Anti-ror1 antibodies and methods of making and using thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to anti-ROR1 antibodies, their antigen-binding moieties, therapeutic compounds composed thereof, and / or the nucleic acids encoding them, and their use in cancer therapy to enhance T-cell function.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to the technical field of antibodies, and more particularly relates to making and using anti-ROR1 antibodies.BACKGROUND

[0002] Cancer is a major health problem across the world. In the United States alone it is estimated that in 2016 there were 1,685,210 new cases of cancer diagnosed and 595,690 deaths from the disease (http: / / www.cancer.gov). As such, any pharmaceutical agent that can reduce the severity or mortality rate from cancer is desirable.

[0003] In the immune system, resting T-cells can be activated to respond to antigen through a primary signal delivered through the T-cell receptor (TCR) by foreign antigen peptides presented by antigen-presenting cells (APCs). In addition to this primary signal, there are secondary positive and negative co-stimulatory signals that further influence the response of the T-cells. A secondary positive signal is required for full T-cell activation (see, Lafferty et al., Ausl. J. Exp. Biol. Med. Sci. 53: 27-42, 1975). Negative secondary signals can result in T-cell suppression and tolerance.

[0004] Tyrosine-protein kinase transmembrane receptor ROR1, also known as neurotrophic tyrosine kinase, receptor-related 1 (NTRKR1), is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ROR1 gene. (see, Masiakowski P and Carroll RD, J. Bio. Chem. 267 (36): 26181-90. 1992; Reddy UR, et al, Oncogene. 13 (7): 1555-9, 1996). ROR1 is a member of the receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor (ROR) family. ROR1 has recently been shown to be expressed on ovarian cancer stem cell, on which it seems to play a functional role in promoting migration / invasion or spheroid formation in vitro and tumour engraftment in immune-deficient mice. Treatment with a humanized mAb specific for ROR1 (UC-961) could inhibit the capacity of ovarian cancer cells to migrate, form spheroids, or engraft immune-deficient mice. Moreover, such treatment inhibited the growth of tumour xenografts, which in turn had a reduced capacity to engraft immune-deficient mice and were relatively depleted of cells with features of CSC, suggesting that treatment with UC-961 could impair CSC renewal. Collectively, these studies indicate that ovarian CSCs express ROR1, which may be targeted for anti-CSC therapy. (see, Zhang S, et al, PNAS. 111 (48): 17266-71, 2014).

[0005] ROR1 is expressed in a number of malignancies with low levels of expression in normal adult tissue.

[0006] Much like the physiological functions of ROR1, ROR1 in cancer can have kinase activity-dependent or - independent function, which could be a result of tissue specific expression of co-receptor or effector proteins. The induction of apoptosis with ROR1 knockdown, EGFR signalling potentiation and ROR1-mediated upregulation of EMT genes support the notion that ROR1 plays an important role in cancer progression. Further research is required to elucidate the tumour-specific mechanisms of ROR1 overexpression and the contribution of ROR1 to initiation and progression of cancer. WO 2012 / 076066 A1 describes anti-ROR1 antibodies and uses thereof. WO 2014 / 031174 A1 describes antibodies and vaccines for use in treating ROR1 cancers and inhibiting metastasis. Michael Steinitz (2014), Human Monoclonal Antibodies Methods and Protocols describes human monoclonal antibodies methods and protocols. Ashwini Balakrishnan et al (2016), Clinical Cancer Research, 23(12), 3061-3071 describes analysis of ROR1 protein expression in human cancer and normal tissues. Rudikoff S. et al (1982), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 79, 1979-1983 describes single amino acid substitution altering antigen-binding specificity.SUMMARY

[0007] The present invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0008] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides, among others, anti-ROR1 monoclonal antibodies as claimed, antigen binding portions thereof, therapeutic compositions thereof and / or nucleic acid encoding the same.

[0009] In one aspect, the disclosure provides an isolated monoclonal antibody (mAb) or antigen-binding fragment thereof having a binding specificity to human ROR1, comprising a variable light chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 76 and a variable heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 80.

[0010] In one embodiment, the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment has a binding affinity to ROR1 with a Kd not greater than 30nM, 40nM, 50nM, 60nM, 70nM, 80nM, 90nM or 100nM. In one embodiment, the ROR1 is a human ROR1.

[0011] In one embodiment, the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment exhibits one or more functional properties. Example functional properties include without limitation high affinity binding to ROR1, enhancing T cell activation, the ability to stimulate antibody responses and / or the ability to reverse the suppressive function of immunosuppressive cells, such as T regulatory cells. In one embodiment, the enhancing T-cell activation comprises T-cell proliferation, IFN-γ and / or IL-2 secretion, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the immunosuppressive cell comprises a regulatory cell.

[0012] In one embodiment, the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment comprises a human framework region. In one embodiment, the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment is a humanized antibody, a chimeric antibody, or a recombinant antibody.

[0013] In one embodiment, the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment is an IgG. In one embodiment, the antigen-binding fragment is a Fv, a Fab, a F(ab')2, a scFV or a scFV2 fragment. In one embodiment, the isolated mAb is a bispecific antibody, tri-specific antibody, or multi-specific antibody.

