ANTITUMOR EFFECTS OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY FAB’FRAGMENT—CONTAINING IMMUNOCONJUGATES

Objective.Using monoclonal antibody (mAb) Fab′ fragment to develop mAb immunoconjugates for cancer. Methods.Fab′ fragment of mAb 3A5 was prepared by digestion of the antibody with pepsin and then reduced by dithiothreitol (DTT),while Fab′ fragment of mAb 3D6 was obtained by digestion of the antibody with ficin and subsequently reduced by β mercaptoethanol.The conjugation between Fab′ fragment and pingyangmycin (PYM),an antitumor antibiotic,was mediated by dextran T 40.Immunoreactivity of Fab′ PYM conjugates with cancer cells was determined by ELISA,and the cytotoxicity of those conjugates to cancer cells was determined by clonogenic assay.Antitumor effects of the Fab′ PYM conjugates were evaluated by subcutaneously transplanted tumors in mice. Results.The molecular weight of Fab′ fragment was approximately 53 kD,while the average molecular weight of Fab′ PYM conjugate was 170 kD.The Fab′ PYM conjugates showed immunoreactivity with antigen relevant cancer cells and selective cytotoxicity against target cells.Administered intravenously,Fab′ PYM conjugates were more effective against the growth of tumors in mice than free PYM and PYM conjugated with intact mAb. Conclusion.Fab′ PYM conjugate may be capable of targeting cancer cells and effectively inhibiting tumor growth,suggesting its therapeutic potential in cancer treatment.

Preparation of Anti-HER2 Monoclonal Antibody-paclitaxel Immunoconjugate and Its Biological Evaluation

Anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody （Sc7301）-paclitaxel （TAX） immunoconjugate was pre- pared and its specific binding to tumor cells was investigated in this study. Sc7301 was conjugated to TAX by the active ester method and then the TAX-Sc7301 immunoconjugate was obtained. After purification and labeling by Cyano-fluorescein isothiocyanate （FITC）, the specific binding of TAX-Sc7301 to HER2-positive tumor cells （SKOV3） and HER2-negative tumor cells （HepG2） was evaluated respectively. TAX-Sc7301 （20 nmol/L） showed distinct specific binding to SKOV3 cells rather than HepG2 cells. And the uptake of the immunoconjugate by SKOV3 cells was increased with the TAX-So7301 concentration （3-48 nmol/L） and the incubation time （P〈0.05）. It was concluded that the TAX-Sc7301 immunoconjugate is ootentially applicable as a targeted agent against HER2-10ositive tumor cells.

ANTITUMOR ACTIVITY OF IMMUNOCONJUGATES COMPOSED OF BOANMYCIN AND MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY

Boanmycin (bleomycin A6 . BM) . an antitumor antibiotic, was conjugated to monoclonal antibodies including R19, H 111 and CCT2. The immunoconjugates exhibited selective cytotoxicity to related target cells including cecum cancer Hce-8693 cells, liver cancer BEL-7402 cells and leukemia CEM cells. They were highly effective against related human tumor xenografts in nude mice, and the inhibition rates by the conjugates were much higher than those by free BM. The inhibition rate by R19-BM conjugate against human cecum cancer xenografts reached 90%. BY immunoelectron microscopy, CCT2-BM conjugate showed specific binding and internalization in leukemia CEM cells. The results indicate that boanmycin-monoclonal antibody immunoconjugates are highly active both in vitro and in vivo.

THE USE OF ANTI-HUMAN GLIOMA MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES FOR TARGETING CHEMOTHERAPY OF BRAIN GLIOMAS(PREPARATION AND CYTOTOXIC PROPERTIES OF ANTIBODY-ADRIAMYCIN IMMUNOCONJUGATES)

Immunoconjugates are antibody-drug hybrid molecules which combine the exquisite selectivity or monoclonal antibodies with the potent toxicity of anticancer agents. A monoclonal antibody SZ39 against human brain gliomas was used as a drug carrier. Adriamycin (ADR) was bound covalently to SZ39 to form a SZ39-ADR conjugate. The cytotoxic activity of the SZ39-ADR conjugate was tested in vitro and demonstrated potent and specific killing of cells derived from a human malignant glioma. 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) for SZ39-ADR to 'target' cells was 8.14×10-9 M. An index of specificity between 'target' and 'non-target' cells was calculated to be 88-fold. These data suggest that the SZ39-ADR may use as a potent and cell type-specific agent and is a likely candidate for the targeting chemotherapy of malignant gliotnas.

