Ligand growth factors that bind to the erbB-2 receptor protein and induce cellular responses

摘要

The present invention relates to erbB-2 ligands and functional derivatives thereof which are capable of binding to the erbB-2 oncogene product. The present invention further pertains to anti-ligand molecules capable of recognizing and binding to the erbB-2 ligand molecule and to screening assays for such ligands. The present invention additionally relates to uses for the erbB-2 ligand, the anti-ligand molecules and the screening assays. A method for inhibiting the growth of adenocarcinoma cells in a human, which cells overexpress the oncogene erbB-2, which entails administering to said human an amount of a 30 kDa glycoprotein effective to inhibit the growth of said cells.