Inhibiting growth of leukemic cells by targeting HER-2 protein

摘要

The present invention identifies a subset of leukemic cells which express HER-2 protein on their cell surface. The invention features methods for inhibiting the growth of such cells and treating leukemia patients by targeting the HER-2 protein. The HER-2 protein is targeted using different techniques such as using anti-HER-2 agents which inhibit HER-2 protein activity and the growth of cells expressing HER-2, using anti-HER-2 agents which bind to HER-2 protein and kill cells expressing HER-2, and using HER-2 protein binding agents to selectively remove leukemic cells expressing HER-2 from normal hematopoietic cells.