WO2011153224A2

WO2011153224A2 - Diagnostic methods and compositions for treatment of cancer

Info

Publication number: WO2011153224A2
Application number: PCT/US2011/038739
Authority: WO
Inventors: Priti Hegde; Daniel S. Chen; Maike Schmidt
Original assignee: Genentech, Inc.; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ag
Priority date: 2010-06-02
Filing date: 2011-06-01
Publication date: 2011-12-08
Also published as: WO2011153224A3

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions useful for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, including, e.g., melanoma.

Description

DIAGNOSTIC METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR

TREATMENT OF CANCER

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a non-provisional application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b)(1), claiming priority under 35 USC 119(e) to provisional application number 61/350,872 filed June 2, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to diagnostic methods and compositions useful in the treatment of angiogenic disorders including, e.g., cancer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Cancer is one of the most deadly threats to human health. In the U.S. alone, cancer affects nearly 1.3 million new patients each year, and is the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease, accounting for approximately 1 in 4 deaths. Solid tumors are responsible for most of those deaths. Although there have been significant advances in the medical treatment of certain cancers, the overall 5 -year survival rate for all cancers has improved only by about 10% in the past 20 years. Cancers, or malignant tumors, metastasize and grow rapidly in an uncontrolled manner, making timely detection and treatment extremely difficult.

[0004] Depending on the cancer type, patients typically have several treatment options available to them including chemotherapy, radiation and antibody-based drugs.

Diagnostic methods useful for predicting clinical outcome from the different treatment regimens would greatly benefit clinical management of these patients. Several studies have explored the correlation of gene expression with the identification of specific cancer types, e.g., by mutation-specific assays, microarray analysis, qPCR, etc. Such methods may be useful for the identification and classification of cancer presented by a patient. However, much less is known about the predictive or prognostic value of gene expression with clinical outcome. [0005] Thus, there is a need for objective, reproducible methods for the optimal treatment regimen for each patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The methods of the present invention can be utilized in a variety of settings, including, for example, in selecting the optimal treatment course for a patient, in predicting the likelihood of success when treating an individual patient with a particular treatment regimen, in assessing disease progression, in monitoring treatment efficacy, in determining prognosis for individual patients and in assessing predisposition of an individual to benefit from a particular therapy, e.g., an anti-angiogenic therapy including, for example, an anti-cancer therapy). In some embodiments, the cancer is melanoma (including, e.g, superficial spreading melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma, acral lentiginous melanomas, and nodular melanomas).

[0007] The present invention is based, in part, on the use of biomarkers indicative for efficacy of therapy (e.g., anti-angiogenic therapy including, for example, an anti-cancer therapy). More particularly, the invention is based on measuring an increase or decrease in the expression level(s) of at least one gene selected from: VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL- 8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A and haptoglobulin, to predict the efficacy of therapy (e.g., anti-angiogenic therapy including, for example, an anti-cancer therapy).

[0008] One embodiment of the invention provides methods of identifying a patient who may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist. The methods comprise determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, and haptoglobulin, in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein an increased expression level of the at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient may benefit from treatment with the anti-cancer therapy.

[0009] Another embodiment of the invention provides methods of identifying a patient who may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist. The methods comprise: determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A and haptoglobulin, in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein a decreased expression level of the at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient may benefit from treatment with the anti-cancer therapy.

[0010] A further embodiment of the invention provides methods of predicting responsiveness of a patient suffering from cancer to treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist. The methods comprise determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein an increased expression level of the at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient is more likely to be responsive to treatment with the anti-cancer therapy.

[0011] Yet another embodiment of the invention provides methods of predicting responsiveness of a patient suffering from cancer to treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist. The methods comprise: determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A and haptoglobulin, in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein a decreased expression level of the at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient is more likely to be responsive to treatment with the anti-cancer therapy.

[0012] Even another embodiment of the invention provides methods for determining the likelihood that a patient with cancer will exhibit benefit from anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist. The methods comprise: determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, and haptoglobulin in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein an increased expression level of the at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient has increased likelihood of benefit from the anti-cancer therapy.

[0013] Another embodiment of the invention provides methods for determining the likelihood that a patient with cancer will exhibit benefit from anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist. The methods comprise: determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A and haptoglobulin, in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein a decreased expression level of the at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient has increased likelihood of benefit from the anti-cancer therapy.

[0014] Yet another embodiment of the invention provides methods for optimizing therapeutic efficacy of anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist. The methods comprise: determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, and haptoglobulin in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein an increased expression level of the at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient has increased likelihood of benefit from the anti-cancer therapy.

[0015] Even another embodiment of the invention provides methods for optimizing therapeutic efficacy of anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist. The methods comprise: determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A and haptoglobulin, in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein a decreased expression level of the at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient has increased likelihood of benefit from the anti-cancer therapy.

[0016] A further embodiment of the invention provides methods for treating cancer in a patient. The methods comprise: determining that a sample obtained from the patient has increased expression levels, as compared to a reference sample, of at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, and haptoglobulin, and administering an effective amount of an anti-cancer therapy other than a VEGF-A antagonist to the patient, whereby the cancer is treated.

[0017] Another embodiment of the invention provides methods for treating cancer in a patient. The methods comprise determining that a sample obtained from the patient has decreased expression levels, as compared to a reference sample, of at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A and haptoglobulin, and administering an effective amount of an anti-cancer therapy other than a VEGF-A antagonist to the patient, whereby the cancer is treated. [0018] In some embodiments of the invention, the sample obtained from the patient is selected from: tissue, whole blood, blood-derived cells, plasma, serum, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments of the invention, the expression level is mRNA expression level. In some embodiments of the invention, the expression level is protein expression level.

[0019] In some embodiments of the invention, the methods further comprise detecting the expression of at least a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, or fifteenth gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A and haptoglobulin.

[0020] In some embodiments of the invention, the methods further comprise administering the VEGF-A antagonist to the patient. In some embodiments of the invention, the VEGF-A antagonist is an anti-VEGF-A antibody. In some embodiments of the invention, the anti-VEGF-A antibody is bevacizumab.

[0021] In some embodiments of the invention, the methods further comprise administering a second anti-cancer therapy to the patient. In some embodiments of the invention, the anti-cancer therapy is selected from: a chemotherapeutic agent, a growth inhibitory agent, and anti-angiogenic agents, and combinations thereof. In some

embodiments of the invention, the second anti-cancer therapy and the VEGF antagonist are administered sequentially. In some embodiments of the invention, the second anti-cancer therapy and the VEGF antagonist are administered concurrently.

[0022] Even another embodiment of the invention provides kits for determining whether a patient may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist. The kits comprise an array comprising polynucleotides capable of specifically hybridizing to at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL- 8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A and haptoglobulin and instructions for using said array to determine the expression levels of the at least one gene to predict responsiveness of a patient to treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist, wherein an increase in the expression level of the at least one gene as compared to the expression level of the at least one gene in a reference sample indicates that the patient may benefit from treatment with the anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist.

[0023] A further embodiment of the invention provides kits for determining whether a patient may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist. The kits comprise an array comprising polynucleotides capable of specifically hybridizing to at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A and haptoglobulin, and instructions for using said array to determine the expression levels of the at least one gene to predict responsiveness of a patient to treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist, wherein a decrease in the expression level of the at least one gene as compared to the expression level of the at least one gene in a reference sample indicates that the patient may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist.

[0024] Another embodiment of the invention provides sets of compounds for detecting expression levels of at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL- 8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A and haptoglobulin to determine the expression levels of the at least one gene in a sample obtained from a cancer patient. The sets comprise at least one compound capable of specifically hybridizing to at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A and haptoglobulin, wherein an increase in the expression level of the at least one gene as compared to the expression level of the at least one gene in a reference sample indicates that the patient may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist. In some embodiments of the invention, the compounds are polynucleotides. In some embodiments of the invention, the compounds are proteins, such as, for example, antibodies.

[0025] Yet another embodiment of the invention provides sets of compounds for detecting expression levels of at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL- 8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A and haptoglobulin to determine the expression levels of the at least one gene in a sample obtained from a cancer patient. The sets comprise at least one compound capable of specifically hybridizing to at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A and haptoglobulin, wherein a decrease in the expression level of the at least one gene as compared to the expression level of the at least one gene in a reference sample indicates that the patient may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist. In some embodiments of the invention, the compounds are polynucleotides. In some embodiments of the invention, the compounds are proteins, such as, for example, antibodies. [0026] These and other embodiments of the invention are further described in the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 depicts the study design for the melanoma trial.

[0028] Figure 2 illustrates progression free survival data.

[0029] Figure 3 illustrates overall survival data.

[0030] Figure 4A and Figure 4B illustrate data demonstrating that circulating VEGF-A levels are prognostic for PFS in metastatic melanoma.

[0031] Figure 5 illustrates data demonstrating that unsupervised clustering of plasma biomarker expression results in a signature of poor prognosis (i.e., PFS < 12 weeks) or good prognosis (i.e., PFS > 12 weeks).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

I. Introduction

[0032] The present invention provides methods and compositions for identifying patients who may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy, comprising a VEGF-A antagonist. The invention is based on the discovery that measuring an increase or decrease in expression of at least one gene selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A and haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof is useful for monitoring a patient's responsiveness or sensitivity to treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist or for determining the likelihood that a patient will benefit or exhibit benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist.

II. Definitions

[0033] The techniques and procedures described or referenced herein are generally well understood and commonly employed using conventional methodology by those skilled in the art, such as, for example, the widely utilized methodologies described in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual 3rd. edition (2001) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (F. M. Ausubel, et al. eds., (2003)); the series METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY (Academic Press, Inc.): PCR 2: A PRACTICAL APPROACH (M. J. MacPherson, B. D. Hames and G. R. Taylor eds. (1995)), Harlow and Lane, eds. (1988) ANTIBODIES, A LABORATORY MANUAL, and ANIMAL CELL CULTURE (R. I.

Freshney, ed. (1987)); Oligonucleotide Synthesis (M. J. Gait, ed., 1984); Methods in

Molecular Biology, Humana Press; Cell Biology: A Laboratory Notebook (J . E. Cellis, ed., 1998) Academic Press; Animal Cell Culture (R. I. Freshney), ed., 1987); Introduction to Cell and Tissue Culture (J. P. Mather and P. E. Roberts, 1998) Plenum Press; Cell and Tissue Culture: Laboratory Procedures (A. Doyle, J. B. Griffiths, and D. G. Newell, eds., 1993-8) J. Wiley and Sons; Handbook of Experimental Immunology (D. M. Weir and C. C. Blackwell, eds.); Gene Transfer Vectors for Mammalian Cells (J. M. Miller and M. P. Calos, eds., 1987); PCR: The Polymerase Chain Reaction, (Mullis et al., eds., 1994); Current Protocols in Immunology (J. E. Coligan et al., eds., 1991); Short Protocols in Molecular Biology (Wiley and Sons, 1999); Immunobiology (C. A. Janeway and P. Travers, 1997); Antibodies (P. Finch, 1997); Antibodies: A Practical Approach (D. Catty., ed., IRL Press, 1988-1989); Monoclonal Antibodies: A Practical Approach (P. Shepherd and C. Dean, eds., Oxford University Press, 2000); Using Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual (E. Harlow and D. Lane (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1999); The Antibodies (M. Zanetti and J. D. Capra, eds., Harwood

Academic Publishers, 1995); and Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology (V. T. DeVita et al, eds., J.B. Lippincott Company, 1993).

[0034] Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Singleton et al., Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology 2nd ed., J. Wiley & Sons (New York, N.Y. 1994), and March, Advanced Organic Chemistry Reactions, Mechanisms and Structure 4th ed., John Wiley & Sons (New York, N.Y. 1992), provide one skilled in the art with a general guide to many of the terms used in the present application. All references cited herein, including patent applications, patent publications, and Genbank Accession numbers are herein incorporated by reference, as if each individual reference were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

[0035] For purposes of interpreting this specification, the following definitions will apply and whenever appropriate, terms used in the singular will also include the plural and vice versa. In the event that any definition set forth below conflicts with any document incorporated herein by reference, the definition set forth below shall control.

[0036] An "individual," "subject," or "patient" is a vertebrate. In certain embodiments, the vertebrate is a mammal. Mammals include, but are not limited to, farm animals (such as cows), sport animals, pets (such as cats, dogs, and horses), primates, mice and rats. In certain embodiments, a mammal is a human. [0037] The term "sample," or "test sample" as used herein, refers to a composition that is obtained or derived from a subject of interest that contains a cellular and/or other molecular entity that is to be characterized and/or identified, for example based on physical, biochemical, chemical and/or physiological characteristics. In one embodiment, the definition encompasses blood and other liquid samples of biological origin and tissue samples such as a biopsy specimen or tissue cultures or cells derived therefrom. The source of the tissue sample may be solid tissue as from a fresh, frozen and/or preserved organ or tissue sample or biopsy or aspirate; blood or any blood constituents; bodily fluids; and cells from any time in gestation or development of the subject or plasma.

[0038] The term "sample," or "test sample" includes biological samples that have been manipulated in any way after their procurement, such as by treatment with reagents, solubilization, or enrichment for certain components, such as proteins or polynucleotides, or embedding in a semi-solid or solid matrix for sectioning purposes. For the purposes herein a "section" of a tissue sample is meant a single part or piece of a tissue sample, e.g. a thin slice of tissue or cells cut from a tissue sample.

[0039] Samples include, but not limited to, primary or cultured cells or cell lines, cell supernatants, cell lysates, platelets, serum, plasma, vitreous fluid, lymph fluid, synovial fluid, follicular fluid, seminal fluid, amniotic fluid, milk, whole blood, blood-derived cells, urine, cerebro-spinal fluid, saliva, sputum, tears, perspiration, mucus, tumor lysates, and tissue culture medium, tissue extracts such as homogenized tissue, tumor tissue, cellular extracts, and combinations thereof.

[0040] In one embodiment, the sample is a clinical sample. In another embodiment, the sample is used in a diagnostic assay. In some embodiments, the sample is obtained from a primary or metastatic tumor. Tissue biopsy is often used to obtain a representative piece of tumor tissue. Alternatively, tumor cells can be obtained indirectly in the form of tissues or fluids that are known or thought to contain the tumor cells of interest. For instance, samples of lung cancer lesions may be obtained by resection, bronchoscopy, fine needle aspiration, bronchial brushings, or from sputum, pleural fluid or blood.

[0041] In one embodiment, a sample is obtained from a subject or patient prior to anti-angiogenic therapy. In another embodiment, a sample is obtained from a subject or patient prior to VEGF antagonist therapy. In yet another embodiment, a sample is obtained from a subject or patient prior to anti-VEGF antibody therapy. In even another embodiment, a sample is obtained from a subject or patient following at least one treatment with VEGF antagonist therapy. [0042] In one embodiment, a sample is obtained from a subject or patient after at least one treatment with an anti-angiogenic therapy. In yet another embodiment, a sample is obtained from a subject or patient following at least one treatment with an anti-VEGF antibody. In some embodiments, a sample is obtained from a patient before cancer has metastasized. In certain embodiments, a sample is obtained from a patient after cancer has metastasized.

[0043] A "reference sample," as used herein, refers to any sample, standard, or level that is used for comparison purposes. In one embodiment, a reference sample is obtained from a healthy and/or non-diseased part of the body (e.g., tissue or cells) of the same subject or patient. In another embodiment, a reference sample is obtained from an untreated tissue and/or cell of the body of the same subject or patient. In yet another embodiment, a reference sample is obtained from a healthy and/or non-diseased part of the body (e.g., tissues or cells) of an individual who is not the subject or patient. In even another embodiment, a reference sample is obtained from an untreated tissue and/or cell part of the body of an individual who is not the subject or patient.

[0044] In certain embodiments, a reference sample is a single sample or combined multiple samples from the same subject or patient that are obtained at one or more different time points than when the test sample is obtained. For example, a reference sample is obtained at an earlier time point from the same subject or patient than when the test sample is obtained. Such reference sample may be useful if the reference sample is obtained during initial diagnosis of cancer and the test sample is later obtained when the cancer becomes metastatic.

[0045] In certain embodiments, a reference sample includes all types of biological samples as defined above under the term "sample" that is obtained from one or more individuals who is not the subject or patient. In certain embodiments, a reference sample is obtained from one or more individuals with an angiogenic disorder (e.g., cancer) who is not the subject or patient.

[0046] In certain embodiments, a reference sample is a combined multiple samples from one or more healthy individuals who are not the subject or patient. In certain embodiments, a reference sample is a combined multiple samples from one or more individuals with a disease or disorder (e.g., an angiogenic disorder such as, for example, cancer) who are not the subject or patient. In certain embodiments, a reference sample is pooled RNA samples from normal tissues or pooled plasma or serum samples from one or more individuals who are not the subject or patient. In certain embodiments, a reference sample is pooled R A samples from tumor tissues or pooled plasma or serum samples from one or more individuals with a disease or disorder (e.g., an angiogenic disorder such as, for example, cancer) who are not the subject or patient.

[0047] Expression levels/amount of a gene or biomarker can be determined qualitatively and/or quantitatively based on any suitable criterion known in the art, including but not limited to mR A, cDNA, proteins, protein fragments and/or gene copy number. In certain embodiments, expression/amount of a gene or biomarker in a first sample is increased as compared to expression/amount in a second sample. In certain embodiments,

expression/amount of a gene or biomarker in a first sample is decreased as compared to expression/amount in a second sample. In certain embodiments, the second sample is reference sample. Additional disclosures for determining expression level/amount of a gene are described hereinbelow under Methods of the Invention and in Examples 1 and 2.

