^(125)I-labeled anti-b FGF monoclonal antibody inhibits growth of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory efficacy of ^(125)I-labeled anti-basic fibroblast growth factor(b FGF) monoclonal antibody(m Ab) in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS: b FGF m Ab was prepared by using the 1G9B9 hybridoma cell line with hybridization technology and extracted from ascites fluid through a Protein G Sepharose affinity column. After labeling with ^(125)I through the chloramine-T method, b FGF m Ab was further purified by a Sephadex G-25 column. Gamma radiation counter GC-1200 detected radioactivity of ^(125)I-b FGF m Ab. The murine H22 HCC xenograft model was established and randomized to interventions with control(phosphate-buffered saline), ^(125)I-b FGF m Ab,^(125)I plus b FGF m Ab, b FGF m Ab, or ^(125)I. The ratios of tumor inhibition were then calculated. Expression of b FGF, fibroblast growth factor receptor(FGFR), plateletderived growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) m RNA was determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The purified b FGF m Ab solution was 8.145 mg/m L with a titer of 1:2560000 and was stored at-20 ℃. After coupling, ^(125)I-b FGF m Ab was used at a 1: 1280000 dilution, stored at 4 ℃, and its specific radioactivity was 37 MBq/mg. The corresponding tumor weight in the control, ^(125)I, b FGF m Ab, ^(125)I plus b FGF m Ab, and ^(125)I-b FGF m Ab groups was 1.88 ± 0.25, 1.625 ± 0.21, 1.5 ± 0.18, 1.41 ± 0.16, and 0.98 ± 0.11 g, respectively. The tumor inhibition ratio in the ^(125)I, b FGF m Ab, ^(125)I plus b FGF m Ab, and ^(125)I-b FGF m Ab groups was 13.6%, 20.2%, 25.1%, and 47.9%, respectively. Growth of HCC xenografts was inhibited significantly more in the ^(125)I-b FGF m Ab group than in the other groups(P < 0.05). Expression of b FGF and FGFR m RNA in the ^(125)I-b FGF m Ab group was significantly decreased in comparison with other groups(P < 0.05). Groups under interventions revealed increased expression of VEGF m RNA(except for ^(125)I group) compared with the control group.CONCLUSION: ^(125)I-b FGF m Ab inhibits growth of HCC xenografts. The coupling effect of ^(125)I-b FGF m Ab is more effective than the concomitant use of ^(125)I and b FGF m Ab.