THE USE OF ANTIHUMAN GLIOMA MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES FOR TARGETING CHEMOTHERAPY OF BRAIN GLIOMAS(POTENT SUPPRESSION OF MALIGNANT GLIOMA GROWTH WITH IMMUNOCONJUGATES IN VIVO)

Athymic nude mice bearing subcutaneous and intracerebral human glioma xenografts were used to assess the therapeutic efficacy of monoclonal anti-body-adriamycin immunoconjugates against malignant gliomas in vivo. Immunoconjugates showed a significantly stronger antitumor effect with a T/C (treated/ control tumor volume) of 30% as compared with free drug (T/C of 84%). The targeting treatment with immunoconjugates significantly prolonged 54% of median survival time of nude mice. Side effects of immunoconjugates on the normal bone marrow and small intestines were much slighter than those of the free drug. The results of this study indicate that the use of monoclonal antibodies as carriers of anti-tumor agents may have many therapeutic advantages and potential for the treatment of brain gliomas.

Construction of humanized carcinoembryonic antigen specific single chain variable fragment and mitomycin conjugate

AIM： To construct a new target-oriented conjugate of humanized carcinoembryonic antigen （CEA） specific single chain variable fragment （scFv） and mitomycin （MMC） against colorectal cancer, and to investigate its influence on the growth and apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells. METHODS： The primer was designed according to the gene sequence described in reference 16, which respectively contains restriction enzyme cleavage sites BamH I and EcoR I in its upstream and downstream. PCR was performed with the plasmid as template containing genes of humanized anti-CEA scFv. The product was digested by BamH I and EcoR I, and connected to an expression vector which also has the restriction enzyme cleavage sites BamH I and EcoR. Expression of the reaction was induced by isopropy-β -D-thiogalactoside （IPTG）. Then the expression product was covalently coupled with MMC by dextran T-40. The immunoreactivity of the conjugate against colorectal cancer cells as well as CEA was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The inhibiting ratio of conjugate on the growth of colorectal cancer cells was also measured by ELISA. The effect of conjugate on the apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells was determined by flow cytometry （FCM）. RESULTS： Restriction endonuclease cleavage and gene sequencing confirmed that the expression vector was successfully constructed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electropheresis （SDS-PAGE） confirmed that this vector correctly expressed the fusion protein. ELISA confirmed that the conjugate had quite a strong immunoreactivity against colorectal cancer cells and CEA. The conjugate had inhibitory effects on colorectal cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner and could induce apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner.CONCLUSION： The CEA-scFv-MMC conjugate can be successfully constructed and is able to inhibit the growth and induce apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells.

SPECIFIC UPTAKE OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY-CONJUGATED METHOTREXATE BY HUMAN LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIC B CELLS

Objective: To analysis the uptake of free MTX and MTX conjugated to tumor specific monoclonal antibody by target and nontarget cells. Methods: The folate antagonist methotrexate (MTX) was conjugated to two monoclonal antibodies (Mab) directed against human chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), Dal B01 and Dal B02, by an active ester method. Both conjugates were more cytotoxic toward the target tumor cell line D101 than to the nontarget cell line MOLT3, and Dal B02MTX conjugate was more inhibitory to D101 cells than free MTX in a 6 h pulse exposure assay. Results: Drug uptake studies revealed that D101 cells took up much more Dal B01 and Dal B02conjugated MTX than free MTX. The amounts of drug taken up by D101 cells incubated with Dal B01 and Dal B02conjugated MTX were always 3 to 5fold higher than that taken up by MOLT3 cells, although the latter took up more drug when incubated with free MTX. Furthermore, tumor cells incubated with Dal B01 or Dal B02conjugated MTX retained much larger amounts of drug for a prolonged period of time than those incubated with free MTX. Conclusion: The enhanced specific cytotoxicity of Dal B01 and Dal B02MTX conjugates toward target tumor cells is therefore likely due to (I) delivery of larger amounts of MTX to target cells when the drug is conjugated to Mab; (ii) longer retention of Mabconjugated MTX by target cells; and (iii) slow, prolonged release of MTX from the surfacebound or endocytosed conjugates, rendering them into a sustained release dosage form.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON ANTITUMOR EFFECT OF MONOCLONAL ANTI－IDIOTYPIC ANTIBODY－DNR CONJUGATE TO LEUKEMIA

In this experiment,the Dcxtran-T40(Dex-T40) served as intermidiate carrier,conjugated SM6 monoclonal antiidiotypic antibody(anti-Id-McAb) against B lymphocytic leukemia cells and chemotherapeutical drug daunorubicin(DNR) to form SM6:Dex: DNR immunoconjugate.The activity of anti-Id-McAb and DNR of the immunoconjugate and their extent of the substitution were measured,and the autitumor activity of SM6:hex:DNR was assayed in vitro.The results demonstrateil that using Dex-T40 to prepare immunoconjugate could get a higher extent of substitution of McAb and DNR and maintain the activity of McAb and drug well.The results of cytotoxic assay in vitro suggested that the immunoconjugate SM6:Dex:DNR possess a specific cytotoxic effett to target tumor cells.