[0048] In certain embodiments, the term "increase" refers to an overall increase of 5%, 10%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or greater, in the level of protein or nucleic acid, detected by standard art known methods such as those described herein, as compared to a reference sample. In certain embodiments, the term increase refers to the increase in expression level/amount of a gene or biomarker in the sample wherein the increase is at least about 1.5X, 1.75X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, 6X, 7X, 8X, 9X, 10X, 25X, 50X, 75X, or 100X the expression level/amount of the respective gene or biomarker in the reference sample.

[0049] In certain embodiments, the term "decrease" herein refers to an overall reduction of 5%, 10%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%), 98%o, 99%) or greater, in the level of protein or nucleic acid, detected by standard art known methods such as those described herein, as compared to a reference sample. In certain embodiments, the term decrease refers to the decrease in expression level/amount of a gene or biomarker in the sample wherein the decrease is at least about 0.9X, 0.8X, 0.7X, 0.6X, 0.5X, 0.4X, 0.3X, 0.2X, 0.1X, 0.05X, or 0.01X the expression level/amount of the respective gene or biomarker in the reference sample.

[0050] "Detection" includes any means of detecting, including direct and indirect detection.

[0051] In certain embodiments, by "correlate" or "correlating" is meant comparing, in any way, the performance and/or results of a first analysis or protocol with the performance and/or results of a second analysis or protocol. For example, one may use the results of a first analysis or protocol in carrying out a second protocols and/or one may use the results of a first analysis or protocol to determine whether a second analysis or protocol should be performed. With respect to the embodiment of gene expression analysis or protocol, one may use the results of the gene expression analysis or protocol to determine whether a specific therapeutic regimen should be performed.

[0052] The term "VEGF" or "VEGF- A" as used herein refers to the 165 -amino acid human vascular endothelial cell growth factor and related 121-, 189-, and 206- amino acid human vascular endothelial cell growth factors, as described by Leung et al. (1989) Science 246: 1306, and Houck et al. (1991) Mol. Endocrin, 5: 1806, together with the naturally occurring allelic and processed forms thereof. The term "VEGF" also refers to VEGFs from non-human species such as mouse, rat or primate. Sometimes the VEGF from a specific species are indicated by terms such as hVEGF for human VEGF, mVEGF for murine VEGF, and etc. The term "VEGF" is also used to refer to truncated forms of the polypeptide comprising amino acids 8 to 109 or 1 to 109 of the 165 -amino acid human vascular endothelial cell growth factor. Reference to any such forms of VEGF may be identified in the present application, e.g., by "VEGF (8-109)," "VEGF (1-109)" or "VEGFi₆₅." The amino acid positions for a "truncated" native VEGF are numbered as indicated in the native VEGF sequence. For example, amino acid position 17 (methionine) in truncated native VEGF is also position 17 (methionine) in native VEGF. The truncated native VEGF has binding affinity for the KDR and Fit- 1 receptors comparable to native VEGF.

[0053] "VEGF biological activity" includes binding to any VEGF receptor or any VEGF signaling activity such as regulation of both normal and abnormal angiogenesis and vasculogenesis (Ferrara and Davis-Smyth (1997) Endocrine Rev. 18:4-25; Ferrara (1999) J. Mol. Med. 77:527-543); promoting embryonic vasculogenesis and angiogenesis (Carmeliet et al. (1996) Nature 380:435-439; Ferrara et al. (1996) Nature 380:439-442); and modulating the cyclical blood vessel proliferation in the female reproductive tract and for bone growth and cartilage formation (Ferrara et al. (1998) Nature Med. 4:336-340; Gerber et al. (1999) Nature Med. 5:623-628). In addition to being an angiogenic factor in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, VEGF, as a pleiotropic growth factor, exhibits multiple biological effects in other physiological processes, such as endothelial cell survival, vessel permeability and vasodilation, monocyte chemotaxis and calcium influx (Ferrara and Davis-Smyth (1997), supra and Cebe-Suarez et al. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 63 :601-615 (2006)). Moreover, recent studies have reported mitogenic effects of VEGF on a few non- endothelial cell types, such as retinal pigment epithelial cells, pancreatic duct cells, and Schwann cells. Guerrin et al. (1995) J. Cell Physiol. 164:385-394; Oberg- Welsh et al. (1997) Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 126: 125-132; Sondell et al. (1999) J. Neurosci. 19:5731- 5740.

[0054] A "VEGF-A antagonist" or "VEGF antagonist" or "VEGF-specific antagonist" refers to a molecule capable of binding to VEGF, reducing VEGF expression levels, or neutralizing, blocking, inhibiting, abrogating, reducing, or interfering with VEGF biological activities, including, but not limited to, VEGF binding to one or more VEGF receptors and VEGF mediated angiogenesis and endothelial cell survival or proliferation. Included as VEGF-specific antagonists useful in the methods of the invention are

polypeptides that specifically bind to VEGF, anti-VEGF antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof, receptor molecules and derivatives which bind specifically to VEGF thereby sequestering its binding to one or more receptors, fusions proteins (e.g., VEGF-Trap (Regeneron)), and VEGFi₂i-gelonin (Peregrine). VEGF-specific antagonists also include antagonist variants of VEGF polypeptides, antisense nucleobase oligomers directed to VEGF, small RNA molecules directed to VEGF, RNA aptamers, peptibodies, and ribozymes against VEGF. VEGF-specific antagonists also include nonpeptide small molecules that bind to VEGF and are capable of blocking, inhibiting, abrogating, reducing, or interfering with VEGF biological activities. Thus, the term "VEGF activities" specifically includes VEGF mediated biological activities of VEGF. In certain embodiments, the VEGF antagonist reduces or inhibits, by at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or more, the expression level or biological activity of VEGF.

[0055] An "anti-VEGF antibody" is an antibody that binds to VEGF with sufficient affinity and specificity. In certain embodiments, the antibody selected will normally have a sufficiently binding affinity for VEGF, for example, the antibody may bind hVEGF with a ¾ value of between 100 nM-1 pM. Antibody affinities may be determined by a surface plasmon resonance based assay (such as the BIAcore assay as described in PCT Application Publication No. WO2005/012359); enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA); and competition assays (e.g. RIA's), for example.

[0056] In certain embodiment, the anti-VEGF antibody can be used as a therapeutic agent in targeting and interfering with diseases or conditions wherein the VEGF activity is involved. Also, the antibody may be subjected to other biological activity assays, e.g., in order to evaluate its effectiveness as a therapeutic. Such assays are known in the art and depend on the target antigen and intended use for the antibody. Examples include the HUVEC inhibition assay; tumor cell growth inhibition assays (as described in WO 89/06692, for example); antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-mediated cytotoxicity (CDC) assays (US Patent 5,500,362); and agonistic activity or hematopoiesis assays (see WO 95/27062). An anti-VEGF antibody will usually not bind to other VEGF homologues such as VEGF-B or VEGF-C, nor other growth factors such as P1GF, PDGF or bFGF. In one embodiment, anti-VEGF antibody is a monoclonal antibody that binds to the same epitope as the monoclonal anti-VEGF antibody A4.6.1 produced by hybridoma ATCC HB 10709. In another embodiment, the anti-VEGF antibody is a recombinant humanized anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody generated according to Presta et al. (1997) Cancer Res. 57:4593-4599, including but not limited to the antibody known as bevacizumab (BV;

AVASTIN^®).

[0057] The anti-VEGF antibody "Bevacizumab (BV)," also known as "rhuMAb VEGF" or "AVASTIN^®," is a recombinant humanized anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody generated according to Presta et al. (1997) Cancer Res. 57:4593-4599. It comprises mutated human IgGl framework regions and antigen-binding complementarity-determining regions from the murine anti-hVEGF monoclonal antibody A.4.6.1 that blocks binding of human VEGF to its receptors. Approximately 93% of the amino acid sequence of

Bevacizumab, including most of the framework regions, is derived from human IgGl , and about 7% of the sequence is derived from the murine antibody A4.6.1. Bevacizumab has a molecular mass of about 149,000 daltons and is glycosylated. Bevacizumab and other humanized anti-VEGF antibodies are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,884,879 issued Feb. 26, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0058] The two best characterized VEGF receptors are VEGFR1 (also known as Flt-1) and VEGFR2 (also known as KDR and FLK-1 for the murine homolog). The specificity of each receptor for each VEGF family member varies but VEGF -A binds to both Flt-1 and KDR. The full length Flt-1 receptor includes an extracellular domain that has seven Ig domains, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular domain with tyrosine kinase activity. The extracellular domain is involved in the binding of VEGF and the intracellular domain is involved in signal transduction.

[0059] VEGF receptor molecules, or fragments thereof, that specifically bind to VEGF can be used as VEGF inhibitors that bind to and sequester the VEGF protein, thereby preventing it from signaling. In certain embodiments, the VEGF receptor molecule, or VEGF binding fragment thereof, is a soluble form, such as sFlt-1. A soluble form of the receptor exerts an inhibitory effect on the biological activity of the VEGF protein by binding to VEGF, thereby preventing it from binding to its natural receptors present on the surface of target cells. Also included are VEGF receptor fusion proteins, examples of which are described below.

[0060] A chimeric VEGF receptor protein is a receptor molecule having amino acid sequences derived from at least two different proteins, at least one of which is a VEGF receptor protein (e.g., the flt-1 or KDR receptor), that is capable of binding to and inhibiting the biological activity of VEGF. In certain embodiments, the chimeric VEGF receptor proteins of the present invention consist of amino acid sequences derived from only two different VEGF receptor molecules; however, amino acid sequences comprising one, two, three, four, five, six, or all seven Ig-like domains from the extracellular ligand-binding region of the flt-1 and/or KDR receptor can be linked to amino acid sequences from other unrelated proteins, for example, immunoglobulin sequences. Other amino acid sequences to which Ig- like domains are combined will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Examples of chimeric VEGF receptor proteins include, but not limited to, soluble Flt-l/Fc, KDR/Fc, or Flt-l/KDR/Fc (also known as VEGF Trap). (See for example PCT Application Publication No. W097/44453).

[0061] A soluble VEGF receptor protein or chimeric VEGF receptor proteins includes VEGF receptor proteins which are not fixed to the surface of cells via a

transmembrane domain. As such, soluble forms of the VEGF receptor, including chimeric receptor proteins, while capable of binding to and inactivating VEGF, do not comprise a transmembrane domain and thus generally do not become associated with the cell membrane of cells in which the molecule is expressed.

[0062] Additional VEGF inhibitors are described in, for example in WO

99/24440, PCT International Application PCT/IB99/00797, in WO 95/21613, WO 99/61422, U.S. Pat. No. 6,534,524, U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,504, WO 98/50356, U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,113, U.S. Pat. No. 5,886,020, U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,783, U.S. Pat. No. 6,653,308, WO 99/10349, WO 97/32856, WO 97/22596, WO 98/54093, WO 98/02438, WO 99/16755, and WO 98/02437, all of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0063] The term "B20 series polypeptide" as used herein refers to a polypeptide, including an antibody that binds to VEGF. B20 series polypeptides includes, but not limited to, antibodies derived from a sequence of the B20 antibody or a B20-derived antibody described in US Publication No. 20060280747, US Publication No. 20070141065 and/or US Publication No. 20070020267, the content of these patent applications are expressly incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment, B20 series polypeptide is B20-4.1 as described in US Publication No. 20060280747, US Publication No. 20070141065 and/or US Publication No. 20070020267. In another embodiment, B20 series polypeptide is B20-4.1.1 described in US Patent Application 60/991,302, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0064] The term "G6 series polypeptide" as used herein refers to a polypeptide, including an antibody that binds to VEGF. G6 series polypeptides includes, but not limited to, antibodies derived from a sequence of the G6 antibody or a G6-derived antibody described in US Publication No. 20060280747, US Publication No. 20070141065 and/or US Publication No. 20070020267. G6 series polypeptides, as described in US Publication No. 20060280747, US Publication No. 20070141065 and/or US Publication No. 20070020267 include, but not limited to, G6-8, G6-23 and G6-31.

[0065] For additional antibodies see U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,060,269, 6,582,959,

6,703,020; 6,054,297; W098/45332; WO 96/30046; WO94/10202; EP 0666868B1; U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2006009360, 20050186208, 20030206899,

20030190317, 20030203409, and 20050112126; and Popkov et al, Journal of

Immunological Methods 288: 149-164 (2004). In certain embodiments, other antibodies include those that bind to a functional epitope on human VEGF comprising of residues F17, M18, D19, Y21, Y25, Q89, 191, K101, E103, and C104 or, alternatively, comprising residues F17, Y21, Q22, Y25, D63, 183 and Q89.

[0066] Other anti-VEGF antibodies are also known, and described, for example, Liang et al, J Biol Chem 281, 951-961 (2006), PCT publication number WO2007/056470, the content of these publications is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0067] The word "label" when used herein refers to a compound or composition which is conjugated or fused directly or indirectly to a reagent such as a nucleic acid probe or an antibody and facilitates detection of the reagent to which it is conjugated or fused. The label may itself be detectable {e.g., radioisotope labels or fluorescent labels) or, in the case of an enzymatic label, may catalyze chemical alteration of a substrate compound or composition which is detectable.

[0068] A "small molecule" is defined herein to have a molecular weight below about 500 Daltons.

[0069] "Polynucleotide," or "nucleic acid," as used interchangeably herein, refer to polymers of nucleotides of any length, and include DNA and RNA. The nucleotides can be deoxyribonucleotides, ribonucleotides, modified nucleotides or bases, and/or their analogs, or any substrate that can be incorporated into a polymer by DNA or RNA polymerase or by a synthetic reaction. A polynucleotide may comprise modified nucleotides, such as methylated nucleotides and their analogs.

[0070] "Oligonucleotide," as used herein, generally refers to short, generally single-stranded, generally synthetic polynucleotides that are generally, but not necessarily, less than about 200 nucleotides in length. The terms "oligonucleotide" and "polynucleotide" are not mutually exclusive. The description above for polynucleotides is equally and fully applicable to oligonucleotides.

[0071] In certain embodiments, polynucleotides are capable of specifically hybridizing to a gene under various stringency conditions. "Stringency" of hybridization reactions is readily determinable by one of ordinary skill in the art, and generally is an empirical calculation dependent upon probe length, washing temperature, and salt concentration. In general, longer probes require higher temperatures for proper annealing, while shorter probes need lower temperatures. Hybridization generally depends on the ability of denatured DNA to reanneal when complementary strands are present in an environment below their melting temperature. The higher the degree of desired homology between the probe and hybridizable sequence, the higher the relative temperature which can be used. As a result, it follows that higher relative temperatures would tend to make the reaction conditions more stringent, while lower temperatures less so. For additional details and explanation of stringency of hybridization reactions, see Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Wiley Interscience Publishers, (1995).

[0072] Stringent conditions or high stringency conditions may be identified by those that: (1) employ low ionic strength and high temperature for washing, for example 0.015 M sodium chloride/0.0015 M sodium citrate/0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate at 50°C; (2) employ during hybridization a denaturing agent, such as formamide, for example, 50% (v/v) formamide with 0.1% bovine serum albumin/0.1% Ficoll/0.1% polyvinylpyrrolidone/5 OmM sodium phosphate buffer at pH 6.5 with 750 mM sodium chloride, 75 mM sodium citrate at 42°C; or (3) employ 50% formamide, 5 x SSC (0.75 M NaCl, 0.075 M sodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 6.8), 0.1 % sodium pyrophosphate, 5 x Denhardt's solution, sonicated salmon sperm DNA (50 μg/ml), 0.1 % SDS, and 10%> dextran sulfate at 42°C, with washes at 42°C in 0.2 x SSC (sodium chloride/sodium citrate) and 50%> formamide at 55°C, followed by a high-stringency wash consisting of 0.1 x SSC containing EDTA at 55°C.

[0073] Moderately stringent conditions may be identified as described by

Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, New York: Cold Spring Harbor Press, 1989, and include the use of washing solution and hybridization conditions (e.g., temperature, ionic strength and %SDS) less stringent that those described above. An example of moderately stringent conditions is overnight incubation at 37°C in a solution comprising: 20% formamide, 5 x SSC (150 mM NaCl, 15 mM trisodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.6), 5 x Denhardt's solution, 10% dextran sulfate, and 20 mg/ml denatured sheared salmon sperm DNA, followed by washing the filters in 1 x SSC at about 37-50°C. The skilled artisan will recognize how to adjust the temperature, ionic strength, etc. as necessary to accommodate factors such as probe length and the like.

[0074] An "isolated" nucleic acid molecule is a nucleic acid molecule that is identified and separated from at least one contaminant nucleic acid molecule with which it is ordinarily associated in the natural source of the polypeptide nucleic acid. An isolated nucleic acid molecule is other than in the form or setting in which it is found in nature.

Isolated nucleic acid molecules therefore are distinguished from the nucleic acid molecule as it exists in natural cells. However, an isolated nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleic acid molecule contained in cells that ordinarily express the polypeptide where, for example, the nucleic acid molecule is in a chromosomal location different from that of natural cells.

[0075] A "primer" is generally a short single stranded polynucleotide, generally with a free 3'-OH group, that binds to a target potentially present in a sample of interest by hybridizing with a target sequence, and thereafter promotes polymerization of a

polynucleotide complementary to the target.

[0076] The term "housekeeping gene" refers to a group of genes that codes for proteins whose activities are essential for the maintenance of cell function. These genes are typically similarly expressed in all cell types.

[0077] The term "biomarker" as used herein refers generally to a molecule, including a gene, protein, carbohydrate structure, or glycolipid, the expression of which in or on a mammalian tissue or cell can be detected by standard methods (or methods disclosed herein) and is predictive, diagnostic and/or prognostic for a mammalian cell's or tissue's sensitivity to treatment regimes based on inhibition of angiogenesis e.g. an anti-angiogenic agent such as a VEGF-specific inhibitor. In certain embodiments, the expression of such a biomarker is determined to be higher or lower than that observed for a reference sample. Expression of such biomarkers can be determined using a high-throughput multiplexed immunoassay such as those commercially available from Rules Based Medicine, Inc. or Meso Scale Discovery. Expression of the biomarkers may also be determined using, e.g., PCR or FACS assay, an immunohistochemical assay or a gene chip-based assay.