[0014] In one embodiment, the application provides an isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment having a binding specificity to ROR1 and an IgG1 heavy chain. The IgG heavy chain comprises an amino acid sequence having a percentage homology with SEQ ID NO:79.

[0015] The percentage homology is not less than 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98%, or 99%.

[0016] In one embodiment, the application provides an isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment having a binding specificity to ROR1 and a kappa light chain. The kappa light chain comprises an amino acid sequence having a percentage homology with SEQ ID NO:75.

[0017] The percentage homology is not less than 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98%, or 99%.

[0018] The application further provides isolated nucleic acids encoding the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment as claimed. In one embodiment, the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment has a percentage homology with the IgG1 heavy chain SEQ ID NO:79.

[0019] In one embodiment, the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment has a percentage homology with the kappa light SEQ ID NO:75.

[0020] The application further provides expression vectors containing the isolated nucleic acid encoding the isolated mAb or antigen-binding thereof as claimed.

[0021] In one embodiment, the expression vector is expressible in a cell.

[0022] The application further provides host cells comprising nucleic acids that encode the isolated mAb or antigen-binding thereof as claimed.

[0023] In one embodiment, the host cell can be a prokaryotic cell or a eukaryotic cell.

[0024] In another aspect, the application provides methods for producing an antibody or its antigen-binding fragment thereof having a binding specificity to human ROR1 as claimed. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a host cell that contains an expression vector expressible in the host cell, the expression vector comprises nucleic acids encoding the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment as claimed to produce an antibody by the expression of the nucleic acids.

[0025] The application further provides immuno-conjugates comprising the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment as claimed. In one embodiment, the immuno-conjugates include a drug unit or an imaging agent linked to an isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment as claimed through a linker.

[0026] The linker may be cleavable or non-cleavable. In one embodiment, the linker is a chemical linker. In one embodiment, the linker comprises a covalent bond such as an ester bond, an ether bond, an amine bond, an amide bond, a disulphide bond, an imide bond, a sulfone bond, a phosphate bond, a phosphorus ester bond, a peptide bond, a hydrazone bond or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the linker comprises a hydrophobic poly(ethylene glycol) linker. In one embodiment, the linker comprises a peptide bond.

[0027] In one embodiment, the drug unit in the immuno-conjugate comprises a chemotherapeutic agent, a growth inhibitory agent, a cytotoxic agent from class of calicheamicin, an antimitotic agent, a toxin, a radioactive isotope, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the drug unit comprises a calicheamicin, ozogamicin, monomethyl auristatin E, emtansine, a derivative or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the drug unit comprises a calicheamicin, ozogamicin, monomethyl auristatin E, emtansine, a derivative or a combination thereof.

[0028] In one embodiment, the drug unit is selected from a cytotoxic agent, an immune regulatory reagent, an imaging agent or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the cytotoxic agent is selected from a growth inhibitory agent or a chemotherapeutic agent from a class of tubulin binders, DNA intercalators, DNA alkylators, enzyme inhibitors, immune modulators, antimetabolite agents, radioactive isotopes, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the cytotoxic agent is selected from a calicheamicin, ozogamicin, monomethyl auristatin E, emtansine, a derivative or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the immune regulatory reagents activate or suppress immune cells, T cell, NK cell, B cell, macrophage, or dendritic cell.

[0029] In one embodiment, the imaging agent may be a radionuclide, a florescent agent, a quantum dot, or a combination thereof.

[0030] The application further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment thereof as claimed and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition comprises an immuno-conjugate as claimed and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition further comprises a chemotherapeutic agent, a growth inhibitory agent, a drug unit from class of calicheamicin, an antimitotic agent, a toxin, a radioactive isotope, a therapeutic agent, or a combination thereof.

[0031] In a further aspect, the application provides an isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment thereof as claimed for use in a method of treating a subject with a cancer. In one embodiment, the method comprises the step of administering to the subject an effective amount of the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment as claimed.

[0032] In one embodiment, the method includes directly injecting into the tumour site an effective amount of the monoclonal antibodies, the antigen-binding fragment thereof, and the immuno-conjugates as claimed.

[0033] Varieties of cancer may be treated using the disclosed mAb, antigen-binding fragment thereof, or compositions. In one embodiment, the cancer has cells that express ROR-1. Example cancers include without limitation breast cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, head and neck cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, non-small lung cell cancer, glioma, esophageal cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, anal cancer, rectal cancer, gastric cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, or brain cancer.

[0034] In one embodiment, the method further includes co-administering an effective amount of a therapeutic agent. Example therapeutic a chemotherapeutic agent, a growth inhibitory agent, a drug unit from class of calicheamicin, an antimitotic agent, a toxin, a radioactive isotope, an antibody, an enzyme, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the therapeutic agent can be capecitabine, cisplatin, Cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, Doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, Mustine, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisolone, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine, etoposide, Epirubicin, pemetrexed, folinic acid, gemicitabine, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, topotecan, camptothecin, docetaxel, paclitaxel, , fulvestrant, tamoxifen, letrozole, exemestane, anastrozole, aminoglutethimide, testolactone, vorozole, formestane, fadrozole, letrozole, erlotinib, lafatinib, dasatinib, gefitinib, osimertinib, vandertanib, afatinib, imatinib, pazopinib, lapatinib, sunitinib, nilotinib, sorafenib, nab-palitaxel, Everolimus, temsirolimus, Dabrafenib, vemurafenib, trametinib, vintafolide, apatinib, crizotinib, periforsine, olaparib, Bortezomib, tofacitinib, or a derivative or a combination thereof.

