Publications by authors named "Welt S"

The concept that the B-cell Receptor (BCR) initiates a driver pathway in lymphoma-leukemia has been clinically validated. Previously described unique BCR Ig-class-specific sequences (proximal domains (PDs)), are not expressed in serum Ig (sIg). As a consequence of sequence and structural differences in the membrane IgM (mIgM) µ-Constant Domain 4, additional epitopes distinguish mIgM from sIgM.

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Centronuclear myopathy (CNM) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder associated with general skeletal muscle weakness, type I fiber predominance and atrophy, and abnormally centralized nuclei. Autosomal dominant CNM is due to mutations in the large GTPase dynamin 2 (DNM2), a mechanochemical enzyme regulating cytoskeleton and membrane trafficking in cells. To date, 40 families with CNM-related DNM2 mutations have been described, and here we report 60 additional families encompassing a broad genotypic and phenotypic spectrum.

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Cell surface transmembrane signaling receptors EGFR, HER3, and HER4 are activated by ligand-binding-mediated dimerization and phosphorylation. In contrast, HER2 amplification promotes signaling by increasing homo/heterodimerization and ligand binding. Trastuzumab or lapatinib therapy of HER2 amplicon-positive breast cancer cells induces growth inhibition and intracellular growth pathway signaling modulation.

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In a previously published study, a significant reduction of snoring was reported after treatment with radiofrequency surgery of the tongue base in patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of radiofrequency surgery of the tongue base in the treatment of primary snoring. Twenty patients suffering from primary snoring (AHI < 10/h, body mass index < 32 kg/m(2)) and an isolated hypertrophic tongue base at clinical examination were enrolled in this clinical trial.

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Purpose: To determine the in vivo characteristics of huA33, a CDR-grafted humanized antibody against the A33 antigen, we have conducted an open-label, dose escalation, biopsy-based phase I trial of huA33 in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Experimental Design: Patients with colorectal carcinoma were infused with [131I]huA33 (400 MBq: 10 mCi) and [125I]huA33 (40 MBq: 1 mCi) 1 week before surgery. There were four huA33 dose levels (0.

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Rationale: The neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) plays a central role in the regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. The view that CRH hypersecretion underlies anxiety and mood disorders was recently supported by preclinical and clinical data obtained after application of the CRH receptor (CRH-R1) antagonist NBI30775 (R121919). Despite its therapeutic efficacy, there is only little information about its mechanisms of action on cellular and molecular targets.

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Unlabelled: This trial was performed to determine the maximum tolerated whole-body radiation-absorbed dose of fractionated (131)I-cG250.

Methods: This was a phase 1 dose escalation trial. Dose escalation refers here to the escalation of average whole-body absorbed dose.

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In antibody-directed enzyme-prodrug therapy (ADEPT), antibody-enzyme conjugates specifically activate non-toxic prodrugs in tumour tissue. The A33 cognate antigen is a promising target for immunotherapy of gastrointestinal cancers. We have explored A33-based ADEPT with carboxypeptidase A (CPA) and the prodrug, methotrexate-phenylalanine (MTX-Phe).

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Purpose: The purpose of this research was to determine the safety, immunogenicity, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and tumor uptake of repeat infusions of a complementarity-determining region grafted humanized antibody (sibrotuzumab) directed against human fibroblast activation protein (FAP).

Experimental Design: A Phase I open-label dose escalation study was conducted in patients with cancers epidemiologically known to be FAP positive. Patients were entered into one of four dosage tiers of 5, 10, 25, or 50 mg/m(2) sibrotuzumab, administered weekly for 12 weeks, with trace labeling with 8-10 mCi of (131)I in weeks 1, 5, and 9.

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Purpose: In previous studies, humanized A33 (huA33) demonstrated modest antitumor activity in chemotherapy-resistant colorectal cancer patients. In addition, unexpected major tumor responses were observed in patients treated with a specific chemotherapy regimen [carmustine, vincristine, fluorouracil, and streptozocin (BOF-Strep)] administered after huA33 protocols. We designed the present Phase I, open label, cohort, dose-escalation study of huA33 and a fixed dose of BOF-Strep to (a) determine the maximum tolerated dose of huA33 immunotherapy administered with chemotherapy, (b) determine whether chemotherapy modifies huA33 immunogenicity, and (c) develop preliminary information regarding antitumor activity.

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Purpose: Humanized A33 (huA33; IgG1) monoclonal antibody detects a determinant expressed by 95% of colorectal cancers and can activate immune cytolytic mechanisms. The present study was designed to (a) define the toxicities and maximum tolerated dose of huA33 and (b) determine huA33 immunogenicity.

Experimental Design: Patients (n = 11) with advanced chemotherapy-resistant colorectal cancer received 4-week cycles of huA33 at 10, 25, or 50 mg/m(2)/week.

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A recombinant fusion protein of colon carcinoma binding A33 single chain antibody with cytosine deaminase displayed specific antigen binding and enzyme activity in surface plasmon resonance and is catalytic activity assay. In vitro, it selectively increased the toxicity of 5-FC to A33 antigen-positive cells by 300-fold, demonstrating the potency of this ADEPT strategy.

