ANTIBODIES TO EGF RECEPTOR AND THEIR ANTITUMOUR EFFECT

摘要

This invention relates to the development of agents and methods for treating tumour cells. More particularly, it is concerned with antibodies against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which have been found to exhibit an antitumour effect, inducing terminal differentiation in tumour cells, especially those which are characterised by over-expressing EGFR. Included in the invention are these antibodies and their functional equivalents, mutants and derivatives. The antibodies may be murine (rat or mouse), but preferably have framework regions and/or constant regions based on or derived from human antibodies. The present invention also discloses that fragments of these antibodies (eg Fabs) can retain the properties of the complete antibody. The antibodies are useful, e.g. in treating or detecting tumour cells and in targeting therapies.