[0035] The subject receiving treatment may be a human.

[0036] Still other embodiments will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein are described embodiments by way of illustrating the best mode contemplated.

[0037] Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The foregoing and other features of this disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments arranged in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 provides immunization strategy of NZW rabbits with human or mouse ROR1; FIGURE 2 provides immunization timeline; FIGURE 3 shows the harvest of spleen and lymph tissue from ROR1-immunized rabbits; FIGURE 4 shows the summary of B cell culture screening for ROR1-specific IgG and screening of chimeric rabbit / human IgG; FIGURE 5 shows the binding and off-rate analysis of different ROR1-specific humanized rabbit antibodies; and FIGURE 6 is a graph showing analytic results of rabbit serum for human and mouse ROR1-specific IgG before and after immunization. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.

[0040] The disclosure provides, among others, isolated mAbs or an antigen binding fragment thereof as claimed, methods of making such antibodies, bispecific or multi-specific molecules, antibody-drug conjugates and / or immuno-conjugates composed from such antibodies or antigen binding fragment, pharmaceutical compositions containing the antibodies or antigen binding fragment, bispecific or multi-specific molecules, antibody-drug conjugates and / or immuno-conjugates, and use of the isolated mAb or antigen binding fragment thereof as claimed and composition as claimed in a method for treating cancer.

[0041] Described herein are monoclonal antibodies that bind specifically to human or mouse ROR1. The antibodies may exhibit one or more desirable functional properties, such as high affinity binding to ROR1. The antibodies may be derived from specific heavy and light chain amino acid sequences and / or structural features such as rabbit / human chimeric antibodies composed of specific amino acid sequences.

[0042] Monoclonal antibodies can be produced using various methods including mouse hybridoma or phage display (see Siegel. Transfus. Clin. Biol. 9:15-22 (2002) for a review) or from molecular cloning of antibodies directly from primary B cells (see Tiller. New Biotechnol. 28:453-7 (2011)). Antibodies may be created by the immunization of rabbits with either human or mouse ROR1 extracellular domain (ECD) or HEK 293 cells transiently transfected with mouse or human ROR1. Rabbits are known to create antibodies of high affinity, diversity and specificity (Weber et al. Exp. Mol. Med. 49:e305). B cells from immunized animals were cultured in vitro and screened for the production of anti-ROR1 antibodies. The antibody variable genes were isolated using recombinant DNA techniques and the resulting antibodies were expressed recombinantly. This general method of antibody discovery is similar to that described in Seeber et al. PLOS One. 9:e86184 (2014).

[0043] The term "antibody" is used in the broadest sense and specifically covers single monoclonal antibodies (including agonist and antagonist antibodies), antibody compositions with polyepitopic specificity, as well as antibody fragments (e.g., Fab, F(ab') 2 , and Fv), so long as they exhibit the desired biological activity. An antibody may be monoclonal, polyclonal, chimeric, single chain, bispecific or bi-effective, simianized, human and humanized antibodies as well as an active fragment thereof. Examples of active fragments of molecules that bind to known antigens include Fab, F(ab') 2 , scFv and Fv fragments, including the products of an Fab immunoglobulin expression library and epitope-binding fragments of any of the antibodies and fragments mentioned above. In some embodiments, the antibody may include immunoglobulin molecules and immunologically active portions of immunoglobulin molecules, i.e. molecules that contain a binding site that immunospecifically binds ROR1. The immunoglobulin can be of any type (IgG, IgM, IgD, IgE, IgA and IgY) or class (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA1 and IgA2) or subclasses of immunoglobulin molecule. In one embodiment, the antibody may be a whole antibody and any antigen-binding fragment derived from the whole antibody. A typical antibody refers to heterotetrameric protein comprising typically of two heavy (H) chains and two light (L) chains. Each heavy chain is comprised of a heavy chain variable domain (abbreviated as VH) and a heavy chain constant domain. Each light chain is comprised of a light chain variable domain (abbreviated as VL) and a light chain constant domain. The VH and VL regions can be further subdivided into domains of hypervariable complementarity determining regions (CDR), and more conserved regions called framework regions (FR). Each variable domain (either VH or VL) is typically composed of three CDRs and four FRs, arranged in the following order: FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3, FR4 from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus. Within the variable regions of the light and heavy chains there are binding regions that interacts with the antigen.

[0044] 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 naturally occurring mutations that may be present in minor amounts. Monoclonal antibodies are highly specific, being directed against a single antigenic site. Furthermore, in contrast to conventional (polyclonal) antibody preparations which typically include different antibodies directed against different determinants (epitopes), each monoclonal antibody is directed against a single determinant on the antigen. In addition to their specificity, the monoclonal antibodies are advantageous in that they are synthesized by the hybridoma culture, uncontaminated by other immunoglobulins. 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 disclosure may be made by the hybridoma method first described by Kohler & Milstein, Nature, 256:495 (1975), or may be made by recombinant DNA methods (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567).

