摘要 |
Methods and compositions for the development of effective cancer therapies using mitotic inhibitors which have limited general toxicity to normal, non-cancerous cells and tissues are provided. The methods and compositions utilize cytotoxic compounds comprised of a cell-binding agent (e.g., antibodies) conjugated to an anti-mitotic compound (e.g., maytansinoids). The invention further provides antibodies which are substantially incapable of inducing antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and/or complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), thereby ensuring that the therapeutic effect is mediated primarily by the anti-mitotic component of the cytotoxic compound, rather than by indirect cell killing via ADCC and/or CDC. The antibodies of the invention further are capable of differentiating between polypeptide antigens which are more highly expressed on proliferating cancer cells as compared to proliferating non-cancer cells.
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