MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES SPECIFIC FOR FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTORS, IMMUNOTOXINS, AND USE THEREOF

摘要

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that specifically bind to at least one subtype of human FGF high affinity receptors on intact human cells, but that do not bind to human T-lymphocytes or significantly to proliferating human smooth muscle cells are provided. The monoclonal antibodies can be advantageously radiolabeled or coupled to a drug. The monoclonal antibodies are useful as diagnostic reagents in vitro and in vivo. Immunotoxins prepared by coupling these MAbs to a cytotoxic agent, preferably a ribosome-inactivating protein, e.g. saporin are also provided. By administering an effective dose of such immunotoxins, the population of certain cells such as tumor cells which express this subtype of high affinity FGF receptor can be selectively reduced. Hybridoma cell lines that produce the antibodies are provided. One hybridoma cell line that produces monoclonal antibodies designated 11A8 has been deposited with the ATCC under Accession No. HB-11303.