[0045] The monoclonal antibodies may include "chimeric" antibodies (immunoglobulins) 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 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; and Morrison et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81:6851-6855

[1984] ).

[0046] Monoclonal antibodies can be produced using various methods including mouse hybridoma or phage display (see Siegel. Transfus. Clin. Biol. 9:15-22 (2002) for a review) or from molecular cloning of antibodies directly from primary B cells (see Tiller. New Biotechnol. 28:453-7 (2011)). In the present disclosure antibodies were created by the immunization of rabbits with both human ROR1 protein and cells transiently expressing human ROR1 on the cell surface. Rabbits are known to create antibodies of high affinity, diversity and specificity (Weber et al. Exp. Mol. Med. 49:e305). B cells from immunized animals were cultured in vitro and screened for the production of anti-ROR1 antibodies. The antibody variable genes were isolated using recombinant DNA techniques and the resulting antibodies were expressed recombinantly and further screened for desired features.

[0047] This general method of antibody discovery is similar to that described in Seeber et al. PLOS One. 9:e86184 (2014).

[0048] The term "antigen- or epitope-binding portion or fragment" refers to fragments of an antibody that are capable of binding to an antigen (ROR1 in this case). These fragments may be capable of the antigen-binding function and additional functions of the intact antibody. Examples of binding fragments include, but are not limited to a single-chain Fv fragment (scFv) consisting of the VL and VH domains of a single arm of an antibody connected in a single polypeptide chain by a synthetic linker or a Fab fragment which is a monovalent fragment consisting of the VL, constant light (CL), VH and constant heavy 1 (CH1) domains. Antibody fragments can be even smaller subfragments and can consist of domains as small as a single CDR domain, in particular the CDR3 regions from either the VL and / or VH domains (for example see Beiboer et al., J. Mol. Biol. 296:833-49 (2000)). Antibody fragments are produced using conventional methods known to those skilled in the art. The antibody fragments are can be screened for utility using the same techniques employed with intact antibodies.

[0049] The "antigen-or epitope-binding fragments" can be derived from an antibody of the present disclosure by a number of art-known techniques. For example, purified monoclonal antibodies can be cleaved with an enzyme, such as pepsin, and subjected to HPLC gel filtration. The appropriate fraction containing Fab fragments can then be collected and concentrated by membrane filtration and the like. For further description of general techniques for the isolation of active fragments of antibodies, see for example, Khaw, B. A. et al. J. Nucl. Med. 23:1011-1019 (1982); Rousseaux et al. Methods Enzymology, 121:663-69, Academic Press, 1986.

[0050] Papain digestion of antibodies produces two identical antigen binding fragments, called "Fab" fragments, each with a single antigen binding site, and a residual "Fc" fragment, whose name reflects its ability to crystallize readily. Pepsin treatment yields an F(ab') 2 fragment that has two antigen combining sites and is still capable of cross-linking antigen.

[0051] The Fab fragment may contain the constant domain of the light chain and the first constant domain (CH1) 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 CH1 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.

[0052] "Fv" is the minimum antibody fragment which contains a complete antigen recognition and binding site. This region consists of a dimer of one heavy and one light chain variable domain in tight, non-covalent association. It is in this configuration that the three CDRs of each variable domain interact to define an antigen binding site on the surface of the VH-VL dimer. Collectively, the six CDRs confer antigen binding specificity to the antibody. However, even a single variable domain (or half of an Fv comprising only three CDRs specific for an antigen) has the ability to recognize and bind antigen, although at a lower affinity than the entire binding site.

[0053] The "light chains" of antibodies (immunoglobulins) from any vertebrate species can be assigned to one of two clearly distinct types, called kappa and lambda (λ), based on the amino acid sequences of their constant domains.

[0054] Depending on the amino acid sequence of the constant domain of their heavy chains, immunoglobulins can be assigned to different classes. There are five major classes of immunoglobulins: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM, and several of these may be further divided into subclasses (isotypes), e.g., IgG-1, IgG-2, IgG-3, and IgG-4; IgA-1 and IgA-2. The heavy chain constant domains that correspond to the different classes of immunoglobulins are called α, delta, epsilon, γ, and µ, respectively. The subunit structures and three-dimensional configurations of different classes of immunoglobulins are well known.

[0055] A "humanized antibody" refers to a type of engineered antibody having its CDRs derived from a nonhuman donor immunoglobulin, the remaining immunoglobulin-derived parts of the molecule being derived from one (or more) human immunoglobulin(s). In addition, framework support residues may be altered to preserve binding affinity. Methods to obtain "humanized antibodies" are well known to those skilled in the art. (see, e.g., Queen et al., Proc. Natl Acad Sci USA, 86:10029-10032 (1989), Hodgson et al., Bio / Technology, 9:421 (1991)).

[0056] The terms "polypeptide", "peptide", and "protein", as used herein, are interchangeable and are defined to mean a biomolecule composed of amino acids linked by a peptide bond.

[0057] The terms "a", "an" and "the" as used herein are defined to mean "one or more" and include the plural unless the context is inappropriate.

[0058] By "isolated" is meant a biological molecule free from at least some of the components with which it naturally occurs. "Isolated," when used to describe the various polypeptides disclosed herein, means a polypeptide that has been identified and separated and / or recovered from a cell or cell culture from which it was expressed. Ordinarily, an isolated polypeptide will be prepared by at least one purification step. An "isolated antibody," refers to an antibody which is substantially free of other antibodies having different antigenic specificities.