[0078] The term "array" or "microarray," as used herein refers to an ordered arrangement of hybridizable array elements, preferably polynucleotide probes (e.g., oligonucleotides), on a substrate. The substrate can be a solid substrate, such as a glass slide, or a semi-solid substrate, such as nitrocellulose membrane. The nucleotide sequences can be DNA, R A, or any permutations thereof.

[0079] A "gene," "target gene," "target biomarker," "target sequence," "target nucleic acid" or "target protein," as used herein, is a polynucleotide or protein of interest, the detection of which is desired. Generally, a "template," as used herein, is a polynucleotide that contains the target nucleotide sequence. In some instances, the terms "target sequence," "template DNA," "template polynucleotide," "target nucleic acid," "target polynucleotide," and variations thereof, are used interchangeably.

[0080] "Amplification," as used herein, generally refers to the process of producing multiple copies of a desired sequence. "Multiple copies" mean at least 2 copies. A "copy" does not necessarily mean perfect sequence complementarity or identity to the template sequence. For example, copies can include nucleotide analogs such as

deoxyinosine, intentional sequence alterations (such as sequence alterations introduced through a primer comprising a sequence that is hybridizable, but not complementary, to the template), and/or sequence errors that occur during amplification.

[0081] A "native sequence" polypeptide comprises a polypeptide having the same amino acid sequence as a polypeptide derived from nature. Thus, a native sequence polypeptide can have the amino acid sequence of naturally occurring polypeptide from any mammal. Such native sequence polypeptide can be isolated from nature or can be produced by recombinant or synthetic means. The term "native sequence" polypeptide specifically encompasses naturally occurring truncated or secreted forms of the polypeptide (e.g., an extracellular domain sequence), naturally occurring variant forms (e.g., alternatively spliced forms) and naturally occurring allelic variants of the polypeptide.

[0082] An "isolated" polypeptide or "isolated" antibody is one that has been identified and separated and/or recovered from a component of its natural environment. Contaminant components of its natural environment are materials that would interfere with diagnostic or therapeutic uses for the polypeptide, and may include enzymes, hormones, and other proteinaceous or nonproteinaceous solutes. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide will be purified (1) to greater than 95% by weight of polypeptide as determined by the Lowry method, or more than 99% by weight, (2) to a degree sufficient to obtain at least 15 residues of N-terminal or internal amino acid sequence by use of a spinning cup sequenator, or (3) to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE under reducing or nonreducing conditions using Coomassie blue, or silver stain. Isolated polypeptide includes the polypeptide in situ within recombinant cells since at least one component of the polypeptide's natural environment will not be present. Ordinarily, however, isolated polypeptide will be prepared by at least one purification step.

[0083] A polypeptide "variant" means a biologically active polypeptide having at least about 80% amino acid sequence identity with the native sequence polypeptide. Such variants include, for instance, polypeptides wherein one or more amino acid residues are added, or deleted, at the N- or C-terminus of the polypeptide. Ordinarily, a variant will have at least about 80% amino acid sequence identity, more preferably at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity, and even more preferably at least about 95% amino acid sequence identity with the native sequence polypeptide.

[0084] The term "antibody" is used in the broadest sense and specifically covers monoclonal antibodies (including full length monoclonal antibodies), polyclonal antibodies, multispecific antibodies (e.g., bispecific antibodies), and antibody fragments so long as they exhibit the desired biological activity.

[0085] The term "monoclonal antibody" as used herein refers to an antibody obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, i.e., the individual antibodies comprising the population are identical except for possible mutations, e.g., naturally occurring mutations, that may be present in minor amounts. Thus, the modifier "monoclonal" indicates the character of the antibody as not being a mixture of discrete antibodies. In certain embodiments, such a monoclonal antibody typically includes an antibody comprising a polypeptide sequence that binds a target, wherein the target-binding polypeptide sequence was obtained by a process that includes the selection of a single target binding polypeptide sequence from a plurality of polypeptide sequences. For example, the selection process can be the selection of a unique clone from a plurality of clones, such as a pool of hybridoma clones, phage clones, or recombinant DNA clones. It should be understood that a selected target binding sequence can be further altered, for example, to improve affinity for the target, to humanize the target binding sequence, to improve its production in cell culture, to reduce its immunogenicity in vivo, to create a multispecific antibody, etc., and that an antibody comprising the altered target binding sequence is also a monoclonal antibody of this invention. In contrast to polyclonal antibody preparations, which typically include different antibodies directed against different determinants (epitopes), each monoclonal antibody of a monoclonal antibody preparation is directed against a single determinant on an antigen. In addition to their specificity, monoclonal antibody preparations are advantageous in that they are typically uncontaminated by other immunoglobulins.

[0086] The modifier "monoclonal" indicates the character of the antibody as being obtained from a substantially homogeneous population of antibodies, and is not to be construed as requiring production of the antibody by any particular method. For example, the monoclonal antibodies to be used in accordance with the present invention may be made by a variety of techniques, including, for example, the hybridoma method (e.g., Kohler and Milstein, Nature, 256:495-97 (1975); Hongo et al, Hybridoma, 14 (3): 253-260 (1995), Harlow et al, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2nd ed. 1988); Hammerling et al., in: Monoclonal Antibodies and T-Cell Hybridomas 563-681 (Elsevier, N.Y., 1981)), recombinant DNA methods (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 4,816,567), phage-display technologies (see, e.g., Clackson et al., Nature, 352: 624-628 (1991); Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol. 222: 581-597 (1992); Sidhu et al., J. Mol. Biol. 338(2): 299-310 (2004); Lee et al., J. Mol. Biol. 340(5): 1073-1093 (2004); Fellouse, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101(34): 12467-12472 (2004); and Lee et al, J. Immunol. Methods 284(1-2): 119-132(2004), and technologies for producing human or human-like antibodies in animals that have parts or all of the human immunoglobulin loci or genes encoding human immunoglobulin sequences (see, e.g., WO 1998/24893; WO 1996/34096; WO 1996/33735; WO 1991/10741; Jakobovits et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90: 2551 (1993); Jakobovits et al, Nature 362: 255-258

(1993) ; Bruggemann et al, Year in Immunol. 7:33 (1993); U.S. Patent Nos. 5,545,807;

5,545,806; 5,569,825; 5,625,126; 5,633,425; and 5,661,016; Marks et al, Bio/Technology 10: 779-783 (1992); Lonberg et al, Nature 368: 856-859 (1994); Morrison, Nature 368: 812-813

(1994) ; Fishwild et al, Nature Biotechnol. 14: 845-851 (1996); Neuberger, Nature

Biotechnol. 14: 826 (1996); and Lonberg and Huszar, Intern. Rev. Immunol. 13: 65-93

(1995) .

[0087] The monoclonal antibodies herein specifically include "chimeric" antibodies in which a portion of the heavy and/or light chain is identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from a particular species or belonging to a particular antibody class or subclass, while the remainder of the chain(s) is identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from another species or belonging to another antibody class or subclass, as well as fragments of such antibodies, so long as they exhibit the desired biological activity (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 4,816,567; and Morrison et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81 :6851-6855 (1984)). Chimeric antibodies include PRIMATIZED® antibodies wherein the antigen-binding region of the antibody is derived from an antibody produced by, e.g., immunizing macaque monkeys with the antigen of interest.

[0088] Unless indicated otherwise, the expression "multivalent antibody" denotes an antibody comprising three or more antigen binding sites. In certain embodiment, the multivalent antibody is engineered to have the three or more antigen binding sites and is generally not a native sequence IgM or IgA antibody.

[0089] "Humanized" forms of non-human (e.g., murine) antibodies are chimeric antibodies that contain minimal sequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin. In one embodiment, a humanized antibody is a human immunoglobulin (recipient antibody) in which residues from a HVR of the recipient are replaced by residues from a HVR of a non- human species (donor antibody) such as mouse, rat, rabbit, or nonhuman primate having the desired specificity, affinity, and/or capacity. In some instances, FR residues of the human immunoglobulin are replaced by corresponding non-human residues. Furthermore, humanized antibodies may comprise residues that are not found in the recipient antibody or in the donor antibody. These modifications may be made to further refine antibody

performance. In general, a humanized antibody will comprise substantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains, in which all or substantially all of the hypervariable loops correspond to those of a non-human immunoglobulin, and all or substantially all of the FRs are those of a human immunoglobulin sequence. The humanized antibody optionally will also comprise at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a human immunoglobulin. For further details, see, e.g., Jones et al., Nature 321 : 522-525 (1986); Riechmann et al, Nature 332:323-329 (1988); and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 2:593-596 (1992). See also, e.g., Vaswani and Hamilton, Ann. Allergy, Asthma & Immunol. 1 : 105-115 (1998); Harris, Biochem. Soc. Transactions 23: 1035-1038 (1995); Hurle and Gross, Curr. Op. Biotech. 5:428-433 (1994); and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,982,321 and 7,087,409.

[0090] A "human antibody" is one which possesses an amino acid sequence which corresponds to that of an antibody produced by a human and/or has been made using any of the techniques for making human antibodies as disclosed herein. This definition of a human antibody specifically excludes a humanized antibody comprising non-human antigen- binding residues. Human antibodies can be produced using various techniques known in the art, including phage-display libraries. Hoogenboom and Winter, J. Mol. Biol., 227:381 (1991); Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol., 222:581 (1991). Also available for the preparation of human monoclonal antibodies are methods described in Cole et al, Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, p. 77 (1985); Boerner et al, J. Immunol, 147(l):86-95 (1991). See also van Dijk and van de Winkel, Curr. Opin. Pharmacol, 5: 368-74 (2001). Human antibodies can be prepared by administering the antigen to a transgenic animal that has been modified to produce such antibodies in response to antigenic challenge, but whose endogenous loci have been disabled, e.g., immunized xenomice (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,075,181 and 6,150,584 regarding XENOMOUSE™ technology). See also, for example, Li et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 103:3557-3562 (2006) regarding human antibodies generated via a human B-cell hybridoma technology.

[0091] The "variable region" or "variable domain" of an antibody refers to the amino-terminal domains of the heavy or light chain of the antibody. The variable domain of the heavy chain may be referred to as "VH." The variable domain of the light chain may be referred to as "VL." These domains are generally the most variable parts of an antibody and contain the antigen-binding sites.

[0092] The term "variable" refers to the fact that certain portions of the variable domains differ extensively in sequence among antibodies and are used in the binding and specificity of each particular antibody for its particular antigen. However, the variability is not evenly distributed throughout the variable domains of antibodies. It is concentrated in three segments called hypervariable regions (HVRs) both in the light-chain and the heavy- chain variable domains. The more highly conserved portions of variable domains are called the framework regions (FR). The variable domains of native heavy and light chains each comprise four FR regions, largely adopting a beta-sheet configuration, connected by three HVRs, which form loops connecting, and in some cases forming part of, the beta-sheet structure. The HVRs in each chain are held together in close proximity by the FR regions and, with the HVRs from the other chain, contribute to the formation of the antigen-binding site of antibodies (see Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD (1991)). The constant domains are not involved directly in the binding of an antibody to an antigen, but exhibit various effector functions, such as participation of the antibody in antibody-dependent cellular toxicity.

[0093] "Antibody fragments" comprise a portion of an intact antibody, preferably comprising the antigen binding region thereof. Examples of antibody fragments include Fab, Fab', F(ab')₂, and Fv fragments; diabodies; linear antibodies; single-chain antibody molecules; and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments. [0094] "Fv" is the minimum antibody fragment which contains a complete antigen-binding site. In one embodiment, a two-chain Fv species consists of a dimer of one heavy- and one light-chain variable domain in tight, non-covalent association. In a single- chain Fv (scFv) species, one heavy- and one light-chain variable domain can be covalently linked by a flexible peptide linker such that the light and heavy chains can associate in a "dimeric" structure analogous to that in a two-chain Fv species. It is in this configuration that the three HVRs of each variable domain interact to define an antigen-binding site on the surface of the VH-VL dimer. Collectively, the six HVRs confer antigen-binding specificity to the antibody. However, even a single variable domain (or half of an Fv comprising only three HVRs specific for an antigen) has the ability to recognize and bind antigen, although at a lower affinity than the entire binding site.

[0095] The Fab fragment contains the heavy- and light-chain variable domains and also contains the constant domain of the light chain and the first constant domain (CHI) of the heavy chain. Fab' fragments differ from Fab fragments by the addition of a few residues at the carboxy terminus of the heavy chain CHI domain including one or more cysteines from the antibody hinge region. Fab'-SH is the designation herein for Fab' in which the cysteine residue(s) of the constant domains bear a free thiol group. F(ab')₂ antibody fragments originally were produced as pairs of Fab' fragments which have hinge cysteines between them. Other chemical couplings of antibody fragments are also known.

[0096] The term "hypervariable region," "HVR," or "HV," when used herein refers to the regions of an antibody variable domain which are hypervariable in sequence and/or form structurally defined loops. Generally, antibodies comprise six HVRs; three in the VH (HI, H2, H3), and three in the VL (LI, L2, L3). In native antibodies, H3 and L3 display the most diversity of the six HVRs, and H3 in particular is believed to play a unique role in conferring fine specificity to antibodies. See, e.g., Xu et al, Immunity 13:37-45 (2000); Johnson and Wu, in Methods in Molecular Biology 248: 1-25 (Lo, ed., Human Press, Totowa, NJ, 2003). Indeed, naturally occurring camelid antibodies consisting of a heavy chain only are functional and stable in the absence of light chain. See, e.g., Hamers- Casterman et al, Nature 363:446-448 (1993); Sheriff et al, Nature Struct. Biol. 3:733-736 (1996).

[0097] "Framework" or "FR" residues are those variable domain residues other than the HVR residues as herein defined.

[0098] An "affinity matured" antibody is one with one or more alterations in one or more HVRs thereof which result in an improvement in the affinity of the antibody for antigen, compared to a parent antibody which does not possess those alteration(s). In one embodiment, an affinity matured antibody has nanomolar or even picomolar affinities for the target antigen. Affinity matured antibodies may be produced using certain procedures known in the art. For example, Marks et al. Bio /Technology 10:779-783 (1992) describes affinity maturation by VH and VL domain shuffling. Random mutagenesis of HVR and/or framework residues is described by, for example, Barbas et al. Proc Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 91 :3809-3813 (1994); Schier et a/. Gene 169: 147-155 (1995); Yelton et al. J. Immunol.

155: 1994-2004 (1995); Jackson et al, J. Immunol. 154(7):3310-9 (1995); and Hawkins et al, J. Mol. Biol. 226:889-896 (1992).

[0099] The term "Fc region" herein is used to define a C-terminal region of an immunoglobulin heavy chain, including native sequence Fc regions and variant Fc regions. Although the boundaries of the Fc region of an immunoglobulin heavy chain might vary, the human IgG heavy chain Fc region is usually defined to stretch from an amino acid residue at position Cys226, or from Pro230, to the carboxyl-terminus thereof. The C-terminal lysine (residue 447 according to the EU numbering system) of the Fc region may be removed, for example, during production or purification of the antibody, or by recombinantly engineering the nucleic acid encoding a heavy chain of the antibody. Accordingly, a composition of intact antibodies may comprise antibody populations with all K447 residues removed, antibody populations with no K447 residues removed, and antibody populations having a mixture of antibodies with and without the K447 residue.

[00100] A "functional Fc region" possesses an "effector function" of a native sequence Fc region. Exemplary "effector functions" include Clq binding; CDC; Fc receptor binding; ADCC; phagocytosis; down regulation of cell surface receptors (e.g. B cell receptor; BCR), etc. Such effector functions generally require the Fc region to be combined with a binding domain {e.g., an antibody variable domain) and can be assessed using various assays as disclosed, for example, in definitions herein.

[00101] A "native sequence Fc region" comprises an amino acid sequence identical to the amino acid sequence of an Fc region found in nature. Native sequence human Fc regions include a native sequence human IgGl Fc region (non-A and A allotypes); native sequence human IgG2 Fc region; native sequence human IgG3 Fc region; and native sequence human IgG4 Fc region as well as naturally occurring variants thereof.

[0100] A "variant Fc region" comprises an amino acid sequence which differs from that of a native sequence Fc region by virtue of at least one amino acid modification, preferably one or more amino acid substitution(s). Preferably, the variant Fc region has at least one amino acid substitution compared to a native sequence Fc region or to the Fc region of a parent polypeptide, e.g. from about one to about ten amino acid substitutions, and preferably from about one to about five amino acid substitutions in a native sequence Fc region or in the Fc region of the parent polypeptide. The variant Fc region herein will preferably possess at least about 80% homology with a native sequence Fc region and/or with an Fc region of a parent polypeptide, and most preferably at least about 90% homology therewith, more preferably at least about 95% homology therewith.

[0101] "Fc receptor" or "FcR" describes a receptor that binds to the Fc region of an antibody. In some embodiments, an FcR is a native human FcR. In some embodiments, an FcR is one which binds an IgG antibody (a gamma receptor) and includes receptors of the FcyRI, FcyRII, and FcyRIII subclasses, including allelic variants and alternatively spliced forms of those receptors. FcyRII receptors include FcyRIIA (an "activating receptor") and FcyRIIB (an "inhibiting receptor"), which have similar amino acid sequences that differ primarily in the cytoplasmic domains thereof. Activating receptor FcyRIIA contains an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (IT AM) in its cytoplasmic domain.

Inhibiting receptor FcyRIIB contains an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif (ITIM) in its cytoplasmic domain, (see, e.g., Daeron, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 15:203-234 (1997)). FcRs are reviewed, for example, in Ravetch and Kinet, Annu. Rev. Immunol 9:457- 92 (1991); Capel et al, Immunomethods 4:25-34 (1994); and de Haas et al, J. Lab. Clin. Med. 126:330-41 (1995). Other FcRs, including those to be identified in the future, are encompassed by the term "FcR" herein.