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Unlabelled: Bone marrow toxicity is generally dose-limiting for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) with beta-emitting radionuclides. Treatment may be prescribed on the basis of administered activity or absorbed dose. An optimal definition of maximum tolerated dose will enable the clinical benefits of RIT to be maximized.

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Monitoring human antibody recognition of tumor antigens could have potential diagnostic and prognostic significance. Serological analysis of recombinant cDNA expression libraries of human cancer has identified a number of immunogenic tumor antigens. To identify colon cancer antigens associated with a cancer-related serum IgG response, serum samples from 74 patients with colon cancer and 75 normal blood donors were screened for antibody reactivity to 77 serologically defined tumor antigens.

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Mouse monoclonal antibody A33 (mAb A33) recognizes a M(r) 43,000 cell surface glycoprotein (designated A33) expressed in human colonic epithelium and colon cancer but absent from most other normal tissues. In patients, mAb A33 localizes with high specificity to colon cancer and is retained for up to 6 weeks in the cancer but cleared rapidly from normal colon (5-6 days). As a carrier of (125)I or (131)I, mAb A33 has shown antitumor activity.

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Unlabelled: Absorbed doses in (90)Y radioimmunotherapy are usually estimated by extrapolating from (111)In imaging data. PET using (86)Y (beta(+) 33%; half-life, 14.7 h) as a surrogate radiolabel could be a more accurate alternative.

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Unlabelled: A33, a monoclonal antibody that targets colon carcinomas, was labeled with (125)I or (131)I and the relative therapeutic efficacy of the 2 radiolabeled species was compared in a human colon cancer xenograft system.

Methods: Nude mice bearing human SW1222 colon carcinoma xenografts were administered escalating activities of (125)I-A33 (9.25-148 MBq) or (131)I-A33 (0.

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The chimeric monoclonal antibody KM871, directed against the G(D3) antigen, is under evaluation for its potential to target melanoma. To facilitate the in vivo evaluation of biodistribution properties and measurement of pharmacokinetics, KM871 was radiolabeled with (125)I via tyrosine residues and with (111)In via the bifunctional metal ion chelator C-functionalized trans-cyclohexyl diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (CHX-A"-DTPA) to lysine residues. Using antigen-positive SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells, immunoreactivities of 42 and 40% cell binding were obtained, respectively, for the two radioconjugates.

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Unlabelled: Radiolabeling monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) allows the evaluation of biodistribution of constructs in vivo through gamma camera imaging and also permits quantitation of mAb uptake in tumors through biopsy-based counting techniques. The quantitation of radiolabeled mAb uptake in cancer patients is complicated by the attenuation of gamma emissions of routinely used isotopes (e.g.

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Aims: The population pharmacokinetics of 131I-mAbF19, a radiolabelled murine monoclonal antibody against fibroblast activation protein and a potential antitumour stroma agent, were investigated during two phase I studies in cancer patients.

Methods: 131I-mAbF19 serum concentration-time data were obtained in 16 patients from two studies involving imaging and dosimetry in colorectal carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma. Doses of 0.

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Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum sequence for combined modality therapy with radiolabeled antibodies and fractionated external beam radiation.

Methods: The uptake and distribution of a nontherapeutic activity of 125I-labeled tumor-associated A33 monoclonal antibody was determined in SW1222 human colon carcinoma xenografts in nude mice for 4 study groups: group 1, radiolabeled antibody alone; group 2, radiolabeled antibody administered (day 0) immediately before the first of 5 daily fractions of 2-Gy, 320-kilovolt peak x-rays; group 3, radiolabeled antibody administered after the fifth radiation fraction (day 5); and group 4, radiolabeled antibody administered 5 d after irradiation (day 10). Tumors were excised 5 d after antibody administration.

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Therapeutic proteins have been conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEGylation) to reduce immunogenicity and enhance circulating dose. Here we have investigated the effect of PEGylation on immunogenicity, pharmacokinetics, and histologic microdistribution of tumor-targeting antibodies with humanized A33 antibody (huA33) as a model system. Conjugation of huA33 with methoxy-PEG of M(r) 5,000 (32%-34% of primary amines modified) or M(r) 20,000 (16%-18% modification) preserved >50% of native huA33 binding to SW1222 colon cancer cells.

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The rabbit antibody repertoire, which in the form of polyclonal antibodies has been used in diagnostic applications for decades, would be an attractive source for the generation of therapeutic human antibodies. The humanization of rabbit antibodies, however, has not been reported. Here we use phage display technology to select and humanize antibodies from rabbits that were immunized with human A33 antigen which is a target antigen for the immunotherapy of colon cancer.

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Monoclonal antibody (MAb) A33 was labeled with the positron emitter 76Br (T(1/2) = 16.2 h). Direct labeling was done using the conventional chloramine-T method.

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Clinical research in antibody-based cancer therapy has been driven for many years by the prospect of identifying cell-surface antigens with sufficiently restrictive tissue expression patterns to allow the specific targeting of antibody to tumor tissue. Few if any such antibodies capable of targeting rapidly and efficiently to solid tumors have been identified. The main reasons for this are based on the inherent pharmacokinetics and physiology of IgG, the immunoglobulin G molecule.

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