MEMBRANE ESTROGEN RECEPTOR-DIRECTED THERAPY IN BREAST CANCER

摘要

Methods of diagnosing and treating mammalian tumors with molecules including anti-estrogen receptor immunoglobulin polypeptides are provided. In an illustrative embodiment, anti-estrogen receptor immunoglobulin polypeptides specific to distinct epitopes of the ligand-binding domain of estrogen receptor are contacted with membrane-associated estrogen receptor under conditions which allow binding of the anti-estrogen receptor immunoglobulin polypeptide to a degree sufficient to inhibit tumor growth by inhibiting the activation of the membrane-associated estrogen receptor. Injectable compositions for treating certain mammalian tumors with monoclonal antibodies and methods for diagnosing mammalian cancers which express an estrogen receptor associated with the surface membrane of the cells are also disclosed. Further, alternate methods for blocking intracellular signal transduction emanating from the activation of membrane-associated estrogen receptor forms are also presented. These approaches also appear sufficient to inhibit tumor growth.