The anti-idiotypic antibody 4B5 (mimicking ganglioside GD2) for diagnosis and therapy of cancer

Abstract

This patent deals with an anti-idiotypic antibody (Ab2) raised against an antibody to the tumour-associated ganglioside GD2. The Ab2, designated 4B5, forms what is described in the literature as an ‘internal image’ of the antigen. These kinds of antibodies and recombinant fragments (also covered in the patent) have potential value as cancer vaccines and actual value as the key component of immunoassays to detect antitumour antibodies in the serum of cancer patients. The patent does not present any new chemistry and no data in support of the potential uses is presented. There is extensive data in the literature, however, and this provides some indication of the potential uses of this invention.

• cancer vaccine
• idiotypic antibody
• immunoassay