ANTIGENIC MODIFICATION OF POLYPEPTIDES

摘要

Endogenous protein hormones, fragments thereof including epitopes, and synthetic peptides mimicking epitope regions of hormones such as human chorionic gonadotropin can be conjugated to a foreign carrier or otherwise modified so as to produce antibodies in humans against the endogenous protein hormone. Synthetic analogs to the 38 to 57 sequence of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin have been found which upon conjugation to a suitable foreign carrier can be employed to raise a high level of antibodies to human chorionic gonadotropin with a significant decrease in antibodies reactive to human pituitary luteinizing hormones. Upon conjugation to a foreign carrier such analogs may be administered to humans to treat hormone-associated carcinomas and for purposes of contraception.