[0059] "Recombinant" means the antibodies are generated using recombinant nucleic acid techniques in exogeneous host cells.

[0060] The term "antigen" refers to an entity or fragment thereof which can induce an immune response in an organism, particularly an animal, more particularly a mammal including a human. The term includes immunogens and regions thereof responsible for antigenicity or antigenic determinants.

[0061] "Specific binding" or "specifically binds to" or is "specific for" a particular antigen or an epitope means binding that is measurably different from a non-specific interaction. Specific binding can be measured, for example, by determining binding of a molecule compared to binding of a control molecule, which generally is a molecule of similar structure that does not have binding activity. For example, specific binding can be determined by competition with a control molecule that is similar to the target.

[0062] Specific binding for a particular antigen or an epitope can be exhibited, for example, by an antibody having a KD for an antigen or epitope of at least about 10 -4< M, at least about 10 -5< M, at least about 10 -6< M, at least about 10 -7< M, at least about 10 -8< M, at least about 10 -9< M, alternatively at least about 10 -10< M, at least about 10 -11< M, at least about 10 -12< M, or greater, where KD refers to a dissociation rate of a particular antibody-antigen interaction. Typically, an antibody that specifically binds an antigen will have a KD that is 20-, 50-, 100-, 500-, 1000-, 5,000-, 10,000- or more times greater for a control molecule relative to the antigen or epitope.

[0063] "Homology" between two sequences is determined by sequence identity. If two sequences which are to be compared with each other differ in length, sequence identity preferably relates to the percentage of the nucleotide residues of the shorter sequence which are identical with the nucleotide residues of the longer sequence. Sequence identity can be determined conventionally with the use of computer programs. The deviations appearing in the comparison between a given sequence and the above-described sequences of the disclosure may be caused for instance by addition, deletion, substitution, insertion or recombination.

[0064] The application further provides immuno-conjugates including a drug unit linked to the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments as claimed through a linker. The linker may be cleavable or noncleavable. In one embodiment, the linker is a chemical linker. In one embodiment, the linker comprises a covalent bond such as an ester bond, an ether bond, an amide bond, a disulphide bond, an imide bond, a sulfone bond, a phosphate bond, a phosphorus ester bond, a peptide bond, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the linker comprises a hydrophobic poly(ethylene glycol) linker. In one embodiment, the linker comprises a peptide bond.

[0065] In one embodiment, the drug unit may be a chemotherapeutic agent, a growth inhibitory agent, a drug unit from class of calicheamicin, an antimitotic agent, a toxin, a radioactive isotope, a toxin, a therapeutic agent, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the therapeutic agent comprises an antibody, a chemotherapy agent, an enzyme, or a combination thereof.

[0066] In another aspect, the application provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof as claimed and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition includes the immuno-conjugate as claimed and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

[0067] The antibodies and antigen-binding fragments or immuno-conjugates as claimed can be prepared in a physiologically acceptable formulation and may comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent and / or excipient using known techniques.

[0068] Suitable pharmaceutical carriers, diluents and / or excipients are well known in the art and include, for example, phosphate buffered saline solutions, water, emulsions such as oil / water emulsions.

[0069] The pharmaceutical composition may further comprise proteinaceous carriers such as, for example, serum albumin or immunoglobulin, particularly of human origin. In one embodiment, the proteinaceous pharmaceutically active matter may be present in amounts between 1 ng and 10 mg per dose. Generally, the regime of administration should be in the range of between 0.1 µg and 10 mg of the antibody according to the disclosure, particularly in a range 1.0 µg to 1.0 mg, and more particularly in a range of between 1.0 µg and 100 µg, with all individual numbers falling within these ranges also being part of the disclosure. If the administration occurs through continuous infusion a more proper dosage may be in the range of between 0.01 µg and 10 mg units per kilogram of body weight per hour with all individual numbers falling within these ranges also being part of the disclosure.

[0070] "Pharmaceutically acceptable" refers to those compounds, materials, compositions, and dosage forms which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use contact with the tissues of human beings or animals without excessive toxicity, irritation, or other problem or complication, commensurate with a reasonable benefit / risk ratio. Formulation of the pharmaceutical composition according to the disclosure can be accomplished according to standard methodology known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0071] Further biologically active agents may be present in the pharmaceutical composition of the disclosure dependent on the intended use. In one embodiment, the composition as claimed may be administered in combination with other compositions comprising a biologically active / therapeutical substance or compound, particularly at least one compound selected from the group consisting of the therapeutic agent comprises capecitabine, cisplatin, trastuzumab, fulvestrant, tamoxifen, letrozole, exemestane, anastrozole, aminoglutethimide, testolactone, vorozole, formestane, fadrozole, letrozole, erlotinib, lafatinib, dasatinib, gefitinib, imatinib, pazopinib, lapatinib, sunitinib, nilotinib, sorafenib, nab-palitaxel, calicheamicin, antimitotic agent, monomethyl auristatin E, emtansine, ozogamicin, a derivative or a combination thereof.

