PRO-APOPTOTIC ANTI-NG2/CSPG4 ANTIBODIES AND THEIR USES FOR DISEASE THERAPY

The present invention relates to an antibody capable of binding with high-affinity and high selectivity to the ectodomain of the transmembrane proteoglycan (PG) NG2/CSPG4, preferably to discrete isoforms of said PG, preferably isoforms that may be generated by alternative splicing, and/or coding single nucleotide polymorphisms, and/or post-transcriptional and/or post-translational modifications. The 5 invention further relates to an anti-NG2/CSPG4 antibody possessing the ability to uniquely induce programmed cell death, exhibited as both canonical caspase-dependent apoptosis and authophagy, in NG2/CSPG4-expressing cancer cells. This action being manifested irrespectively of the coaction of other exogenously added factors. 10 Moreover, the present invention refers to a composition comprising the antibody of the invention, in its naked, encapsulated or genetically engineered form, as pharmaceutical excipient. A further aspect of the present invention refers to the anti-NG2/CSPG4 molecule, or any of its isoforms and fragments, provided as proteolytically generated peptides or 15 produced synthetically and/or recombinantly, for the treatment of apoptosis and/or autophagy-dependent diseases, including but not restricted to cancer.