| abstract |
A method and a pharmaceutical composition are proposed for enhancing endogenous immune response mediated specific elimination of a population of pathogenic cells in a host animal, where said pathogenic cells preferentially express, exclusively express or express in increased amounts the binding site of a specific ligand. The invention includes the introduction of this ligand conjugated with the immunogen, the animal host carrying the specified population of pathogenic cells. Antibodies that are preexisting or administered to a host animal for generating passive immunity, directed against an immunogen bound to a ligand-immunogen conjugate, result in the elimination of pathogenic cells by the action of the host's immune response. At least one additional therapeutic factor selected from the group consisting of a cell death agent, a tumor penetration enhancer, a chemotherapeutic agent, an antimicrobial agent, a cytotoxic immune cell and a compound that stimulates an endogenous immune response is administered, and the compound is not bound to the conjugate ligand immunogen. |