[0072] In another aspect, the application provides the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment thereof as claimed for use in a method of treating a subject. In one embodiment, the method inhibits growth of tumour cells. In some embodiments, the method uses the antibodies or compositions as claimed to stimulate a protective autoimmune response, to modify an immune response or to stimulate antigen-specific immune responses.

[0073] In one embodiment, the method includes the step of administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment thereof as claimed.

[0074] The compositions may be administered to a subject in the form of a solid, liquid or aerosol at a suitable, pharmaceutically effective dose. Examples of solid compositions include pills, creams, and implantable dosage units. Pills may be administered orally. Therapeutic creams may be administered topically. Implantable dosage units may be administered locally, for example, at a tumour site, or may be implanted for systematic release of the therapeutic composition, for example, subcutaneously. Examples of liquid compositions include formulations adapted for injection intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intravenously, intra-arterially, and formulations for topical and intraocular administration. Examples of aerosol formulations include inhaler formulations for administration to the lungs.

[0075] The compositions may be administered by standard routes of administration. In general, the composition may be administered by topical, oral, rectal, nasal, interdermal, intraperitoneal, or parenteral (for example, intravenous, subcutaneous, or intramuscular) routes. In addition, the composition may be incorporated into sustained release matrices such as biodegradable polymers, the polymers being implanted in the vicinity of where delivery is desired, for example, at the site of a tumour. The method includes administration of a single dose, administration of repeated doses at predetermined time intervals, and sustained administration for a predetermined period of time.

[0076] In one embodiment, administration may be parenterally, e.g. intravenously. Preparations for parenteral administration include sterile aqueous or non-aqueous solutions, suspensions and emulsions. Non-aqueous solvents include without being limited to it, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, vegetable oil such as olive oil, and injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate. Aqueous solvents may be chosen from the group consisting of water, alcohol / aqueous solutions, emulsions or suspensions including saline and buffered media. Parenteral vehicles include sodium chloride solution, Ringer's dextrose, dextrose and sodium chloride, lactated Ringer's, or fixed oils. Intravenous vehicles include fluid and nutrient replenishers, electrolyte replenishers (such as those based on Ringer's dextrose) and others. Preservatives may also be present such as, for example, antimicrobials, anti-oxidants, chelating agents, inert gases, etc.

[0077] It is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art that the dosage of the composition will depend on various factors such as, for example, the condition of being treated, the particular composition used, and other clinical factors such as weight, size, sex and general health condition of the patient, body surface area, the particular compound or composition to be administered, other drugs being administered concurrently, and the route of administration.

[0078] The term "therapeutically effective amount" refers to the amount of antibody which, when administered to a human or animal, elicits a response which is sufficient to result in a therapeutic effect in said human or animal. The effective amount is readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art following routine procedures.

[0079] Varieties of cancer may be treated using the disclosed mAb, antigen-binding fragments, or compositions. Cancers, including breast cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, head and neck cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, non-small lung cell cancer, glioma, esophageal cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, anal cancer, rectal cancer, gastric cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, or brain cancer, may express ROR1 genes. In one embodiment, administering a therapeutically effective amount of composition comprising an isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment thereof as claimed or its immuno-conjugates thereof is used to cure, prevent, ameliorate, and delay the development or metastasis of cancers.

[0080] The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of specific embodiments included herein. Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific details of certain embodiments thereof, it is not intended that such details should be regarded as limitations upon the scope of the disclosure.EXAMPLESExample 1: Generation of Anti-ROR1 Antibodies

[0081] Monoclonal antibodies against human ROR1 were developed by immunizing New Zealand white rabbits. As shown in FIGURE 1, animals were immunized with recombinant human or mouse ROR1 extracellular domain (ECD) or HEK 293 cells transiently transfected with mouse or human ROR1 mixed 1:1 v / v with Complete or incomplete Freund's adjuvant (Cohort 1) or Titermax Gold (Cohort 2) alternating with Alhydrogel 2% (Alum) plus CpG 2007 and were performed by subcutaneous injection. Subsequent boosts were performed at days 7, 14, 21, 28 and 37 as shown in FIGURE 2.

[0082] On week 5 the serum from the animals was tested for ROR1 titer by ELISA. Serum from each rabbit is obtained before immunization as a negative control. After immunization serum is again collected from each animal and compared to the pre-immunization serum from the same animal for the presence of ROR1-specific IgG antibodies. As shown in FIGURE 6 all animals immunized with human and mouse ROR1 developed detectable titres of human or mouse ROR1-specific IgG antibodies.

[0083] As shown in FIGURE 3, spleen and lymph nodes were harvest from 2 animals each on days 4, 13, and 21 following a final immunization. ROR1-specific IgG+ B cells were sorted at 1 per well into multiple 96 well tissue culture plates and cultured for 9 days to allow their differentiation into plasma cells and for secretion of antibodies. The supernatants from these plasma cell cultures were screened by ELISA and flow cytometry for the presence of ROR1-specific antibodies in a series of binding assays as listed below: Human ROR1 directly coated on the plate - detection of ROR1-specific IgG ELISA Mouse ROR1 directly coated on the plate - detection of ROR1-specific IgG ELISA Human ROR2 directly coated on the plate - detection of ROR1-specific IgG ELISA Biotinylated human ROR1 added to an avidin coated plate - detection of ROR1-specific IgG ELISA Biotinylated human ROR1 "Kringle domain" added to an avidin coated plate - detection of ROR1-Kringle-specific IgG ELISA Biotinylated human ROR1 "Frizzled-Kringle domain" added to an avidin coated plate - detection of ROR1-Frizzled-Kringle-specific IgG ELISA Biotinylated human ROR1 "Ig-Frizzled domain" added to an avidin coated plate - detection of ROR1-Ig-Frizzled-specific IgG ELISA Human ROR1 "Frizzled-Kringle domain" directly coated on the plate - detection of ROR1-Frizzled-Kringle-specific IgG ELISA Human ROR1 "Ig-Frizzled domain" directly coated on the plate - detection of ROR1-Ig-Frizzled-specific IgG ELISA Human ROR1-CHO cells - detection of ROR1-specific IgG by FACS

