ANTIBODIES AGAINST ECTODOMAIN OF ERBB3 AND USES THEREOF

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide antibodies against the ectodomain of ERBB3 and uses thereof.SOLUTION: The present invention provides a novel class of monoclonal antibodies that binds ERBB3 receptor and inhibit various ERBB3 functions. For example, the antibodies described herein are capable of binding to the receptor designated ERBB3 and inhibiting EGF-like ligand-mediated phosphorylation of the receptor. EGF-like ligands include EGF, TGF-α, betacellulin, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor, biregulin and amphiregulin, which bind to EGFR and induce dimerization of EGFR with ERBB3. This dimerization, in turn, causes phosphorylation of ERBB3, and activates signaling through the receptor. The antibodies of the present invention are thus useful for treating and diagnosing a variety of cancers associated with ERBB3-mediated cellular signaling.