| abstract |
The present invention is directed to novel methods of treating, identifying or diagnosing a hyperproliferative disorder in a patient in need thereof. The methods of the invention include administering to a patient a composition comprising a binding molecule which binds to a cell surface expressed glycoprotein expressed predominantly in tumor or tumor-associated cells. In particular, the therapeutic and diagnostic methods of the present invention include the use of a binding molecule, for example an antibody or immunospecific fragment thereof, which specifically binds to a membrane associated molecule, variant polypeptide or fragment thereof. The present invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery of membrane associated proteins, i.e., nucleic acid molecules which encode membrane proteins and the use of these molecules to generate custom arrays to screen for markers associated with various diseases and disorders, e.g., cancer, e.g., lung, colon, pancreatic and ovarian cancer and autoimmune diseases or disorders. The invention further relates to various methods, reagents and kits for diagnosing, staging, prognosing, monitoring and treating hyperproliferative diseases or disorders such as cancer, e.g., lung, colon, pancreatic and ovarian cancer and autoimmune diseases or disorders. |