[0084] On day 9 of B cell culture the supernatants were separated from the B cells and stored in a separate plate for later analysis. RNAlater tissue storage reagent was added to each well in the B cell culture plate to preserve the RNA in the B cells for RT-PCR amplification of antibody variable regions.

[0085] B cell culture wells identified through ELISA and FACS screening as having the desired antibodies we advanced to molecular "rescue" of the antibody variable regions. The light and heavy chain variable sequences were amplified by multiplex RT-PCR using degenerate primers designed to anneal to leader sequences and the constant regions of rabbit IgG and rabbit kappa sequences. Secondary PCR was performed separately for the light and heavy chains using nested primers containing restriction sites. Amplicons from the variable heavy chain PCR were cloned into an expression vector containing human IgG1. Light chain amplicons were cloned into an expression vector containing human IgK. Resulting clones were sequenced and analyzed.

[0086] The heavy and light chain expression plasmids generated from each well were transiently co-transfected to produce rabbit / human chimeric antibodies. Recombinant antibody supernatants were confirmed to contain anti-ROR1 antibodies using bio-layer interferometry analysis on a ForteBio Octet Red 96 instrument. Anti-human Fc biosensors (Pall ForteBio) were used to capture antibodies in the supernatants. Association to ROR1 was observed by real-time interferometry by placing the biosensors in wells containing recombinant human ROR1 extracellular domain protein. Dissociation was measured after transfer of the biosensors into wells containing 10X kinetics buffer (Pall ForteBio). The software provided by the manufacturer was used to analyze the interferometry data.

[0087] A summary of the primary BCC screening data and the corresponding screening data for 27 recombinant chimeric rabbit / human IgG antibodies is shown in Tables 4a and 4b.

[0088] The heavy and light chain variable regions for 8 of 27 chimeric rabbit / human IgG antibodies listed in FIGURE 4 were humanized. Humanized variants for 8 of 27 antibodies showed similar binding kinetics to human ROR1 by octet analysis which is summarized in FIGURE 5.SEQUENCE LISTINGANTI-ROR1 ANTIBODY SEQUENCES

[0089] SEQ ID NO:1 226E12 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:2 226E12 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:3 226E12 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:4 226E12 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:5 226E12 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:6 226E12 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:7 226E12 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:8 226E12 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:9 323H7 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:10 323H7 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:11 323H7 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:12 323H7 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:13 323H7 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:14 323H7 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:15 323H7 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:16 323H7 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:17 324C7 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:18 324C7 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:19 324C7 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:20 324C7 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:21 324C7 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:22 324C7 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:23 324C7 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:24 324C7 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:25 323D10 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:26 323D10 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:27 323D10 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:28 323D10 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:29 323D10 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:30 323D10 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:31 323D10 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:32 323D10 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:33 324E2 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:34 324E2 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:35 324E2 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:36 324E2 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:37 324E2 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:38 324E2 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:39 324E2 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:40 324E2 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:41 324C6 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:42 324C6 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:43 324C6 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:44 324C6 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:45 324C6 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:46 324C6 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:47 324C6 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:48 324C6 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:49 338H4 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:50 338H4 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:51 338H4 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:52 338H4 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:53 338H4 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:54 338H4 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:55 338H4 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:56 338H4 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:57 330F11 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:58 330F11 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:59 330F11 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:60 330F11 CHIMERIC LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:61 330F11 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:62 330F11 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:63 330F11 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:64 330F11 CHIMERIC HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:65 226E12 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:66 226E12 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:67 226E12 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:68 226E12 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:69 226E12 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:70 226E12 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:71 226E12 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:72 226E12 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:73 323H7 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:74 323H7 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:75 323H7 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:76 323H7 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:77 323H7 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:78 323H7 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:79 323H7 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:80 323H7 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:81 324C7 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:82 324C7 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:83 324C7 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:84 324C7 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:85 324C7 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE - VARIANT 1 SEQ ID NO:86 324C7 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE - VARIANT 1 SEQ ID NO:87 324C7 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE - VARIANT 1. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:88 324C7 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE - VARIANT 1. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:89 324C7 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE - VARIANT 2 SEQ ID NO:90 324C7 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE - VARIANT 2 SEQ ID NO:91 324C7 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE - VARIANT 2. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:92 324C7 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE - VARIANT 2. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:93 323D10 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:94 323D10 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:95 323D10 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:96 323D10 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:97 323D10 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:98 323D10 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:99 323D10 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:100 323D10 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:101 324E2 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:102 324E2 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:103 324E2 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:104 324E2 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:105 324E2 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:106 324E2 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:107 324E2 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:108 324E2 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:109 324C6 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:110 324C6 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:111 324C6 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:112 324C6 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:113 324C6 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:114 324C6 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:115 324C6 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:116 324C6 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:117 338H4 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:118 338H4 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:119 338H4 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:120 338H4 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:121 338H4 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:122 338H4 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:123 338H4 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:124 338H4 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:125 330F11 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:126 330F11 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:127 330F11 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN KAPPA CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:128 330F11 HUMANIZED LIGHT CHAIN VARIABLE LIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:129 330F11 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:130 330F11 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO:131 330F11 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN FULL-LENGTH AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. HUMAN GAMMA-1 CONSTANT DOMAIN IS UNDERLINED SEQ ID NO:132 330F11 HUMANIZED HEAVY CHAIN VARIABLE HEAVY CHAIN AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. COMPLIMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS ARE UNDERLINED

