A RECOMBINANT ANTIBODY INTERLEUKIN-2 FUSION PROTEIN SUPPRESSES GROWTHOF HEPATIC HUMAN NEUROBLASTOMA METASTASES IN SEVERE COMBINED IMMUNODEFICIENCY MICE

A genetically engineered fusion protein consisting of a human/mouse ch imeric anti-ganglioside GD2 antibody (ch14.18) and recombinant human i nterleukin 2 (rhIL-2) was tested for its ability to target rhIL-2 to t umor sites and stimulate immune effector cells sufficiently to achieve effective tumor cell lysis in vivo. The ch14.18-IL-2 fusion protein p roved more effective than equivalent doses of rhIL-2 in suppressing di ssemination and growth of human neuroblastoma in an experimental hepat ic metastases model of scid (severe combined immunodeficiency) mice re constituted with human lymphokine-activated killer cells. The ch14.18- IL-2 fusion protein was also more proficient than equivalent doses of rhIL-2 in prolonging the life-span of these animals. This recombinant antibody-cytokine fusion protein may prove useful for future treatment of GD2-expressing human tumors in an adjuvant setting.