[0102] The term "Fc receptor" or "FcR" also includes the neonatal receptor, FcRn, which is responsible for the transfer of maternal IgGs to the fetus (Guyer et al, J. Immunol. 117:587 (1976) and Kim et al, J. Immunol. 24:249 (1994)) and regulation of homeostasis of immunoglobulins. Methods of measuring binding to FcRn are known (see, e.g., Ghetie and Ward., Immunol. Today 18(12):592-598 (1997); Ghetie et al, Nature Biotechnology,

15(7):637-640 (1997); Hinton et al. , J. Biol. Chem. 279(8):6213-6216 (2004); WO

2004/92219 (Hinton et al).

[0103] Binding to human FcRn in vivo and serum half life of human FcRn high affinity binding polypeptides can be assayed, e.g., in transgenic mice or transfected human cell lines expressing human FcRn, or in primates to which the polypeptides with a variant Fc region are administered. WO 2000/42072 (Presta) describes antibody variants with improved or diminished binding to FcRs. See also, e.g., Shields et al. J. Biol. Chem. 9(2):6591-6604 (2001).

[0104] "Human effector cells" are leukocytes which express one or more FcRs and perform effector functions. In certain embodiments, the cells express at least FcyRIII and perform ADCC effector function(s). Examples of human leukocytes which mediate ADCC include peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), natural killer (NK) cells, monocytes, cytotoxic T cells, and neutrophils. The effector cells may be isolated from a native source, e.g., from blood.

[0105] "Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity" or "ADCC" refers to a form of cytotoxicity in which secreted Ig bound onto Fc receptors (FcRs) present on certain cytotoxic cells {e.g. NK cells, neutrophils, and macrophages) enable these cytotoxic effector cells to bind specifically to an antigen-bearing target cell and subsequently kill the target cell with cytotoxins. The primary cells for mediating ADCC, NK cells, express FcyRIII only, whereas monocytes express FcyRI, FcyRII, and FcyRIII. FcR expression on hematopoietic cells is summarized in Table 3 on page 464 of Ravetch and Kinet, Annu. Rev. Immunol 9:457-92 (1991). To assess ADCC activity of a molecule of interest, an in vitro ADCC assay, such as that described in US Patent No. 5,500,362 or 5,821,337 or U.S. Patent No. 6,737,056 (Presta), may be performed. Useful effector cells for such assays include PBMC and NK cells. Alternatively, or additionally, ADCC activity of the molecule of interest may be assessed in vivo, e.g., in an animal model such as that disclosed in Clynes et al. PNAS (USA) 95:652-656 (1998).

[0106] "Complement dependent cytotoxicity" or "CDC" refers to the lysis of a target cell in the presence of complement. Activation of the classical complement pathway is initiated by the binding of the first component of the complement system (Clq) to antibodies (of the appropriate subclass), which are bound to their cognate antigen. To assess complement activation, a CDC assay, e.g., as described in Gazzano-Santoro et al., J.

Immunol. Methods 202: 163 (1996), may be performed. Polypeptide variants with altered Fc region amino acid sequences (polypeptides with a variant Fc region) and increased or decreased Clq binding capability are described, e.g., in US Patent No. 6,194,551 Bl and WO 1999/51642. See also, e.g., Idusogie et al. J. Immunol. 164: 4178-4184 (2000).

[0107] The term "Fc region-comprising antibody" refers to an antibody that comprises an Fc region. The C-terminal lysine (residue 447 according to the EU numbering system) of the Fc region may be removed, for example, during purification of the antibody or by recombinant engineering of the nucleic acid encoding the antibody. Accordingly, a composition comprising an antibody having an Fc region according to this invention can comprise an antibody with K447, with all K447 removed, or a mixture of antibodies with and without the K447 residue.

[0108] A "blocking" antibody or an "antagonist" antibody is one which inhibits or reduces biological activity of the antigen it binds. For example, a VEGF-specific antagonist antibody binds VEGF and inhibits the ability of VEGF to induce vascular endothelial cell proliferation or vascular permeability. Certain blocking antibodies or antagonist antibodies substantially or completely inhibit the biological activity of the antigen.

[0109] As used herein, "treatment" (and variations such as "treat" or "treating") refers to clinical intervention in an attempt to alter the natural course of the individual or cell being treated, and can be performed either for prophylaxis or during the course of clinical pathology. Desirable effects of treatment include preventing occurrence or recurrence of disease, alleviation of symptoms, diminishment of any direct or indirect pathological consequences of the disease, preventing metastasis, decreasing the rate of disease

progression, amelioration or palliation of the disease state, and remission or improved prognosis. In some embodiments, methods and compositions of the invention are used to delay development of a disease or disorder or to slow the progression of a disease or disorder.

[0110] An "effective amount" refers to an amount effective, at dosages and for periods of time necessary, to achieve the desired therapeutic or prophylactic result.

[0111] A "therapeutically effective amount" of a substance/molecule of the invention may vary according to factors such as the disease state, age, sex, and weight of the individual, and the ability of the substance/molecule, to elicit a desired response in the individual. A therapeutically effective amount encompasses an amount in which any toxic or detrimental effects of the substance/molecule are outweighed by the therapeutically beneficial effects. A therapeutically effective amount also encompasses an amount sufficient to confer benefit, e.g., clinical benefit.

[0112] A "prophylactically effective amount" refers to an amount effective, at dosages and for periods of time necessary, to achieve the desired prophylactic result.

Typically, but not necessarily, since a prophylactic dose is used in subjects prior to or at an earlier stage of disease, the prophylactically effective amount would be less than the therapeutically effective amount. A prophylactically effective amount encompasses an amount sufficient to confer benefit, e.g., clinical benefit. [0113] In the case of pre-cancerous, benign, early or late-stage tumors, the therapeutically effective amount of the angiogenic inhibitor may reduce the number of cancer cells; reduce the primary tumor size; inhibit (i.e., slow to some extent and preferably stop) cancer cell infiltration into peripheral organs; inhibit (i.e., slow to some extent and preferably stop) tumor metastasis; inhibit or delay, to some extent, tumor growth or tumor progression; and/or relieve to some extent one or more of the symptoms associated with the disorder. To the extent the drug may prevent growth and/or kill existing cancer cells, it may be cytostatic and/or cytotoxic. For cancer therapy, efficacy in vivo can, for example, be measured by assessing the duration of survival, time to disease progression (TTP), the response rates (RR), duration of response, and/or quality of life.

[0114] To "reduce" or "inhibit" is to decrease or reduce an activity, function, and/or amount as compared to a reference. In certain embodiments, by "reduce" or "inhibit" is meant the ability to cause an overall decrease of 20% or greater. In another embodiment, by "reduce" or "inhibit" is meant the ability to cause an overall decrease of 50% or greater. In yet another embodiment, by "reduce" or "inhibit" is meant the ability to cause an overall decrease of 75%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or greater. Reduce or inhibit can refer to the symptoms of the disorder being treated, the presence or size of metastases, the size of the primary tumor, or the size or number of the blood vessels in angiogenic disorders.

[0115] A "disorder" is any condition that would benefit from treatment including, but not limited to, chronic and acute disorders or diseases including those pathological conditions which predispose the mammal to the disorder in question. Disorders include angiogenic disorders. "Angiogenic disorder" as used herein refers to any condition involving abnormal angiogenesis or abnormal vascular permeability or leakage. Non-limiting examples of angiogenic disorders to be treated herein include malignant and benign tumors; non- leukemias and lymphoid malignancies; and, in particular, tumor (cancer) metastasis.

[0116] "Abnormal angiogenesis" occurs when new blood vessels grow either excessively or otherwise inappropriately (e.g., the location, timing, degree, or onset of the angiogenesis being undesired from a medical standpoint) in a diseased state or such that it causes a diseased state. In some cases, excessive, uncontrolled, or otherwise inappropriate angiogenesis occurs when there is new blood vessel growth that contributes to the worsening of the diseased state or cause of a diseased state. The new blood vessels can feed the diseased tissues, destroy normal tissues, and in the case of cancer, the new vessels can allow tumor cells to escape into the circulation and lodge in other organs (tumor metastases).

Examples of disorders involving abnormal angiogenesis include, but are not limited to cancer, especially vascularized solid tumors and metastatic tumors (including colon, lung cancer (especially small-cell lung cancer), or prostate cancer), diseases caused by ocular neovascularisation, especially diabetic blindness, retinopathies, primarily diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization (CNV), diabetic macular edema, pathological myopia, von Hippel-Lindau disease, histoplasmosis of the eye, Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO), corneal neovascularization, retinal neovascularization and rubeosis; psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, haemangioblastoma such as haemangioma;

inflammatory renal diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, especially mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, haemolytic uremic syndrome, diabetic nephropathy or hypertensive nephrosclerosis; various imflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psorsasis, sarcoidosis, arterial arteriosclerosis and diseases occurring after transplants, endometriosis or chronic asthma and other conditions.

[0117] "Abnormal vascular permeability" occurs when the flow of fluids, molecules (e.g., ions and nutrients) and cells (e.g., lymphocytes) between the vascular and extravascular compartments is excessive or otherwise inappropriate (e.g., the location, timing, degree, or onset of the vascular permeability being undesired from a medical standpoint) in a diseased state or such that it causes a diseased state. Abnormal vascular permeability may lead to excessive or otherwise inappropriate "leakage" of ions, water, nutrients, or cells through the vasculature. In some cases, excessive, uncontrolled, or otherwise inappropriate vascular permeability or vascular leakage exacerbates or induces disease states including, e.g., edema associated with tumors including, e.g., brain tumors; ascites associated with malignancies; Meigs' syndrome; lung inflammation; nephrotic syndrome; pericardial effusion; pleural effusion,; permeability associated with cardiovascular diseases such as the condition following myocardial infarctions and strokes and the like. The present invention contemplates treating those patients that have developed or are at risk of developing the diseases and disorders associated with abnormal vascular permeability or leakage.

[0118] The terms "cell proliferative disorder" and "proliferative disorder" refer to disorders that are associated with some degree of abnormal cell proliferation. In one embodiment, the cell proliferative disorder is cancer. In one embodiment, the cell proliferative disorder is a tumor.

[0119] "Tumor," as used herein, refers to all neoplastic cell growth and proliferation, whether malignant or benign, and all pre-cancerous and cancerous cells and tissues. The terms "cancer", "cancerous", "cell proliferative disorder", "proliferative disorder" and "tumor" are not mutually exclusive as referred to herein.

[0120] The terms "cancer" and "cancerous" refer to or describe the physiological condition in mammals that is typically characterized by unregulated cell growth. Examples of cancer include but are not limited to, carcinoma, lymphoma, blastoma, sarcoma, and leukemia or lymphoid malignancies. More particular examples of such cancers include, but not limited to, melanoma (including, e.g, superficial spreading melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma, acral lentiginous melanomas, and nodular melanomas), squamous cell cancer (e.g., epithelial squamous cell cancer), lung cancer including small-cell lung cancer, non- small cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma of the lung and squamous carcinoma of the lung, cancer of the peritoneum, hepatocellular cancer, gastric or stomach cancer including gastrointestinal cancer and gastrointestinal stromal cancer, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, cancer of the urinary tract, hepatoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial or uterine carcinoma, salivary gland carcinoma, kidney or renal cancer, prostate cancer, vulval cancer, thyroid cancer, hepatic carcinoma, anal carcinoma, penile carcinoma, multiple myeloma and B-cell lymphoma (including low grade/follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL); small lymphocytic (SL) NHL; intermediate grade/follicular NHL; intermediate grade diffuse NHL; high grade immunoblastic NHL; high grade lymphoblastic NHL; high grade small non- cleaved cell NHL; bulky disease NHL; mantle cell lymphoma; AIDS-related lymphoma; and Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia); chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL); acute

lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); hairy cell leukemia; chronic myeloblastic leukemia; and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), as well as abnormal vascular proliferation associated with phakomatoses, edema (such as that associated with brain tumors), Meigs' syndrome, brain, as well as head and neck cancer, and associated metastases. In certain embodiments, cancers that are amenable to treatment by the antibodies of the invention include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, rectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, glioblastoma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL), renal cell cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, soft-tissue sarcoma, kaposi's sarcoma, carcinoid carcinoma, head and neck cancer, ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and multiple myeloma. In some

embodiments, the cancer is selected from: small cell lung cancer, gliblastoma,

neuroblastomas, melanoma (including, e.g, superficial spreading melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma, acral lentiginous melanomas, and nodular melanomas), breast carcinoma, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer (CRC), and hepatocellular carcinoma. Yet, in some embodiments, the cancer is selected from: non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, glioblastoma and breast carcinoma, including metastatic forms of those cancers.

[0121] The term "anti-cancer therapy" refers to a therapy useful in treating cancer. Examples of anti-cancer therapeutic agents include, but are limited to, e.g., chemotherapeutic agents, growth inhibitory agents, cytotoxic agents, agents used in radiation therapy, anti- angiogenic agents, apoptotic agents, anti-tubulin agents, and other agents to treat cancer, such as anti-HER-2 antibodies, anti-CD20 antibodies, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antagonist (e.g., a tyrosine kinase inhibitor), HER1/EGFR inhibitor (e.g., erlotinib

(Tarceva ), platelet derived growth factor inhibitors (e.g., Gleevec (Imatinib Mesylate)), a COX-2 inhibitor (e.g., celecoxib), interferons, cytokines, antagonists (e.g., neutralizing antibodies) that bind to one or more of the following targets ErbB2, ErbB3, ErbB4, PDGFR- beta, BlyS, APRIL, BCMA or VEGF receptor(s), TRAIL/Apo2, and other bioactive and organic chemical agents, etc. Combinations thereof are also included in the invention.

[0122] An "angiogenic factor or agent" is a growth factor or its receptor which is involved in stimulating the development of blood vessels, e.g., promote angiogenesis, endothelial cell growth, stabiliy of blood vessels, and/or vasculogenesis, etc. For example, angiogenic factors, include, but are not limited to, e.g., VEGF and members of the VEGF family and their receptors (VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and

VEGFR3), P1GF, PDGF family, fibroblast growth factor family (FGFs), TIE ligands

(Angiopoietins, ANGPT1, ANGPT2), TIE1, TIE2, ephrins, Bv8, Delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4), Del-1, fibroblast growth factors: acidic (aFGF) and basic (bFGF), FGF4, FGF9, BMP9, BMP 10, Follistatin, Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), GM-CSF, Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) /scatter factor (SF), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), CXCL12, Leptin, Midkine, neuropilins, NRPl, NRP2, Placental growth factor, Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), Platelet-derived growth factor, especially PDGF-BB, PDGFR-alpha, or PDGFR-beta, Pleiotrophin (PTN), Progranulin, Proliferin, Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), Alkl, CXCR4, Notchl, Notch4, Sema3A, Sema3C, Sema3F, Robo4, etc. It would further include factors that promote angiogenesis, such as ESM1 and Perlecan. It would also include factors that accelerate wound healing, such as growth hormone, insulinlike growth factor-I (IGF-I), VIGF, epidermal growth factor (EGF), EGF-like domain, multiple 7 (EGFL7), CTGF and members of its family, and TGF-alpha and TGF-beta. See, e.g., Klagsbrun and D'Amore (1991) Annu. Rev. Physiol. 53:217-39; Streit and Detmar (2003) Oncogene 22:3172-3179; Ferrara & Alitalo (1999) Nature Medicine 5(12): 1359-1364; Tonini et al. (2003) Oncogene 22:6549-6556 (e.g., Table 1 listing known angiogenic factors); and, Sato (2003) Int. J. Clin. Oncol. 8:200-206.

[0123] An "anti-angiogenic agent" or "angiogenic inhibitor" refers to a small molecular weight substance, a polynucleotide (including, e.g., an inhibitory R A (RNAi or siRNA)), a polypeptide, an isolated protein, a recombinant protein, an antibody, or conjugates or fusion proteins thereof, that inhibits angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, or undesirable vascular permeability, either directly or indirectly. It should be understood that the anti-angiogenic agent includes those agents that bind and block the angiogenic activity of the angiogenic factor or its receptor. For example, an anti-angiogenic agent is an antibody or other antagonist to an angiogenic agent as defined above, e.g., antibodies to VEGF-A or to the VEGF-A receptor (e.g., KDR receptor or Flt-1 receptor), anti-PDGFR inhibitors, small molecules that block VEGF receptor signaling (e.g., PTK787/ZK2284, SU6668,

SUTENT®/SU11248 (sunitinib malate), AMG706, or those described in, e.g., international patent application WO 2004/113304). Anti-angiogenic agents include, but are not limited to, the following agents: VEGF inhibitors such as a VEGF-specific antagonist, EGF inhibitor, EGFR inhibitors, Erbitux® (cetuximab, ImClone Systems, Inc., Branchburg, N.J.),

Vectibix® (panitumumab, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA), TIE2 inhibitors, IGFIR inhibitors, COX-II (cyclooxygenase II) inhibitors, MMP-2 (matrix-metalloproteinase 2) inhibitors, and MMP-9 (matrix-metalloproteinase 9) inhibitors, CP-547,632 (Pfizer Inc., NY, USA), Axitinib (Pfizer Inc.; AG-013736), ZD-6474 (AstraZeneca), AEE788 (Novartis), AZD- 2171), VEGF Trap (Regeneron Aventis), Vatalanib (also known as PTK-787, ZK-222584: Novartis & Schering A G), Macugen (pegaptanib octasodium, NX-1838, EYE-001, Pfizer Inc./Gilead/Eyetech), IM862 (Cytran Inc. of Kirkland, Wash., USA); and angiozyme, a synthetic ribozyme from Ribozyme (Boulder, Colo.) and Chiron (Emeryville, Calif.) and combinations thereof. Other angiogenesis inhibitors include thrombospondinl,

thrombospondin2, collagen IV and collagen XVIII. VEGF inhibitors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,534,524 and 6,235,764, both of which are incorporated in their entirety for all purposes. Anti-angiogenic agents also include native angiogenesis inhibitors , e.g., angiostatin, endostatin, etc. See, e.g., Klagsbrun and D'Amore (1991) Annu. Rev. Physiol. 53:217-39; Streit and Detmar (2003) Oncogene 22:3172-3179 (e.g., Table 3 listing anti- angiogenic therapy in malignant melanoma); Ferrara & Alitalo (1999) Nature Medicine 5(12): 1359-1364; Tonini et al. (2003) Oncogene 22:6549-6556 (e.g., Table 2 listing known antiangiogenic factors); and, Sato (2003) Int. J. Clin. Oncol. 8:200-206 (e.g., Table 1 listing anti-angiogenic agents used in clinical trials). [0124] The term "anti-angiogenic therapy" refers to a therapy useful for inhibiting angiogenesis which comprises the administration of an anti-angiogenic agent.

