Disclosed are the surprising discoveries that aminophospholipids, such as
phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine, are stable and specific
markers accessible on the luminal surface of tumor blood vessels, and
that the administration of an anti-aminophospholipid antibody alone is
sufficient to induce thrombosis, tumor necrosis and tumor regression in
vivo. This invention therefore provides anti-aminophospholipid
antibody-based methods and compositions for use in the specific
destruction of tumor blood vessels and in the treatment of solid tumors.
Although various antibody conjugates and combinations are thus provided,
the use of naked, or unconjugated, anti-phosphatidylserine antibodies is
a particularly important aspect of the invention, due to simplicity and
effectiveness of the approach.