CLINICAL OUTCOME OF COLORECTAL-CANCER PATIENTS TREATED WITH HUMAN MONOCLONAL ANTIIDIOTYPIC ANTIBODY

A human monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody (105AD7) has been developed which mimics a colorectal-tumour-associated antigen and induces cellu lar anti-colorectal tumour immune responses in animals. Thirteen patie nts with advanced colorectal cancer were immunized with 105AD7 and the ir survival was compared with that of a contemporary group of unimmuni zed patients with similar disease status. No toxicity related to anti- idiotype immunization was seen. Cellular responses to anti-idiotypic i mmunization were indicated by lymphocyte proliferation to gp72-positiv e tumour cells, and production of interleukin-2; anti-tumour antibodie s were not detected. Median survival following diagnosis of advanced d isease of immunized patients was 12 months, compared with 4 months in unimmunized patients. The improved survival of immunized patients in t his study without associated toxicity suggests that 105AD7 immunizatio n may have considerable potential for immunotherapy of colorectal canc er. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.