[0125] The term "cytotoxic agent" as used herein refers to a substance that inhibits or prevents a cellular function and/or causes cell death or destruction. The term is intended to include radioactive isotopes (e.g., At²¹¹, 1¹³¹, 1¹²⁵, Y⁹⁰, Re¹⁸⁶, Re¹⁸⁸, Sm¹⁵³, Bi²¹²,

32 212

P , Pb and radioactive isotopes of Lu), chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., methotrexate, adriamicin, vinca alkaloids (vincristine, vinblastine, etoposide), doxorubicin, melphalan, mitomycin C, chlorambucil, daunorubicin or other intercalating agents, enzymes and fragments thereof such as nucleolytic enzymes, antibiotics, and toxins such as small molecule toxins or enzymatically active toxins of bacterial, fungal, plant or animal origin, including fragments and/or variants thereof, and the various antitumor or anticancer agents disclosed below. Other cytotoxic agents are described below. A tumoricidal agent causes destruction of tumor cells.

[0126] A "toxin" is any substance capable of having a detrimental effect on the growth or proliferation of a cell.

[0127] A "chemotherapeutic agent" is a chemical compound useful in the treatment of cancer. Examples of chemotherapeutic agents include alkylating agents such as thiotepa and cyclosphosphamide (CYTOXAN®); alkyl sulfonates such as busulfan, improsulfan and piposulfan; aziridines such as benzodopa, carboquone, meturedopa, and uredopa; ethylenimines and methylamelamines including altretamine, triethylenemelamine, triethylenephosphoramide, triethylenethiophosphoramide and trimethylomelamine;

acetogenins (especially bullatacin and bullatacinone); delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

(dronabinol, MARINOL®); beta-lapachone; lapachol; colchicines; betulinic acid; a camptothecin (including the synthetic analogue topotecan (HYCAMTIN®), CPT-11

(irinotecan, CAMPTOSAR®), acetylcamptothecin, scopolectin, and 9-aminocamptothecin); bryostatin; callystatin; CC-1065 (including its adozelesin, carzelesin and bizelesin synthetic analogues); podophyllotoxin; podophyllinic acid; teniposide; cryptophycins (particularly cryptophycin 1 and cryptophycin 8); dolastatin; duocarmycin (including the synthetic analogues, KW-2189 and CB1-TM1); eleutherobin; pancratistatin; a sarcodictyin;

spongistatin; nitrogen mustards such as chlorambucil, chlornaphazine, chlorophosphamide, estramustine, ifosfamide, mechlorethamine, mechlorethamine oxide hydrochloride, melphalan, novembichin, phenesterine, prednimustine, trofosfamide, uracil mustard;

nitrosoureas such as carmustine, chlorozotocin, fotemustine, lomustine, nimustine, and ranimnustine; antibiotics such as the enediyne antibiotics (e. g., calicheamicin, especially calicheamicin gammall and calicheamicin omegall (see, e.g., Nicolaou et al., Angew. Chem Intl. Ed. Engl., 33: 183-186 (1994)); CDP323, an oral alpha-4 integrin inhibitor; dynemicin, including dynemicin A; an esperamicin; as well as neocarzinostatin chromophore and related chromoprotein enediyne antibiotic chromophores), aclacinomysins, actinomycin,

authramycin, azaserine, bleomycins, cactinomycin, carabicin, carminomycin, carzinophilin, chromomycins, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, detorubicin, 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine, doxorubicin (including ADRIAMYCIN®, morpholino-doxorubicin, cyanomorpholino- doxorubicin, 2-pyrrolino-doxorubicin, doxorubicin HC1 liposome injection (DOXIL®), liposomal doxorubicin TLC D-99 (MYOCET®), peglylated liposomal doxorubicin

(CAELYX®), and deoxydoxorubicin), epirubicin, esorubicin, idarubicin, marcellomycin, mitomycins such as mitomycin C, mycophenolic acid, nogalamycin, olivomycins, peplomycin, porfiromycin, puromycin, quelamycin, rodorubicin, streptonigrin, streptozocin, tubercidin, ubenimex, zinostatin, zorubicin; anti-metabolites such as methotrexate, gemcitabine (GEMZAR®), tegafur (UFTORAL®), capecitabine (XELODA®), an epothilone, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); combretastatin; folic acid analogues such as denopterin, methotrexate, pteropterin, trimetrexate; purine analogs such as fludarabine, 6- mercaptopurine, thiamiprine, thioguanine; pyrimidine analogs such as ancitabine, azacitidine, 6-azauridine, carmofur, cytarabine, dideoxyuridine, doxifluridine, enocitabine, floxuridine; androgens such as calusterone, dromostanolone propionate, epitiostanol, mepitiostane, testolactone; anti-adrenals such as aminoglutethimide, mitotane, trilostane; folic acid replenisher such as frolinic acid; aceglatone; aldophosphamide glycoside; aminolevulinic acid; eniluracil; amsacrine; bestrabucil; bisantrene; edatraxate; defofamine; demecolcine; diaziquone; elfornithine; elliptinium acetate; an epothilone; etoglucid; gallium nitrate;

hydroxyurea; lentinan; lonidainine; maytansinoids such as maytansine and ansamitocins; mitoguazone; mitoxantrone; mopidanmol; nitraerine; pentostatin; phenamet; pirarubicin; losoxantrone; 2-ethylhydrazide; procarbazine; PSK® polysaccharide complex (JHS Natural Products, Eugene, OR); razoxane; rhizoxin; sizofiran; spirogermanium; tenuazonic acid; triaziquone; 2,2',2'-trichlorotriethylamine; trichothecenes (especially T-2 toxin, verracurin A, roridin A and anguidine); urethan; vindesine (ELDISINE®, FILDESIN®); dacarbazine; mannomustine; mitobronitol; mitolactol; pipobroman; gacytosine; arabinoside ("Ara-C"); thiotepa; taxoid, e.g., paclitaxel (TAXOL®, Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology, Princeton, N.J.), albumin-engineered nanoparticle formulation of paclitaxel (ABRAXANE™), and docetaxel (TAXOTERE®, Rhome-Poulene Rorer, Antony, France); chloranbucil; 6- thioguanine; mercaptopurine; methotrexate; platinum agents such as cisplatin, oxaliplatin (e.g., ELOXATIN®), and carboplatin; vincas, which prevent tubulin polymerization from forming microtubules, including vinblastine (VELBAN®), vincristine (ONCOVIN®), vindesine (ELDISINE®, FILDESIN®), and vinorelbine (NAVELBINE®); etoposide (VP- 16); ifosfamide; mitoxantrone; leucovorin; novantrone; edatrexate; daunomycin; aminopterin; ibandronate; topoisomerase inhibitor RFS 2000; difluoromethylornithine (DMFO); retinoids such as retinoic acid, including bexarotene (TARGRETIN®); bisphosphonates such as clodronate (for example, BONEFOS® or OSTAC®), etidronate (DIDROCAL®), NE-58095, zoledronic acid/zoledronate (ZOMETA®), alendronate (FOSAMAX®), pamidronate

(AREDIA®), tiludronate (SKELID®), or risedronate (ACTONEL®); troxacitabine (a 1 ,3- dioxolane nucleoside cytosine analog); antisense oligonucleotides, particularly those that inhibit expression of genes in signaling pathways implicated in aberrant cell proliferation, such as, for example, PKC-alpha, Raf, H-Ras, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) (e.g., erlotinib (Tarceva™)); and VEGF-A that reduce cell proliferation; vaccines such as THERATOPE® vaccine and gene therapy vaccines, for example, ALLOVECTIN® vaccine, LEUVECTIN® vaccine, and VAXID® vaccine; topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (e.g.,

LURTOTECAN®); rmRH (e.g., ABARELIX®); BAY439006 (sorafenib; Bayer); SU-1 1248 (sunitinib, SUTENT®, Pfizer); perifosine, COX-2 inhibitor (e.g. celecoxib or etoricoxib), proteosome inhibitor (e.g. PS341); bortezomib (VELCADE®); CCI-779; tipifarnib

(Rl 1577); orafenib, ABT510; Bcl-2 inhibitor such as oblimersen sodium (GENASENSE®); pixantrone; EGFR inhibitors; tyrosine kinase inhibitors; serine -threonine kinase inhibitors such as rapamycin (sirolimus, RAPAMUNE®); farnesyltransferase inhibitors such as lonafarnib (SCH 6636, SARASAR™); and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, acids or derivatives of any of the above; as well as combinations of two or more of the above such as CHOP, an abbreviation for a combined therapy of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone; and FOLFOX, an abbreviation for a treatment regimen with oxaliplatin (ELOXATIN™) combined with 5-FU and leucovorin, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, acids or derivatives of any of the above; as well as combinations of two or more of the above.

[0128] Chemotherapeutic agents as defined herein include "anti-hormonal agents" or "endocrine therapeutics" which act to regulate, reduce, block, or inhibit the effects of hormones that can promote the growth of cancer. They may be hormones themselves, including, but not limited to: anti-estrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), including, for example, tamoxifen (including NOLVADEX® tamoxifen), raloxifene, droloxifene, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, trioxifene, keoxifene, LY 1 17018, onapristone, and FARESTON- toremifene; aromatase inhibitors that inhibit the enzyme aromatase, which regulates estrogen production in the adrenal glands, such as, for example, 4(5)-imidazoles, aminoglutethimide, MEGASE® megestrol acetate, AROMASIN® exemestane, formestanie, fadrozole, RIVISOR® vorozole, FEMARA® letrozole, and ARIMIDEX® anastrozole; and anti-androgens such as flutamide, nilutamide, bicalutamide, leuprolide, and goserelin; as well as troxacitabine (a 1,3-dioxolane nucleoside cytosine analog); antisense oligonucleotides, particularly those which inhibit expression of genes in signaling pathways implicated in abherant cell proliferation, such as, for example, PKC-alpha, Raf and H-Ras; ribozymes such as a VEGF expression inhibitor (e.g., ANGIOZYME® ribozyme) and a HER2 expression inhibitor; vaccines such as gene therapy vaccines, for example, ALLOVECTIN® vaccine, LEUVECTIN® vaccine, and VAXID® vaccine; PROLEUKIN® rIL-2; LURTOTECAN® topoisomerase 1 inhibitor; ABARELIX® rmRH; Vinorelbine and Esperamicins (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,187), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, acids or derivatives of any of the above; as well as combinations of two or more of the above.

[0129] A "growth inhibitory agent" when used herein refers to a compound or composition which inhibits growth of a cell either in vitro or in vivo. In one embodiment, growth inhibitory agent is growth inhibitory antibody that prevents or reduces proliferation of a cell expressing an antigen to which the antibody binds. In another embodiment, the growth inhibitory agent may be one which significantly reduces the percentage of cells in S phase. Examples of growth inhibitory agents include agents that block cell cycle progression (at a place other than S phase), such as agents that induce Gl arrest and M-phase arrest. Classical M-phase blockers include the vincas (vincristine and vinblastine), taxanes, and topoisomerase II inhibitors such as doxorubicin, epirubicin, daunorubicin, etoposide, and bleomycin. Those agents that arrest Gl also spill over into S-phase arrest, for example, DNA alkylating agents such as tamoxifen, prednisone, dacarbazine, mechlorethamine, cisplatin, methotrexate, 5- fluorouracil, and ara-C. Further information can be found in Mendelsohn and Israel, eds., The Molecular Basis of Cancer, Chapter 1, entitled "Cell cycle regulation, oncogenes, and antineoplastic drugs" by Murakami et al. (W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, 1995), e.g., p. 13. The taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel) are anticancer drugs both derived from the yew tree. Docetaxel (TAXOTERE®, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer), derived from the European yew, is a semisynthetic analogue of paclitaxel (TAXOL®, Bristol-Myers Squibb). Paclitaxel and docetaxel promote the assembly of microtubules from tubulin dimers and stabilize microtubules by preventing depolymerization, which results in the inhibition of mitosis in cells. [0130] By "radiation therapy" is meant the use of directed gamma rays or beta rays to induce sufficient damage to a cell so as to limit its ability to function normally or to destroy the cell altogether. It will be appreciated that there will be many ways known in the art to determine the dosage and duration of treatment. Typical treatments are given as a one time administration and typical dosages range from 10 to 200 units (Grays) per day.

[0131] The term "pharmaceutical formulation" refers to a preparation which is in such form as to permit the biological activity of the active ingredient to be effective, and which contains no additional components which are unacceptably toxic to a subject to which the formulation would be administered. Such formulations may be sterile.

[0132] A "sterile" formulation is aseptic or free from all living microorganisms and their spores.

[0133] Administration "in combination with" one or more further therapeutic agents includes simultaneous (concurrent) and consecutive or sequential administration in any order.

[0134] The term "concurrently" is used herein to refer to administration of two or more therapeutic agents, where at least part of the administration overlaps in time.

Accordingly, concurrent administration includes a dosing regimen when the administration of one or more agent(s) continues after discontinuing the administration of one or more other agent(s).

[0135] "Chronic" administration refers to administration of the agent(s) in a continuous mode as opposed to an acute mode, so as to maintain the initial therapeutic effect (activity) for an extended period of time. "Intermittent" administration is treatment that is not consecutively done without interruption, but rather is cyclic in nature.

[0136] "Carriers" as used herein include pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients, or stabilizers which are nontoxic to the cell or mammal being exposed thereto at the dosages and concentrations employed. Often the physiologically acceptable carrier is an aqueous pH buffered solution. Examples of physiologically acceptable carriers include buffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids; antioxidants including ascorbic acid; low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptide; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, arginine or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates including glucose, mannose, or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugar alcohols such as mannitol or sorbitol; salt-forming counterions such as sodium; and/or nonionic surfactants such as TWEEN™, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and PLURONICS™.

[0137] A "liposome" is a small vesicle composed of various types of lipids, phospholipids and/or surfactant which is useful for delivery of a drug (such as an anti-VEGF- A antibody) to a mammal. The components of the liposome are commonly arranged in a bilayer formation, similar to the lipid arrangement of biological membranes.

[0138] The term "diagnosis" is used herein to refer to the identification of a molecular or pathological state, disease or condition, such as the identification of cancer or to refer to identification of a cancer patient who may benefit from a particular treatment regimen.

[0139] The term "prognosis" is used herein to refer to the prediction of the likelihood of benefit from anti-cancer therapy.

[0140] The term "prediction" or "predicting" is used herein to refer to the likelihood that a patient will respond either favorably or unfavorably to a particular anticancer therapy. In one embodiment, prediction or predicting relates to the extent of those responses. In one embodiment, the prediction or predicting relates to whether and/or the probability that a patient will survive or improve following treatment, for example treatment with a particular therapeutic agent, and for a certain period of time without disease recurrence. The predictive methods of the invention can be used clinically to make treatment decisions by choosing the most appropriate treatment modalities for any particular patient. The predictive methods of the present invention are valuable tools in predicting if a patient is likely to respond favorably to a treatment regimen, such as a given therapeutic regimen, including for example, administration of a given therapeutic agent or combination, surgical intervention, steroid treatment, etc., or whether long-term survival of the patient, following a therapeutic regimen is likely.

[0141] Responsiveness of a patient can be assessed using any endpoint indicating a benefit to the patient, including, without limitation, (1) inhibition, to some extent, of disease progression, including slowing down and complete arrest; (2) reduction in lesion size; (3) inhibition (i.e., reduction, slowing down or complete stopping) of disease cell infiltration into adjacent peripheral organs and/or tissues; (4) inhibition (i.e. reduction, slowing down or complete stopping) of disease spread; (5) relief, to some extent, of one or more symptoms associated with the disorder; (6) increase in the length of disease-free presentation following treatment; and/or (8) decreased mortality at a given point of time following treatment. [0142] The term "benefit" is used in the broadest sense and refers to any desirable effect and specifically includes therapeutic efficacy and clinical benefit as defined herein.

[0143] Therapeutic efficacy and clinical benefit can be measured by assessing various endpoints, e.g., inhibition, to some extent, of disease progression, including slowing down and complete arrest; reduction in the number of disease episodes and/or symptoms; reduction in lesion size; inhibition {i.e., reduction, slowing down or complete stopping) of disease cell infiltration into adjacent peripheral organs and/or tissues; inhibition (i.e.

reduction, slowing down or complete stopping) of disease spread; decrease of auto-immune response, which may, but does not have to, result in the regression or ablation of the disease lesion; relief, to some extent, of one or more symptoms associated with the disorder; increase in the length of disease-free presentation following treatment, e.g., progression-free survival; increased overall survival; higher response rate; and/or decreased mortality at a given point of time following treatment.

[0144] The term "resistant cancer or "resistant tumor" refers to cancer, cancerous cells, or a tumor that does not respond completely, or loses or shows a reduced response over the course of cancer therapy to a cancer therapy comprising at least a VEGF antagonist. In certain embodiments, resistant tumor is a tumor that is resistant to anti-VEGF antibody therapy. In one embodiment, the anti-VEGF antibody is bevacizumab. In certain

embodiments, a resistant tumor is a tumor that is unlikely to respond to a cancer therapy comprising at least a VEGF antagonist.

