PSCA: prostate stem cell antigen and uses thereof in pancreatic cancer

Patent Number: 7,485,296

The current patent covers "A method for treating a patient having pancreatic cancer by inhibiting the growth of a pancreatic cancer cell expressing the Prostate Stem Cell Antigen (PSCA) protein as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the patient, comprising contacting the pancreatic cancer cell with the monoclonal antibody 1G8 (ATCC No. HB-12612), or a fragment thereof that recognizes and binds PSCA as shown in SEQ ID NO:2; an immunoconjugate of the antibody; or the fragment linked to a therapeutic agent; a humanized form of the 1G8 monoclonal antibody; or a fusion protein comprising the fragment of the 1G8 monoclonal antibody in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of the pancreatic cancer cell"

Essentially the inventors found that this antigen that is usually associated with prostate stem cells is also found on pancreatic cancer cells and maybe useful for targeting them and in some cases their respective stem cell. 

View this patent on the USPTO website.