Human Cancer Stem Cells

• US 20080175870A1
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MacroGenics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Macrogenics West, Inc.
• Inventors: Mather, Jennie P., Roberts, Penelope
• Granted Patent: US 8,309,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/277.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 37/00 Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 37/04 Immunostimulants
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0695 Stem cells; Progenitor cells; Precursor cells

Abstract

This invention discloses isolated populations of human cancer stem cells. Methods for characterizing, isolating and culturing human cancer stem cells are also disclosed. Uses for human cancer stem cells are provided.

Claims

1. A population of human cancer stem cells that are isolated from human tumor tissue, wherein said cells are grown in a nutrient media optimized for their growth.

2. The human cancer stem cells of claim 1, wherein said cells retain the capacity for extensive sub-culturing without senescence.

3. The human cancer stem cells of claim 1, wherein said cells express at least one cell surface marker.

4. The human cancer stem cells of claim 3, wherein said cell surface marker is CD34.

6. A method of providing a source of immunogen to a heterologous recipient comprising administering human cancer stem cells as recited in claim 1 in an effective amount to induce an immune response in said recipient.

7. A cancer cell vaccine, comprising a human cancer stem cell of claim 1 wherein said vaccine generates a protective or therapeutic immune response against a selected cancer when administered to a mammal at risk for or having the selected cancer.

8. A method of providing a source of human cancer stem cells-specific biological components for pharmaceutical development of at least one drug, comprising isolating the population of human cancer stem cells of claim 1, and using said human cancer stem cells as targets of the drugs under development.

9. A method of providing a source of human cancer stem cells in a development of bioassays comprising isolating the population of human cancer stem cells of claim 1, and using said human cancer stem cells as one or more of the principle components in the bioassay.

10. A method of providing a source of human cancer stem cells in a xenograft model comprising isolating the population of human cancer stem cells of claim 1, and using said human cancer stem cells as one or more of the principle components in the xenograft model.

11. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising a cancer stem cell of claim 1 in a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation.

12. A method of treating cancer in a subject, the method comprising:

(a) producing a cancer stem cell according to claim 1, and (b) administering the cancer stem cell to the subject.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein administering the cancer stem cell comprises intravenous injection, intramuscular injection, intratumoral injection, subcutaneous injection, or leukapheresis.

5. A method of isolating a population of human cancer stem cells comprising:

(a) dissociating a source of human cancer stem cells;

(b) placing the dissociated source of human cancer stem cells in a nutrient media that has been optimized for the growth of human cancer stem cells;

(c) maintaining suitable culture conditions sufficient to support the growth of human cancer stem cells from the source of human cancer stem cells into said nutrient media;

(d) subculturing said population of human cancer stem cells to obtain a substantially pure population of human cancer stem cells.