[0145] "Relapsed" refers to the regression of the patient's illness back to its former diseased state, especially the return of symptoms following an apparent recovery or partial recovery. Unless otherwise indicted, relapsed state refers to the process of returning to or the return to illness before the previous treatment including, but not limited to, VEGF antagonist and chemotherapy treatments. In certain embodiments, VEGF antagonist is an anti-VEGF antibody.

III. Methods of the Invention

[0146] The present invention is based partly on the use of specific genes or biomarkers that correlate with efficacy of anti-angiogenic therapy or treatment comprising a VEGF antagonist. Thus, the disclosed methods provide convenient, efficient, and potentially cost-effective means to obtain data and information useful in assessing appropriate or effective therapies for treating patients. For example, a cancer patient could have a biopsy performed to obtain a tissue or cell sample, and the sample could be examined by various in vitro assays to determine whether the expression level of one or more biomarkers has increased or decreased as compared to the expression level in a reference sample. If expression levels of at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 genes selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A and haptoglobulin, is increased or decreased, then the patient is likely to benefit from treatment with a therapy or treatment comprising a VEGF antagonist.

[0147] Expression levels/amount of a gene or a biomarker can be determined based on any suitable criterion known in the art, including but not limited to mRNA, cDNA, proteins, protein fragments and/or gene copy number.

[0148] Expression of various genes or biomarkers in a sample can be analyzed by a number of methodologies, many of which are known in the art and understood by the skilled artisan, including but not limited to, immunohistochemical and/or Western blot analysis, immunoprecipitation, molecular binding assays, ELISA, ELIFA, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) and the like, quantitative blood based assays (as for example Serum ELISA) (to examine, for example, levels of protein expression), biochemical enzymatic activity assays, in situ hybridization, Northern analysis and/or PCR analysis of mRNAs, as well as any one of the wide variety of assays that can be performed by gene and/or tissue array analysis. Typical protocols for evaluating the status of genes and gene products are found, for example in Ausubel et al. eds., 1995, Current Protocols In Molecular Biology, Units 2 (Northern Blotting), 4 (Southern Blotting), 15 (Immunob lotting) and 18 (PCR Analysis). Multiplexed immunoassays such as those available from Rules Based Medicine or Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) may also be used.

[0149] In certain embodiments, expression/amount of a gene or biomarker in a sample is increased as compared to expression/amount in a reference sample if the expression level/amount of the gene or biomarker in the sample is greater than the expression level/amount of the gene or biomarker in reference sample. Similarly, expression/amount of a gene or biomarker in a sample is decreased as compared to expression/amount in a reference sample if the expression level/amount of the gene or biomarker in the ample is less than the expression level/amount of the gene or biomarker in the reference sample.

[0150] In certain embodiments, the samples are normalized for both differences in the amount of RNA or protein assayed and variability in the quality of the RNA or protein samples used, and variability between assay runs. Such normalization may be accomplished by measuring and incorporating the expression of certain normalizing genes, including well known housekeeping genes, such as ACTB. Alternatively, normalization can be based on the mean or median signal of all of the assayed genes or a large subset thereof (global normalization approach). On a gene-by-gene basis, measured normalized amount of a patient tumor mR A or protein is compared to the amount found in a reference set. Normalized expression levels for each mRNA or protein per tested tumor per patient can be expressed as a percentage of the expression level measured in the reference set. The expression level measured in a particular patient sample to be analyzed will fall at some percentile within this range, which can be determined by methods well known in the art.

[0151] In certain embodiments, relative expression level of a gene is determined as follows:

Relative expression genel _sampi_ei = 2 exp (Ct housekeeping gene - Ct _genei) with Ct determined in a sample.

Relative expression genel reference RNA = 2 exp (Ct housekeeping gene - Ct genel) With Ct determined in the reference sample.

Normalized relative expression genel _sampiei = (relative expression genel _sampiei / relative expression genel reference RNA) x 100

[0152] Ct is the threshold cycle. The Ct is the cycle number at which the fluorescence generated within a reaction crosses the threshold line.

[0153] All experiments are normalized to a reference RNA, which is a

comprehensive mix of RNA from various tissue sources (e.g., reference RNA #636538 from Clontech, Mountain View, CA). Identical reference RNA is included in each qRT-PCR run, allowing comparison of results between different experimental runs.

[0154] A sample comprising a target gene or biomarker can be obtained by methods well known in the art, and that are appropriate for the particular type and location of the cancer of interest. See under Definitions. For instance, samples of cancerous lesions may be obtained by resection, bronchoscopy, fine needle aspiration, bronchial brushings, or from sputum, pleural fluid or blood. Genes or gene products can be detected from cancer or tumor tissue or from other body samples such as urine, sputum, serum or plasma. The same techniques discussed above for detection of target genes or gene products in cancerous samples can be applied to other body samples. Cancer cells may be sloughed off from cancer lesions and appear in such body samples. By screening such body samples, a simple early diagnosis can be achieved for these cancers. In addition, the progress of therapy can be monitored more easily by testing such body samples for target genes or gene products. [0155] Means for enriching a tissue preparation for cancer cells are known in the art. For example, the tissue may be isolated from paraffin or cryostat sections. Cancer cells may also be separated from normal cells by flow cytometry or laser capture microdissection. These, as well as other techniques for separating cancerous from normal cells, are well known in the art. If the cancer tissue is highly contaminated with normal cells, detection of signature gene or protein expression profile may be more difficult, although techniques for minimizing contamination and/or false positive/negative results are known, some of which are described herein below. For example, a sample may also be assessed for the presence of a biomarker known to be associated with a cancer cell of interest but not a corresponding normal cell, or vice versa.

[0156] In certain embodiments, the expression of proteins in a sample is examined using immunohistochemistry ("IHC") and staining protocols. Immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections has been shown to be a reliable method of assessing or detecting presence of proteins in a sample. Immunohistochemistry techniques utilize an antibody to probe and visualize cellular antigens in situ, generally by chromogenic or fluorescent methods.

[0157] The tissue sample may be fixed {i.e. preserved) by conventional methodology (See e.g., "Manual of Histological Staining Method of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology," 3^rd edition (1960) Lee G. Luna, HT (ASCP) Editor, The Blakston Division McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York; The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Advanced Laboratory Methods in Histology and Pathology (1994) Ulreka V. Mikel, Editor, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, American Registry of Pathology, Washington, D.C.). One of skill in the art will appreciate that the choice of a fixative is determined by the purpose for which the sample is to be histologically stained or otherwise analyzed. One of skill in the art will also appreciate that the length of fixation depends upon the size of the tissue sample and the fixative used. By way of example, neutral buffered formalin, Bouin's or paraformaldehyde, may be used to fix a sample.

[0158] Generally, the sample is first fixed and is then dehydrated through an ascending series of alcohols, infiltrated and embedded with paraffin or other sectioning media so that the tissue sample may be sectioned. Alternatively, one may section the tissue and fix the sections obtained. By way of example, the tissue sample may be embedded and processed in paraffin by conventional methodology (See e.g., "Manual of Histological Staining Method of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology", supra). Examples of paraffin that may be used include, but are not limited to, Paraplast, Broloid, and Tissuemay. Once the tissue sample is embedded, the sample may be sectioned by a microtome or the like (See e.g., "Manual of Histological Staining Method of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology", supra). By way of example for this procedure, sections may range from about three microns to about five microns in thickness. Once sectioned, the sections may be attached to slides by several standard methods. Examples of slide adhesives include, but are not limited to, silane, gelatin, poly-L-lysine and the like. By way of example, the paraffin embedded sections may be attached to positively charged slides and/or slides coated with poly-L-lysine.

[0159] If paraffin has been used as the embedding material, the tissue sections are generally deparaffinized and rehydrated to water. The tissue sections may be deparaffmized by several conventional standard methodologies. For example, xylenes and a gradually descending series of alcohols may be used {See e.g., "Manual of Histological Staining Method of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology", supra). Alternatively, commercially available deparaffinizing non-organic agents such as Hemo-De7 (CMS, Houston, Texas) may be used.

[0160] In certain embodiments, subsequent to the sample preparation, a tissue section may be analyzed using IHC. IHC may be performed in combination with additional techniques such as morphological staining and/or fluorescence in-situ hybridization. Two general methods of IHC are available; direct and indirect assays. According to the first assay, binding of antibody to the target antigen is determined directly. This direct assay uses a labeled reagent, such as a fluorescent tag or an enzyme-labeled primary antibody, which can be visualized without further antibody interaction. In a typical indirect assay, unconjugated primary antibody binds to the antigen and then a labeled secondary antibody binds to the primary antibody. Where the secondary antibody is conjugated to an enzymatic label, a chromogenic or fluorogenic substrate is added to provide visualization of the antigen. Signal amplification occurs because several secondary antibodies may react with different epitopes on the primary antibody.

[0161] The primary and/or secondary antibody used for immunohistochemistry typically will be labeled with a detectable moiety. Numerous labels are available which can be generally grouped into the following categories:

35 14 125 3 131

(a) Radioisotopes, such as S, C, I, H, and I. The antibody can be labeled with the radioisotope using the techniques described in Current Protocols in Immunology, Volumes 1 and 2, Coligen et ah, Ed. Wiley-Interscience, New York, New York, Pubs.

(1991) for example and radioactivity can be measured using scintillation counting.

(b) Colloidal gold particles.

(c) Fluorescent labels including, but are not limited to, rare earth chelates (europium chelates), Texas Red, rhodamine, fluorescein, dansyl, Lissamine, umbelliferone, phycocrytherin, phycocyanin, or commercially available fluorophores such SPECTRUM ORANGE7 and SPECTRUM GREEN7 and/or derivatives of any one or more of the above. The fluorescent labels can be conjugated to the antibody using the techniques disclosed in Current Protocols in Immunology, supra, for example. Fluorescence can be quantified using a fluorimeter.

(d) Various enzyme-substrate labels are available and U.S. Patent No. 4,275,149 provides a review of some of these. The enzyme generally catalyzes a chemical alteration of the chromogenic substrate that can be measured using various techniques. For example, the enzyme may catalyze a color change in a substrate, which can be measured

spectrophotometrically. Alternatively, the enzyme may alter the fluorescence or

chemiluminescence of the substrate. Techniques for quantifying a change in fluorescence are described above. The chemiluminescent substrate becomes electronically excited by a chemical reaction and may then emit light which can be measured (using a

chemiluminometer, for example) or donates energy to a fluorescent acceptor. Examples of enzymatic labels include luciferases {e.g., firefly luciferase and bacterial luciferase; U.S. Patent No. 4,737,456), luciferin, 2,3-dihydrophthalazinediones, malate dehydrogenase, urease, peroxidase such as horseradish peroxidase (HRPO), alkaline phosphatase, β- galactosidase, glucoamylase, lysozyme, saccharide oxidases {e.g., glucose oxidase, galactose oxidase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase), heterocyclic oxidases (such as uricase and xanthine oxidase), lactoperoxidase, microperoxidase, and the like. Techniques for conjugating enzymes to antibodies are described in O'Sullivan et ah, Methods for the Preparation of Enzyme- Antibody Conjugates for use in Enzyme Immunoassay, in Methods in Enzym. (ed. J. Langone & H. Van Vunakis), Academic press, New York, 73: 147-166 (1981).

[0162] Examples of enzyme-substrate combinations include, for example:

(i) Horseradish peroxidase (HRPO) with hydrogen peroxidase as a substrate, wherein the hydrogen peroxidase oxidizes a dye precursor {e.g., orthophenylene diamine (OPD) or 3,3',5,5'-tetramethyl benzidine hydrochloride (TMB));

(ii) alkaline phosphatase (AP) with para-Nitrophenyl phosphate as chromogenic substrate; and

(iii) β-D-galactosidase (β-D-Gal) with a chromogenic substrate {e.g., p- nitrophenyl- -D-galactosidase) or fluorogenic substrate {e.g., 4-methylumbelliferyl- -D- galactosidase). [0163] Numerous other enzyme-substrate combinations are available to those skilled in the art. For a general review of these, see U.S. Patent Nos. 4,275,149 and

4,318,980. Sometimes, the label is indirectly conjugated with the antibody. The skilled artisan will be aware of various techniques for achieving this. For example, the antibody can be conjugated with biotin and any of the four broad categories of labels mentioned above can be conjugated with avidin, or vice versa. Biotin binds selectively to avidin and thus, the label can be conjugated with the antibody in this indirect manner. Alternatively, to achieve indirect conjugation of the label with the antibody, the antibody is conjugated with a small hapten and one of the different types of labels mentioned above is conjugated with an anti- hapten antibody. Thus, indirect conjugation of the label with the antibody can be achieved.

[0164] Aside from the sample preparation procedures discussed above, further treatment of the tissue section prior to, during or following IHC may be desired. For example, epitope retrieval methods, such as heating the tissue sample in citrate buffer may be carried out (see, e.g., Leong et al. Appl. Immunohistochem. 4(3):201 (1996)).

[0165] Following an optional blocking step, the tissue section is exposed to primary antibody for a sufficient period of time and under suitable conditions such that the primary antibody binds to the target protein antigen in the tissue sample. Appropriate conditions for achieving this can be determined by routine experimentation. The extent of binding of antibody to the sample is determined by using any one of the detectable labels discussed above. In certain embodiments, the label is an enzymatic label (e.g. HRPO) which catalyzes a chemical alteration of the chromogenic substrate such as 3,3'-diaminobenzidine chromogen. In one embodiment, the enzymatic label is conjugated to antibody which binds specifically to the primary antibody (e.g. the primary antibody is rabbit polyclonal antibody and secondary antibody is goat anti-rabbit antibody).

Specimens thus prepared may be mounted and coverslipped. Slide evaluation is then determined, e.g., using a microscope, and staining intensity criteria, routinely used in the art, may be employed. Staining intensity criteria may be evaluated as follows:

Weak to moderate staining is observed in more than 2+

10% of the cells.

Moderate to strong staining is observed in more than 3+

10% of the cells.

[0166] In some embodiments, a staining pattern score of about 1+ or higher is diagnostic and/or prognostic. In certain embodiments, a staining pattern score of about 2+ or higher in an IHC assay is diagnostic and/or prognostic. In other embodiments, a staining pattern score of about 3 or higher is diagnostic and/or prognostic. In one embodiment, it is understood that when cells and/or tissue from a tumor or colon adenoma are examined using IHC, staining is generally determined or assessed in tumor cell and/or tissue (as opposed to stromal or surrounding tissue that may be present in the sample).

[0167] In alternative methods, the sample may be contacted with an antibody specific for said biomarker under conditions sufficient for an antibody-biomarker complex to form, and then detecting said complex. The presence of the biomarker may be detected in a number of ways, such as by Western blotting and ELISA procedures for assaying a wide variety of tissues and samples, including plasma or serum. A wide range of immunoassay techniques using such an assay format are available, see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,016,043, 4,424,279 and 4,018,653. These include both single-site and two-site or "sandwich" assays of the non-competitive types, as well as in the traditional competitive binding assays. These assays also include direct binding of a labelled antibody to a target biomarker.

[0168] Sandwich assays are among the most useful and commonly used assays. A number of variations of the sandwich assay technique exist, and all are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Briefly, in a typical forward assay, an unlabelled antibody is immobilized on a solid substrate, and the sample to be tested brought into contact with the bound molecule. After a suitable period of incubation, for a period of time sufficient to allow formation of an antibody-antigen complex, a second antibody specific to the antigen, labelled with a reporter molecule capable of producing a detectable signal is then added and incubated, allowing time sufficient for the formation of another complex of antibody-antigen- labelled antibody. Any unreacted material is washed away, and the presence of the antigen is determined by observation of a signal produced by the reporter molecule. The results may either be qualitative, by simple observation of the visible signal, or may be quantitated by comparing with a control sample containing known amounts of biomarker. [0169] Variations on the forward assay include a simultaneous assay, in which both sample and labelled antibody are added simultaneously to the bound antibody. These techniques are well known to those skilled in the art, including any minor variations as will be readily apparent. In a typical forward sandwich assay, a first antibody having specificity for the biomarker is either covalently or passively bound to a solid surface. The solid surface is typically glass or a polymer, the most commonly used polymers being cellulose, polyacrylamide, nylon, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene. The solid supports may be in the form of tubes, beads, discs of microplates, or any other surface suitable for conducting an immunoassay. The binding processes are well-known in the art and generally consist of cross-linking covalently binding or physically adsorbing, the polymer-antibody complex is washed in preparation for the test sample. An aliquot of the sample to be tested is then added to the solid phase complex and incubated for a period of time sufficient (e.g. 2-40 minutes or overnight if more convenient) and under suitable conditions (e.g. from room temperature to 40°C such as between 25° C and 32° C inclusive) to allow binding of any subunit present in the antibody. Following the incubation period, the antibody subunit solid phase is washed and dried and incubated with a second antibody specific for a portion of the biomarker. The second antibody is linked to a reporter molecule which is used to indicate the binding of the second antibody to the molecular marker.

[0170] An alternative method involves immobilizing the target biomarkers in the sample and then exposing the immobilized target to specific antibody which may or may not be labelled with a reporter molecule. Depending on the amount of target and the strength of the reporter molecule signal, a bound target may be detectable by direct labelling with the antibody. Alternatively, a second labelled antibody, specific to the first antibody is exposed to the target-first antibody complex to form a target- first antibody-second antibody tertiary complex. The complex is detected by the signal emitted by the reporter molecule. By "reporter molecule", as used in the present specification, is meant a molecule which, by its chemical nature, provides an analytically identifiable signal which allows the detection of antigen-bound antibody. The most commonly used reporter molecules in this type of assay are either enzymes, fluorophores or radionuclide containing molecules (i.e. radioisotopes) and chemiluminescent molecules.

