Prevention of suppression of immune defense against cancer caused by the cancer-associated scm-recognition peptides

摘要

A method for blocking suppression of at least one of the natural killer (NK) and lymphocyte activated killer (LAK) cytotoxicity mechanisms in lymphocytes of cancer patients comprises administering to a cancer patient an agent capable of blocking the cytotoxicity suppressive activities of a peptide capable of inducing a detectable decrease in the structuredness of the cytoplasmic matrix in lymphocytes isolated from a patient with cancer (an SCM-factor peptide) in a quantity sufficient to block suppression of at least one of the natural killer (NK) and lymphocyte activated killer (LAK) cytotoxicity mechanisms. The agent can comprise an antibody or an antisense peptide. The invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions and kits for blocking suppression of cytotoxicity.