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) immune defense mechanisms in lymphocytes of cancer patients comprises administering to a cancer patient an agent capable of blocking the immune defense 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) immune defense mechanisms. The agent can comprise an antibody, an antisense peptide, or a factor present in blood plasma. The invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions for blocking suppression of immune defense and kits for stimulating immune response of cancer patients, as well as immunization methods to induce antibody to SCM-factor peptides.