[0171] In the case of an enzyme immunoassay, an enzyme is conjugated to the second antibody, generally by means of glutaraldehyde or periodate. As will be readily recognized, however, a wide variety of different conjugation techniques exist, which are readily available to the skilled artisan. Commonly used enzymes include horseradish peroxidase, glucose oxidase, -galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase, amongst others. The substrates to be used with the specific enzymes are generally chosen for the production, upon hydrolysis by the corresponding enzyme, of a detectable color change. Examples of suitable enzymes include alkaline phosphatase and peroxidase. It is also possible to employ fluorogenic substrates, which yield a fluorescent product rather than the chromogenic substrates noted above. In all cases, the enzyme-labelled antibody is added to the first antibody-molecular marker complex, allowed to bind, and then the excess reagent is washed away. A solution containing the appropriate substrate is then added to the complex of antibody-antigen-antibody. The substrate will react with the enzyme linked to the second antibody, giving a qualitative visual signal, which may be further quantitated, usually spectrophotometrically, to give an indication of the amount of biomarker which was present in the sample. Alternately, fluorescent compounds, such as fluorescein and rhodamine, may be chemically coupled to antibodies without altering their binding capacity. When activated by illumination with light of a particular wavelength, the fluorochrome-labelled antibody adsorbs the light energy, inducing a state to excitability in the molecule, followed by emission of the light at a characteristic color visually detectable with a light microscope. As in the EIA, the fluorescent labelled antibody is allowed to bind to the first antibody-molecular marker complex. After washing off the unbound reagent, the remaining tertiary complex is then exposed to the light of the appropriate wavelength, the fluorescence observed indicates the presence of the molecular marker of interest. Immunofluorescence and EIA techniques are both very well established in the art. However, other reporter molecules, such as radioisotope, chemiluminescent or bioluminescent molecules, may also be employed.

[0172] It is contemplated that the above described techniques may also be employed to detect expression of at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 genes selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP- 1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof.

[0173] Methods of the invention further include protocols which examine the presence and/or expression of mRNAs of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 genes selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP- 1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof, in a tissue or cell sample. Methods for the evaluation of mRNAs in cells are well known and include, for example, hybridization assays using complementary DNA probes (such as in situ hybridization using labeled riboprobes specific for the one or more genes, Northern blot and related techniques) and various nucleic acid amplification assays (such as RT-PCR using complementary primers specific for one or more of the genes, and other amplification type detection methods, such as, for example, branched DNA, SISBA, TMA and the like).

[0174] Tissue or cell samples from mammals can be conveniently assayed for mRNAs using Northern, dot blot or PCR analysis. For example, RT-PCR assays such as quantitative PCR assays are well known in the art. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a method for detecting a target mRNA in a biological sample comprises producing cDNA from the sample by reverse transcription using at least one primer; amplifying the cDNA so produced using a target polynucleotide as sense and antisense primers to amplify target cDNAs therein; and detecting the presence of the amplified target cDNA using polynucleotide probes. In some embodiments, primers and probes comprising the sequences set forth in Table 2 are used to detect expression of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 genes selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof. In addition, such methods can include one or more steps that allow one to determine the levels of target mRNA in a biological sample (e.g. , by simultaneously examining the levels a comparative control mRNA sequence of a "housekeeping" gene such as an actin family member). Optionally, the sequence of the amplified target cDNA can be determined.

[0175] Optional methods of the invention include protocols which examine or detect mRNAs, such as target mRNAs, in a tissue or cell sample by microarray technologies. Using nucleic acid microarrays, test and control mRNA samples from test and control tissue samples are reverse transcribed and labeled to generate cDNA probes. The probes are then hybridized to an array of nucleic acids immobilized on a solid support. The array is configured such that the sequence and position of each member of the array is known. For example, a selection of genes whose expression correlate with increased or reduced clinical benefit of anti-angiogenic therapy may be arrayed on a solid support. Hybridization of a labeled probe with a particular array member indicates that the sample from which the probe was derived expresses that gene. Differential gene expression analysis of disease tissue can provide valuable information. Microarray technology utilizes nucleic acid hybridization techniques and computing technology to evaluate the mRNA expression profile of thousands of genes within a single experiment, (see, e.g., WO 01/75166 published October 11, 2001; (see, for example, U.S. 5,700,637, U.S. Patent 5,445,934, and U.S. Patent 5,807,522, Lockart, Nature Biotechnology, 14: 1675-1680 (1996); Cheung, V.G. et al., Nature Genetics

21(Suppl): 15-19 (1999) for a discussion of array fabrication). DNA microarrays are miniature arrays containing gene fragments that are either synthesized directly onto or spotted onto glass or other substrates. Thousands of genes are usually represented in a single array. A typical microarray experiment involves the following steps: 1) preparation of fluorescently labeled target from R A isolated from the sample, 2) hybridization of the labeled target to the microarray, 3) washing, staining, and scanning of the array, 4) analysis of the scanned image and 5) generation of gene expression profiles. Currently two main types of DNA microarrays are being used: oligonucleotide (usually 25 to 70 mers) arrays and gene expression arrays containing PCR products prepared from cDNAs. In forming an array, oligonucleotides can be either prefabricated and spotted to the surface or directly synthesized on to the surface (in situ).

[0176] The Affymetrix GeneChip® system is a commercially available microarray system which comprises arrays fabricated by direct synthesis of oligonucleotides on a glass surface. Probe/Gene Arrays: Oligonucleotides, usually 25 mers, are directly synthesized onto a glass wafer by a combination of semiconductor-based photolithography and solid phase chemical synthesis technologies. Each array contains up to 400,000 different oligos and each oligo is present in millions of copies. Since oligonucleotide probes are synthesized in known locations on the array, the hybridization patterns and signal intensities can be interpreted in terms of gene identity and relative expression levels by the Affymetrix Microarray Suite software. Each gene is represented on the array by a series of different oligonucleotide probes. Each probe pair consists of a perfect match oligonucleotide and a mismatch oligonucleotide. The perfect match probe has a sequence exactly complimentary to the particular gene and thus measures the expression of the gene. The mismatch probe differs from the perfect match probe by a single base substitution at the center base position, disturbing the binding of the target gene transcript. This helps to determine the background and nonspecific hybridization that contributes to the signal measured for the perfect match oligo. The Microarray Suite software subtracts the hybridization intensities of the mismatch probes from those of the perfect match probes to determine the absolute or specific intensity value for each probe set. Probes are chosen based on current information from Genbank and other nucleotide repositories. The sequences are believed to recognize unique regions of the 3' end of the gene. A GeneChip Hybridization Oven ("rotisserie" oven) is used to carry out the hybridization of up to 64 arrays at one time. The fluidics station performs washing and staining of the probe arrays. It is completely automated and contains four modules, with each module holding one probe array. Each module is controlled independently through

Microarray Suite software using preprogrammed fluidics protocols. The scanner is a confocal laser fluorescence scanner which measures fluorescence intensity emitted by the labeled cR A bound to the probe arrays. The computer workstation with Microarray Suite software controls the fluidics station and the scanner. Microarray Suite software can control up to eight fluidics stations using preprogrammed hybridization, wash, and stain protocols for the probe array. The software also acquires and converts hybridization intensity data into a presence/absence call for each gene using appropriate algorithms. Finally, the software detects changes in gene expression between experiments by comparison analysis and formats the output into .txt files, which can be used with other software programs for further data analysis.

[0177] Expression of a selected gene or biomarker in a tissue or cell sample may also be examined by way of functional or activity-based assays. For instance, if the biomarker is an enzyme, one may conduct assays known in the art to determine or detect the presence of the given enzymatic activity in the tissue or cell sample.

[0178] The kits of the invention have a number of embodiments. In certain embodiments, a kit comprises a container, a label on said container, and a composition contained within said container; wherein the composition includes one or more primary antibodies that bind to one or more target polypeptide sequences corresponding to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 genes selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL- 8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof, the label on the container indicating that the composition can be used to evaluate the presence of one or more target proteins in at least one type of mammalian cell, and instructions for using the antibodies for evaluating the presence of one or more target proteins in at least one type of mammalian cell. The kit can further comprise a set of instructions and materials for preparing a tissue sample and applying antibody and probe to the same section of a tissue sample. The kit may include both a primary and secondary antibody, wherein the secondary antibody is conjugated to a label, e.g., an enzymatic label.

[0179] Another embodiment is a kit comprising a container, a label on said container, and a composition contained within said container; wherein the composition includes one or more polynucleotides that hybridize to the polynucleotide sequence of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 genes selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL- 8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof, under stringent conditions, the label on said container indicates that the composition can be used to evaluate the presence of and/or expression levels of the one or more target genes in at least one type of mammalian cell, and instructions for using the polynucleotide for evaluating the presence of and/or expression levels of one or more target RNAs or DNAs in at least one type of mammalian cell. In some embodiments, the kits comprise polynucleotide primers and probes comprising the sequences set forth in Table 2

[0180] Other optional components in the kit include one or more buffers (e.g. , block buffer, wash buffer, substrate buffer, etc), other reagents such as substrate (e.g., chromogen) which is chemically altered by an enzymatic label, epitope retrieval solution, control samples (positive and/or negative controls), control slide(s) etc.

IV. Pharmaceutical Formulations

[0181] For the methods of the invention, therapeutic formulations of the anti- VEGF antibody are prepared for storage by mixing the antibody having the desired degree of purity with optional physiologically acceptable carriers, excipients or stabilizers (Remington 's Pharmaceutical Sciences 16th edition, Osol, A. Ed. (1980)), in the form of lyophilized formulations or aqueous solutions. Acceptable carriers, excipients, or stabilizers are nontoxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed, and include buffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids; antioxidants including ascorbic acid and methionine; preservatives (such as octadecyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride;

hexamethonium chloride; benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride; phenol, butyl or benzyl alcohol; alkyl parabens such as methyl or propyl paraben; catechol; resorcinol;

cyclohexanol; 3-pentanol; and m-cresol); low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptide; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, histidine, arginine, or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates including glucose, mannose, or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugars such as sucrose, mannitol, trehalose or sorbitol; salt-forming counter-ions such as sodium; metal complexes (e.g., Zn-protein complexes); and/or non-ionic surfactants such as TWEEN™, PLURONICS™ or polyethylene glycol (PEG).

[0182] The formulation herein may also contain more than one active compound as necessary for the particular indication being treated, preferably those with complementary activities that do not adversely affect each other. For example, it may be desirable to further provide an immunosuppressive agent. Such molecules are suitably present in combination in amounts that are effective for the purpose intended.

[0183] The active ingredients may also be entrapped in microcapsule prepared, for example, by coacervation techniques or by interfacial polymerization, for example, hydroxymethylcellulose or gelatin-microcapsule and poly-(methylmethacylate) microcapsule, respectively, in colloidal drug delivery systems (for example, liposomes, albumin

microspheres, microemulsions, nano-particles and nanocapsules) or in macroemulsions. Such techniques are disclosed in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences 16th edition, Osol, A. Ed. (1980).

[0184] Sustained-release preparations may be prepared. Suitable examples of sustained-release preparations include semipermeable matrices of solid hydrophobic polymers containing the antibody, which matrices are in the form of shaped articles, e.g., films, or microcapsule. Examples of sustained-release matrices include polyesters, hydrogels (for example, poly(2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate), or poly(vinylalcohol)), polylactides (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and γ ethyl-L-glutamate, non-degradable ethylene-vinyl acetate, degradable lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers such as the LUPRON DEPOT™ (injectable microspheres composed of lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer and leuprolide acetate), and poly-D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyric acid. While polymers such as ethylene- vinyl acetate and lactic acid-glycolic acid enable release of molecules for over 100 days, certain hydrogels release proteins for shorter time periods. When encapsulated antibodies remain in the body for a long time, they may denature or aggregate as a result of exposure to moisture at 37°C, resulting in a loss of biological activity and possible changes in

immunogenicity. Rational strategies can be devised for stabilization depending on the mechanism involved. For example, if the aggregation mechanism is discovered to be intermolecular S-S bond formation through thio-disulfide interchange, stabilization may be achieved by modifying sulfhydryl residues, lyophilizing from acidic solutions, controlling moisture content, using appropriate additives, and developing specific polymer matrix compositions.

V. Therapeutic Uses

[0185] The present invention contemplates a method for treating an angiogenic disorder (e.g., a disorder characterized by abnormal angiogenesis or abnormal vascular leakage) in a patient comprising the steps of determining that a sample obtained from the patient has increased or decreased expression levels of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 genes selected from VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof, and administering to the patient an effective amount of an anti-cancer therapy comprising an anti-VEGF-A antagonist whereby the tumor, cancer or cell proliferative disorder is treated.

[0186] Examples of angiogenic disorders to be treated herein include, but are not limited to cancer, especially vascularized solid tumors and metastatic tumors (including colon, lung cancer (especially small-cell lung cancer), or prostate cancer), diseases caused by ocular neovascularisation, especially diabetic blindness, retinopathies, primarily diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization (CNV), diabetic macular edema, pathological myopia, von Hippel-Lindau disease, histoplasmosis of the eye, Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO), corneal neovascularization, retinal neovascularization and rubeosis; psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, haemangioblastoma such as haemangioma; inflammatory renal diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, especially mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, haemolytic uremic syndrome, diabetic

nephropathy or hypertensive nephrosclerosis; various imflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psorsasis, sarcoidosis, arterial arteriosclerosis and diseases occurring after transplants, endometriosis or chronic asthma and other conditions; disease states including, e.g., edema associated with tumors including, e.g., brain tumors; ascites associated with malignancies; Meigs' syndrome; lung inflammation; nephrotic syndrome; pericardial effusion; pleural effusion, permeability associated with cardiovascular diseases such as the condition following myocardial infarctions and strokes and the like.

[0187] Examples of cancer to be treated herein include, but are not limited to, carcinoma, lymphoma, blastoma, sarcoma, and leukemia. More particular examples of such cancers include melanoma (including, e.g, superficial spreading melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma, acral lentiginous melanomas, and nodular melanomas), squamous cell cancer, lung cancer (including small-cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma of the lung, and squamous carcinoma of the lung), cancer of the peritoneum, hepatocellular cancer, gastric or stomach cancer (including gastrointestinal cancer), pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, hepatoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial or uterine carcinoma, salivary gland carcinoma, kidney or renal cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, vulval cancer, thyroid cancer, hepatic carcinoma and various types of head and neck cancer, as well as B-cell lymphoma (including low grade/follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL); small lymphocytic (SL) NHL; intermediate grade/follicular NHL; intermediate grade diffuse NHL; high grade immunoblastic NHL; high grade lymphoblastic NHL; high grade small non- cleaved cell NHL; bulky disease NHL; mantle cell lymphoma; AIDS-related lymphoma; and Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia); chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL); acute

lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); Hairy cell leukemia; chronic myeloblastic leukemia; and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), as well as abnormal vascular proliferation associated with phakomatoses, edema (such as that associated with brain tumors), and Meigs' syndrome. More particularly, cancers that are amenable to treatment by the VEGF-A antagonists of the invention include melanoma (including, e.g, superficial spreading melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma, acral lentiginous melanomas, and nodular melanomas), breast cancer, colorectal cancer, rectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, non- Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL), renal cell cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, soft-tissue sarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, carcinoid carcinoma, head and neck cancer, ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and multiple myeloma. In some embodiments, the cancer may be a resistant cancer. In some embodiments, the cancer may be a relapsed cancer.

[0188] It is contemplated that when used to treat various diseases such as tumors, VEGF-A antagonist can be combined with one or more other therapeutic agents suitable for the same or similar diseases. For example, when used for treating cancer, the VEGF-A antagonist may be used in combination with conventional anti-cancer therapies, such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or combinations thereof. In one aspect, the anti-VEGF- A antagonist is an antibody. Preferred anti-VEGF antibodies include those that bind to the same epitope as the anti-hVEGF antibody A4.6.1. More preferably the anti-VEGF antibody is bevacizumab or ranibizumab. In one aspect, the VEGF-A antagonist is used in

combination with a VEGF receptor antagonist such as soluble VEGF receptor fragments, aptamers capable of blocking VEGFR, neutralizing anti-VEGFR antibodies, inhibitors of VEGFR tyrosine kinases and any combinations thereof.

[0189] In certain aspects, other therapeutic agents useful for combination cancer therapy with the VEGF-A antagonist include other anti-angiogenic agents. Many anti- angiogenic agents have been identified and are known in the arts, including those listed by Carmeliet and Jain (2000) Nature 407(6801):249-57.

[0190] In some other aspects of the methods of the invention, other therapeutic agents useful for combination tumor therapy with the VEGF-A antagonist, include antagonists of other factors that are involved in tumor growth, such as EGFR, ErbB2 (also known as Her2) ErbB3, ErbB4, or TNF. Preferably, the VEGF-A antagonist of the invention can be used in combination with small molecule receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (RTKIs) that target one or more tyrosine kinase receptors such as VEGF receptors, FGF receptors, EGF receptors and PDGF receptors. Many therapeutic small molecule RTKIs are known in the art, including, but are not limited to, vatalanib (PTK787), erlotinib (TARCEVA®), OSI- 7904, ZD6474 (ZACTIMA®), ZD6126 (ANG453), ZD1839, sunitinib (SUTENT®), semaxanib (SU5416), AMG706, AGO 13736, Imatinib (GLEEVEC®), MLN-518, CEP-701 , PKC- 412, Lapatinib (GSK572016), VELCADE®, AZD2171 , sorafenib (NEXAVAR®), XL880, and CHIR-265.

[0191] The methods of the invention can also include use of the VEGF antagonist (e.g., an anti-VEGF antibody) in combination with one or more chemotherapeutic agents. A variety of chemotherapeutic agents may be used in the combined treatment methods of the invention. An exemplary and non-limiting list of chemotherapeutic agents contemplated is provided herein above.

[0192] For the methods of the invention, when the VEGF-A antagonist, coadministered with a second therapeutic agent, the second therapeutic agent may be administered first, followed by the VEGF-A antagonist. However, simultaneous

administration or administration of the VEGF-A antagonist first is also contemplated.

