ANTI-MESOTHELIN IMMUNOCONJUGATES AND USES THEREFOR

摘要

The present invention provides immunoconjugates composed of antibodies, e.g., monoclonal antibodies, or antibody fragments that bind to mesothelin, that are conjugated to cytotoxic agents, e.g., maytansine, or derivatives thereof, and/or co- administered or formulated with one or more additional anti-cancer agents. The immunoconjugates of the invention can be used in the methods of the invention to treat and/or diagnose and/or monitor cancers, e.g. solid tumors. The immunoconjugates comprise antibodies and functional fragments containing such antigen-binding regions that are specific for the membrane-anchored, 40 kDa mesothelin polypeptide, which which is overexpressed in several tumors, such as pancreatic and ovarian tumors, mesothelioma and lung cancer cells.