Claims

1. An isolated monoclonal antibody (mAb) or antigen-binding fragment thereof having a binding specificity to human ROR1, comprising a variable light chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 76 and a variable heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 80.

2. The isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to Claim 1: i) wherein the isolated mAb comprises a humanized antibody, a chimeric antibody, or a recombinant antibody; or ii) wherein the isolated mAb comprises an IgG; or iii) wherein the antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a Fv, a Fab, a F(ab')2, a scFv or a scFv2 fragment; or iv) wherein the isolated mAb comprises a bispecific antibody, tri-specific antibody, or multi-specific antibody.

3. The isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to Claim 1, wherein the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises an IgG1 heavy chain having at least 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 79 and / or a kappa light chain having at least 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 75.

4. An isolated nucleic acid encoding the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to Claim 1.

5. An expression vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid of Claim 4, wherein the vector is expressible in a cell.

6. A host cell comprising the nucleic acid of Claim 4, wherein the host cell is a prokaryotic cell or a eukaryotic cell.

7. A method of producing an antibody comprising culturing the host cell of Claim 6, so that the antibody is produced.

8. An immuno-conjugate, comprising the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to Claim 1 and a drug unit, wherein the drug unit is linked to the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment thereof through a linker, and wherein the linker comprises a covalent bond selected from an ester bond, an ether bond, an amine bond, an amide bond, a disulphide bond, an imide bond, a sulfone bond, a phosphate bond, a phosphorus ester bond, a peptide bond, a hydrazone bond or a combination thereof; preferably i) wherein the drug unit is selected from a cytotoxic agent, an immune regulatory reagent, a combination thereof, more preferably wherein the immune regulatory reagents activate or suppress immune cells, T cell, NK cell, B cell, macrophage, or dendritic cell; or ii) wherein the cytotoxic agent is selected from a growth inhibitory agent or a chemotherapeutic agent from a class of tubulin binders, DNA intercalators, DNA alkylators, enzyme inhibitors, immune modulators, antimetabolite agents, radioactive isotopes, or a combination thereof, more preferably wherein the cytotoxic agent is selected from a calicheamicin, ozogamicin, monomethyl auristatin E, emtansine, a derivative or a combination thereof.

9. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising: (a) the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to Claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; or (b) the immunoconjugate of Claim 8 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

10. The pharmaceutical composition according to Claim 9(a), further comprising a chemotherapeutic agent, a growth inhibitory agent, a drug unit from the class of calicheamicin, an antimitotic agent, a toxin, a radioactive isotope, a therapeutic agent, an anti-estrogen agent, a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, a kinase inhibitor, a cell cycle inhibitor, a DNA, RNA or protein synthesis inhibitor, a RAS inhibitor, or a combination thereof.

11. An isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to Claim 1 or a pharmaceutical composition according to Claim 9 for use in a method of treating a subject with a cancer, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of the isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment thereof, or the pharmaceutical composition, wherein the cancer comprises cells expressing ROR1.

12. The isolated mAb or antigen-binding fragment thereof or pharmaceutical composition for use according to Claim 11: i) wherein the cancer comprises breast cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, head and neck cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, non-small lung cell cancer, glioma, esophageal cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, anal cancer, rectal cancer, gastric cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, or brain cancer; or ii) wherein the method further comprises co-administering an effective amount of a therapeutic agent, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises an antibody, a chemotherapy agent, an enzyme, or a combination thereof, more preferably wherein the therapeutic agent comprises capecitabine, cisplatin, Cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, Doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, Mustine, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisolone, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine, etoposide, Epirubicin, pemetrexed, folinic acid, gemicitabine, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, topotecan, camptothecin, docetaxel, paclitaxel, fulvestrant, tamoxifen, letrozole, exemestane, anastrozole, aminoglutethimide, testolactone, vorozole, formestane, fadrozole, letrozole, erlotinib, lafatinib, dasatinib, gefitinib, osimertinib, vandertanib, afatinib, imatinib, pazopinib, lapatinib, sunitinib, nilotinib, sorafenib, nab-palitaxel, Everolimus, temsirolimus, Dabrafenib, vemurafenib, trametinib, vintafolide, apatinib, crizotinib, periforsine, olaparib, Bortezomib, tofacitinib, or a derivative or a combination thereof; or iii) wherein the subject is a human.