Suitable dosages for the second therapeutic agent are those presently used and may be lowered due to the combined action (synergy) of the agent and VEGF-A antagonist.

[0193] Where the method of the invention contemplates administration of an antibody to a patient, depending on the type and severity of the disease, about 1 μg/kg to 50 mg/kg (e.g. 0.1 -20mg/kg) of antibody is an initial candidate dosage for administration to the patient, whether, for example, by one or more separate administrations, or by continuous infusion. A typical daily dosage might range from about 1 μg/kg to about 100 mg/kg or more, depending on the factors mentioned above. For repeated administrations over several days or longer, depending on the condition, the treatment is sustained until a desired suppression of disease symptoms occurs. However, other dosage regimens may be useful. In a preferred aspect, the antibody is administered every two to three weeks, at a dose ranged from about 5mg/kg to about 15 mg/kg. In one aspect the antibody is administered every two to three weeks at a dose of about 5mg/kg, 7.5 mg/kg, lOmg/kg or 15 mg/kg. Such dosing regimen may be used in combination with a chemotherapy regimen. In some aspects, the chemotherapy regimen involves the traditional high-dose intermittent administration. In some other aspects, the chemotherapeutic agents are administered using smaller and more frequent doses without scheduled breaks ("metronomic chemotherapy"). The progress of the therapy of the invention is easily monitored by conventional techniques and assays.

[0194] The antibody composition will be formulated, dosed, and administered in a fashion consistent with good medical practice. Factors for consideration in this context include the particular disorder being treated, the particular mammal being treated, the clinical condition of the individual patient, the cause of the disorder, the site of delivery of the agent, the method of administration, the scheduling of administration, and other factors known to medical practitioners. The "therapeutically effective amount" of the antibody to be administered will be governed by such considerations, and is the minimum amount necessary to prevent, ameliorate, or treat a disease or disorder. The antibody need not be, but is optionally formulated with one or more agents currently used to prevent or treat the disorder in question. The effective amount of such other agents depends on the amount of antibody present in the formulation, the type of disorder or treatment, and other factors discussed above. These are generally used in the same dosages and with administration routes as used hereinbefore or about from 1 to 99% of the heretofore employed dosages. Generally, alleviation or treatment of a disease or disorder involves the lessening of one or more symptoms or medical problems associated with the disease or disorder. In the case of cancer, the therapeutically effective amount of the drug can accomplish one or a combination of the following: reduce the number of cancer cells; reduce the tumor size; inhibit (i.e., to decrease to some extent and/or stop) cancer cell infiltration into peripheral organs; inhibit tumor metastasis; inhibit, to some extent, tumor growth; and/or relieve to some extent one or more of the symptoms associated with the cancer. To the extent the drug may prevent growth and/or kill existing cancer cells, it may be cytostatic and/or cytotoxic. In some embodiments, a composition of this invention can be used to prevent the onset or reoccurrence of the disease or disorder in a subject or mammal.

EXAMPLES

Example 1 A PHASE II TRIAL OF BEVACIZUMAB IN COMBINATION WITH CARBOPLATIN AND PACLITAXEL CHEMOTHERAPY FOR THE FIRST-LINE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC MELANOMA

[0195] Results from a phase II randomized study to evaluate new treatment programs for patients with metastatic melanoma. Primary objectives include to estimate the clinical benefit of the addition of bevacizumab to carboplatin paclitaxel chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated metastatic melanoma, as measured by progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary objectives include to estimate the clinical benefit of the addition of bevacizumab to carboplatin paclitaxel chemotherapy, as measured by overall survival, objective response, survival at 6 months, and stable disease of > 6 months' duration in patients with previously untreated metastatic melanoma

[0196] AVF4096g was a 2-arm randomized clinical trial comparing bevacizumab when combined with carboplatin paclitaxel chemotherapy with the carboplatin paclitaxel chemotherapy alone in patients with previously untreated metastatic melanoma.

Eligible Patients

[0197] Patients who have not previously received systemic treatment for Stage IV metastatic melanoma (excluding melanoma of ocular origin). Patients may have received prior therapy in the adjuvant setting prior to Stage IV disease, including adjuvant systemic chemotherapy (if discontinued > 4 months prior to Day 1) or biologic or experimental therapy (if discontinued > 14 days prior to Day 1). Radiation therapy > 14 days prior to Day 1 is allowed provided patients have recovered from any significant (Grade > 3) acute toxicity. A history of BCG, GM CSF, or vaccine therapy following complete surgical resection or complete irradiation/radiotherapy ablation of Stage IV disease prior to disease progression is also acceptable. Patients must have Stage IV metastatic melanoma, histologically confirmed malignant melanoma with measurable or non measurable disease (including mucosal melanoma) and ECOG performance status of 0 or 1 (see Appendix C), be > 18 years of age, have Signed Informed Consent Form, and have ability and willingness to comply with study and follow up procedures.

Ineligible Patients

[0198] Patients with prior treatment for Stage IV disease with chemotherapy or biologic therapy such as interferon and interleukin-2. Adjuvant systemic therapy is acceptable if it was used prior to Stage IV disease and was discontinued > 4 months prior to Day 1; BCG, GM-CSF, or vaccine therapy following complete surgical resection or complete irradiation/radiofrequency ablation of Stage IV disease prior to disease progression is also acceptable.

[0199] Patients who have complete surgical resection or irradiation of all identifiable sites of disease at randomization.

[0200] Patients who have had radiation therapy within 14 days prior to Day 1.

[0201] Patients who have had prior therapy with bevacizumab, sorafenib, sunitinib, or other VEGF pathway-targeted therapy.

[0202] Patients who have melanoma of ocular origin.

[0203] Patients who have known CNS disease/brain metastases (history of brain disease or active disease) .

[0204] Patients who have life expectancy of < 12 weeks

[0205] Patients who have current, recent (within 4 weeks of Day 1), or planned participation in an experimental drug study other than a Genentech sponsored bevacizumab cancer study

[0206] Patients who have inadequate organ function, as evidenced by any of the following laboratory values: absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 1500/μί; platelet count < ΙΟΟ,ΟΟΟ/μί; total bilirubin > 1.5 mg/dL; alkaline phosphatase, AST, and/or ALT > 2 x the upper limit of normal (ULN) (> 5 X ULN for patients with known liver involvement, or for alkaline phosphatase elevations, bone involvement); serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dL;

international normalized ratio (INR) > 1.5 x the ULN and/or activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) > 1.5 x the ULN (except for patients receiving anticoagulation therapy); history of other malignancies within 5 years of Day 1, except for tumors with a negligible risk for metastasis or death, such as adequately controlled basal cell carcinoma or squamous-cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix ;any other diseases, metabolic dysfunction, physical examination finding, or clinical laboratory finding giving reasonable suspicion of a disease or condition that contraindicates the use of an investigational drug or that may affect the interpretation of the results or renders the patient at high risk from treatment complications

[0207] Patients who have inadequately controlled hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure > 150 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure > 100 mmHg on anti hypertensive medications).

[0208] Patients who have history of hypertensive crisis or hypertensive encephalopathy [0209] Patients who have New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II or greater CHF.

[0210] Patients who have history of myocardial infarction or unstable angina within 6 months prior to Day 1 .

[0211] Patients who have history of stroke or transient ischemic attack within 6 months prior to Day 1.

[0212] Patients who have significant vascular disease (e.g., aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection) or recent peripheral arterial thrombosis within 6 months prior to Day 1

[0213] Patients who have history of hemoptysis (> 1/2 teaspoon of bright red blood per episode) within 1 month prior to Day 1

[0214] Patients who have evidence of bleeding diathesis or significant coagulopathy (in the absence of therapeutic anticoagulation)

[0215] Patients who have had major surgical procedure, open biopsy, or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to Day 1 or anticipation of need for major surgical procedure during the course of the study.

[0216] Patients who have had minor surgical procedures, fine-needle aspirations, or core biopsies within 7 days prior to Day 1.

[0217] Patients who have history of abdominal fistula or gastrointestinal perforation within 6 months prior to Day 1.

[0218] Patients who have serious, non-healing wound, active ulcer, or untreated bone fracture.

[0219] Patients with fractures secondary to metastatic disease are eligible after appropriate radiotherapy.

[0220] Patients who have proteinuria at screening, as demonstrated by a urine protein/creatinine ratio of > 1.0 at screening.

[0221] Patients who have known hypersensitivity to any component of bevacizumab.

[0222] Patients who are pregnant (positive pregnancy test) or lactating.

[0223] Patients of childbearing potential must use an effective means of contraception (men and women).

[0224] Patients who have current, ongoing treatment with full-dose warfarin.

RESULTS [0225] Although approximately one third of patients in both bevacizumab and placebo containing study arms progressed within 12 weeks of starting trewatment, for the remaining two-third of patients, benefit was observed in the bevacizumab containing arm. The results are illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Example 2 Identification of biomarkers

[0226] Baseline plasma collection was added as a late amendment to the protocol. Baseline plasma samples were collected from 35 patients with previously untreated stage IV metastatic melanoma. Patients characteristics were as follows: median age = 60.5 years (36- 79); 12 had received prior adjuvant biologic therapy; none had received prior adjuvant chemotherapy; 34 had measurable disease at baseline, and 19 had normal LDH at baseline. Plasma samples were evaluated for individual proteins using a multiplex LUMINEX®-based ELISA assay. Non-supervised hierarchical clustering of all median centered proteins was performed using Euclidian distance metrics (Partek Inc., MO, USA) Dougherty ER, et al, J Comput Biol. 2002;9(1): 105-26. Circulating VEGF-A levels are prognostic in metastatic melanoma. High baseline VEGF-A levels appear to be highly prognostic for metastatic melanoma. In this representative dataset, high baseline VEGF-A selected 75% of patients that progressed at or prior to 12 weeks. These results are illustrated in Figure 4.

Unsupervised clustering of plasma biomarker expression results in a signature of poor prognosis (i.e., PFS < 12 weeks) or good prognosis (i.e., PFS > 12 weeks). 19 patients were classified as having poor prognosis and 15 patients were classified as having good prognosis. The biomarker analysis identified baseline plasma levels of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL- 8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, and/or haptoglobulin as predictive of treatment benefit. These results are illustrated in Figure 5. With respect to respective baseline demographic and disease characteristics, patients from whom plasma was collected for biomarker analyses appear relatively representative of the overall population. VEGF-A levels and the prognostic signature identify patient subsets more and less likely to experience disease progression (i.e., have a PFS event) within 12 weeks. A baseline plasma VEGF-A level less than or equal to 923 pg/ml; a baseline plasma IL-8 level less than or equal to 9.95 pg/ml; a baseline plasma bFGF level less than or equal to 111 pg/ml; a baseline plasma ICAM-1 level greater than 127 ng/ml; and/or a baseline plasma G-CSF level greater than 11.4 pg/ml each identify patients less likely to have a PFS event within 12 weeks. Such patients are more likely to benefit from an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist. These results are set forth in Table 1 below.

[0227] Table 1

[0228] The samples were diluted in buffer prior to assays to determine protein levels of specific genes in the sample. Four dilution points, determined by preliminary analysis to fall within the standard range for each assay, were generated for each patient sample in singleton or duplicate. Samples were analyzed using ELISA assay for expression levels of individual proteins or using multiplexed immunoassay methods.

[0229] Although in the foregoing description the invention is illustrated with reference to certain embodiments and examples, it is not so limited. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and fall within the scope of the appended claims. All references cited throughout the specification, and the references cited therein, are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of identifying a patient who may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, the method comprising:

determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of: VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein an increased expression level of said at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient may benefit from treatment with the anti-cancer therapy.

2. A method of identifying a patient who may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, the method comprising:

determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of: VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein a decreased expression level of said at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient may benefit from treatment with the anti-cancer therapy.

3. A method of predicting responsiveness of a patient suffering from cancer to treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, the method comprising:

determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of: VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein an increased expression level of said at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient is more likely to be responsive to treatment with the anti-cancer therapy.

4. A method of predicting responsiveness of a patient suffering from cancer to treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, the method comprising: determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of: VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein a decreased expression level of said at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient is more likely to be responsive to treatment with the anti-cancer therapy.

5. A method for determining the likelihood that a patient with cancer will exhibit benefit from anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, the method comprising:

determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of: VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein an increased expression level of said at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient has increased likelihood of benefit from the anti-cancer therapy.

6. A method for determining the likelihood that a patient with cancer will exhibit benefit from anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, the method comprising: determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of: VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein a decreased expression level of said at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient has increased likelihood of benefit from the anti-cancer therapy.

7. A method for optimizing the therapeutic efficacy of an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, the method comprising determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of: VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein an increased expression level of said at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient has increased likelihood of benefit from the anticancer therapy.

8. A method for optimizing the therapeutic efficacy of an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, the method comprising determining expression levels of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of: VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof in a sample obtained from the patient, wherein a decreased expression level of said at least one gene in the sample as compared to a reference sample indicates that the patient has increased likelihood of benefit from the anticancer therapy.

9. A method for treating cancer in a patient, the method comprising

determining that a sample obtained from the patient has increased expression levels, as compared to a reference sample, of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of: VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof, and

administering an effective amount of an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist to said patient, whereby the cancer is treated.

10. A method for treating cancer in a patient, the method comprising

determining that a sample obtained from the patient has decreased expression levels, as compared to a reference sample, of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of: VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof, and

11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the sample obtained from the patient is a member selected from the group consisting of: tissue, whole blood, blood-derived cells, plasma, serum, and combinations thereof.

12. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the expression level is mRNA expression level.

13. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the expression level is protein expression level.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the protein expression level is determined by measuring plasma protein level.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a plasma level of VEGF-A less than 923 pg/ml indicates that the patient has increased likelihood of benefit from the anticancer therapy.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a plasma level of bFGF of less than 111 pg/ml indicates that the patient has increased likelihood of benefit from the anticancer therapy.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein a plasma level of IL-8 of less than 9.95 pg/ml indicates that the patient has increased likelihood of benefit from the anticancer therapy.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein a plasma level of ICAM-1 of more than 127 ng /ml indicates that the patient has increased likelihood of benefit from the anticancer therapy.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein a plasma level of G-CSF of more than 11.4 pg /ml indicates that the patient has increased likelihood of benefit from the anticancer therapy.

20. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising detecting the expression of at least a second gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A,

haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising detecting the expression of at least a third gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and

combinations thereof.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising detecting the expression of at least a fourth gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and

combinations thereof.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising detecting the expression of at least a fifth gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and

combinations thereof.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising detecting the expression of at least a fifth gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and

combinations thereof.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising detecting the expression of at least a sixth gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and

combinations thereof.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising detecting the expression of at least a seventh gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising detecting the expression of at least a eighth gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising detecting the expression of at least a ninth gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and

combinations thereof.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising detecting the expression of at least a tenth gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and

combinations thereof.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising detecting the expression of at least a eleventh gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising detecting the expression of at least a twelfth gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof.

32. The method of claim 31 , further comprising detecting the expression of at least a thirteenth gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising detecting the expression of at least a fourteenth gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising detecting the expression of at least a fifteenth gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof.

35. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising administering an effective amount of an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist to said patient.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the VEGF-A antagonist is an antibody.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the antibody is bevacizumab.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising administering an effective amount of a second anti-cancer therapy selected from the group consisting of: a

chemotherapeutic agent, a growth inhibitory agent, and anti-angiogenic agents, and combinations thereof.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the second anti-cancer therapy and the VEGF-A antagonist are administered concurrently.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the second anti-cancer therapy and the VEGF-A antagonist are administered sequentially.

41. The method of any one of claims 9 or 10, wherein the VEGF-A antagonist is an antibody.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the antibody is bevacizumab.

43. The method of any one of claims 9 or 10, wherein the anti-cancer therapy further comprises administering an effective amount of a second anti-cancer therapy selected from the group consisting of: a chemotherapeutic agent, a growth inhibitory agent, and anti-angiogenic agents, and combinations thereof.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the second anti-cancer therapy and the VEGF-A antagonist are administered concurrently.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the second anti-cancer therapy and the VEGF-A antagonist are administered sequentially.

46. A kit for determining whether a patient may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, the kit comprising

an array comprising polynucleotides capable of specifically hybridizing to at least one gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and

combinations thereof and

instructions for using said array to determine the expression levels of said at least one gene to predict responsiveness of a patient to treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, wherein an increase in the expression level of said at least one gene as compared to the expression level of said at least one gene in a reference sample indicates that the patient may benefit from treatment with the anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist.

47. A kit for determining whether a patient may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, the kit comprising

combinations thereof and

instructions for using said array to determine the expression levels of said at least one gene to predict responsiveness of a patient to treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist, wherein a decrease in the expression level of at least one of said genes as compared to the expression level of said at least one gene in a reference sample indicates that the patient may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist.

48. A set of compounds for detecting expression levels of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of: VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof, the set comprising

at least one compound capable of specifically hybridizing to at least one gene elected from the group consisting of: VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM- 1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof, wherein an increase in the expression level of said at least one gene as compared to the expression level of said at least one gene in a reference sample indicates that the patient may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist.

49. A set of compounds for detecting expression levels of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM- 1, G-CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof, the set comprising

at least one compound that specifically hybridizes to at least one gene selected from the group consisting of VEGF-A, ferritin, C Reactive Protein, fatty acid binding protein, TIMP-1, CD40, calcitonin, myoglobin, IL-10, TNFR2, IL-8, ICAM-1, G- CSF, bFGF, lipoprotein A, haptoglobulin, and combinations thereof, wherein a decrease in the expression level of said at least one gene as compared to the expression level of said at least one gene in a reference sample indicates that the patient may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF-A antagonist.

50. The set of compounds of claim 48 or 49, wherein the compounds are polynucleotides.

51. The set of compounds of claim 48 or 49, wherein the compounds are proteins.

52. The set of compounds of claim 51 , wherein the proteins are antibodies.