufficient to induce or enhance an immune response to the tumor, wherein the molecular complex comprises at least four fusion proteins, wherein: (a) two first fusion proteins comprise (i) an immunoglobulin heavy chain, wherein the immunoglobulin heavy chain comprises a variable region, and (ii) an extracellular domain of a first transmembrane polypeptide; and (b) two second fusion proteins comprise (i) an immunoglobulin light chain and (ii) an extracellular domain of a second transmembrane polypeptide, wherein the fusion proteins associate to form the molecular complex, wherein the molecular complex comprises two ligand binding sites, each ligand binding site formed by the extracellular domains of the first and second transmembrane polypeptides, wherein each ligand binding site is bound to an antigenic peptide, wherein the antigenic peptide is expressed on the tumor, and wherein the affinity of the molecular complex for a cognate ligand is increased at least two-fold over a dimeric molecular complex consisting of a first and a second fusion protein.