Patent ID: 7396810

Claim:
A method for treating a solid tumor characterized by expression of EGF receptor, comprising administering, to a subject in need thereof determined to have a tumor expressing the EGF receptor, an agent that binds to the extracellular domain of EGF receptor, wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of (a) an isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:11, 15 or 17-26, or fragments thereof of about 50 to 79 contiguous residues in length, wherein the polypeptide binds to the extracellular domain of EGF receptor with an affinity binding constant of at least 10 8 M −1 , (b) an isolated and glycosylated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:12, 38 or 27-36, or fragments thereof of about 80 to 419 contiguous residues in length, wherein the C-terminal 79 contiguous amino acids are present, wherein at least one N-linked glycosylation site is present, and wherein the polypeptide binds to the extracellular domain of EGF receptor with an affinity binding constant of at least 10 8 M −1 , (c) a monoclonal antibody that binds to the extracellular domain of EGF receptor, and (d) combinations thereof, with the proviso that where the composition comprises the monoclonal antibody it also comprises at least one of the agents of (a) or (b).