Immunotherapy in the treatment of lymphoma

Relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas,especially diffuse large B-cell lymphoma as well as relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphomas are hard-to-treat diseases.Patients who do not respond to initial therapy or experience relapse are treated with salvage regimens,and if eligible for aggressive therapy,treatment is continued with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation.Current therapy options can cure substantial numbers of patients,however for some it is still an uncurable disease.Numerous new drugs and cell therapies are being investigated for the treatment of relapsed or refractory lymphomas.Different types of immunotherapy options have shown promising results,and some have already become the standard of care.Here,we review immunotherapy options for the treatment of lymphoma and discuss the results,positions,practical aspects,and future directions of different drugs and cellular therapies for the treatment of this disease.

Localization and Biodistribution of Conjugate ATG－Dex－DNR in Nude Mice as Models for Human Leukemia

I-labelled anti-thymoglobuline (ATG), 131 I-labelled immunoconjugate ATG-Dex-DNR and 131 I-labelled Ts-MoAb as control antibody, respectively.were injected by intraperitoneal (i. p.) administration into nude mice used as models for human T-cell leukemia. SPECT imaging was performed from day 1 to day 8 following i. p. injection. The results showed that radioimmunoimaging of buman tumor xenografts was clearest day 3 after injection in both of ATG and ATG-Dex-DNR groups, whereas it's not the case in Ts-MoAb group. Nude mice were killed 8th day after injection with antibody or conjugate. The tumor, as well as different dissected normal organs including heart, liver, lungs, kidney, femur and intestine, were harvested, weighed precisely, and radioiodine-counted. T/NT ratios in experimental group was greater than 1. 0 (ranged from 1. 246-7. 865). and in control group they were less than 1. 0 (ranged from 0. 263-0. 757, except for tumor/femur ratio). Our results indicated that ATG and ATG-Dex-DNR had specific affinity to cell line of Tcell leukemia CEM.

CTLA-4 gene A/G polymorphism associated with diabetes mellitus in Han Chinese

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) gene A/G polymorphism with susceptibility to diabetes mellitus in Han Chinese. METHODS: An A/G transition at position 49 of exon 1 was analyzed in 31 patients with type 1 diabetes, 31 patients with type 2 diabetes, and 36 controls were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: A highly significant increase in the frequency of the G allele was seen in patients with type 1 diabetes compared with controls (66.1 % vs. 34.7%, respectively; P

Antitumor effects of the molecule-downsized immunocon-jugate composed of lidamycin and Fab' fragment of monoclonal antibody directed against type IV collagenase

Type IV collagenase plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis through cleaving type IV collagen in the basement membrane and extracellular matrix. In this study a molecule-downsized immunoconjugate (Fab′-LDM) was constructed by linking lidamycin (LDM), a highly potent antitumor antibiotic, to the Fab′ fragment of a monoclonal antibody directed against type IV collagenase and its antitumor effect was investigated. As assayed in 10% SDS-PAGE gel, the molecular weight of Fab′-LDM conjugate was 65 kD with a 1:1 molecular ratio of Fab′ and LDM. The Fab′-LDM conjugate maintained most part of the immunoreactivity of Fab′ fragment to both type IV collagense and mouse hepatoma 22 cells by ELISA. By MTT assay, Fab′-LDM conjugate showed more potent cytotoxicity to hepatoma 22 cells than that of LDM. Administered intravenously, Fab′-LDM conjugate proved to be more effective against the growth of subcutaneously transplanted hepatoma 22 in mice than free LDM in two experiment settings. In Experiment I, the drugs were given intravenously on day 1 and day 8. Fab′-LDM at the doses of 0.025 mg/kg, 0.05 mg/kg and 0.1 mg/kg inhibited tumor growth by 76.7%, 93.3% and 94.8%, while free LDM at 0.05 mg/kg inhibited tumor growth by 76.1%, respectively. In experiment II, the drugs were given intravenously on day 4 and day 11, Fab′-LDM at the doses of 0.025 mg/kg and 0.05 mg/kg inhibited tumor growth by 74.2%, 80.9%, while free LDM at 0.05 mg/kg inhibited tumor growth by 60.5%, respectively. In terms of survival time, Fab′-LDM was more effective than free LDM. The results suggest that the molecule-downsized immunoconjugate directed against type IV collagenase is of high efficacy in experimental cancer therapy.