USE OF EPHA4 AND MODULATOR OF EPHA4 FOR DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF CANCER

摘要

The present invention relates to methods and compositions designed for thetreatment, management, or prevention of cancer, particularly, metastaticcancer. In one embodiment, the methods of the invention comprise theadministration of an effective amount of one or more antibodies that bind toEphA4 and agonize EphA4. In another embodiment, the methods of the inventioncomprise the administration of an effective amount of one or more antibodiesthat bind to EphA4 and inhibit cancer cell colony formation in soft agar ortubular network formation in three-dimensional basement membrane orextracellular matrix preparation. In another embodiment, the methods of theinvention comprise the administration of an effective amount of one or moreantibodies that preferentially binds to an EphA4 epitope that is exposed oncancer cells but not non-cancer cells. In another embodiment, the methods ofthe invention comprise the administration of an effective amount of one ormore antibodies that bind to EphA4 with a very low Koff to reduce EphA4expression and, thereby, inhibit tumor cell growth and/or metastasis. Theinvention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or moreEphA4 antibodies of the invention either alone or in combination with one ormore other agents useful for cancer therapy.