Ml. Thakur et al., IMPROVED ANTIBODY TARGETING WITH INTERFERON-ALPHA-2B CONJUGATE, Journal of immunotherapy with emphasis on tumor immunology, 20(3), 1997, pp. 194-201
Citations number
46
Categorie Soggetti
Immunology,Oncology,"Medicine, Research & Experimental
This investigation is based on a hypothesis that a biological response
modifier, interferon-alpha-2b (IFN), when conjugated with a specific
monoclonal antibody (mAb) and given to tumor-bearing animals before th
e administration of radiolabeled mBb, may not only augment the tumor u
ptake but may also impede the liver and blood uptake, because the mAb
associated with the conjugate may block nonspecific hepatic binding si
tes and scavenge circulating antigens. ME 31.3 and anti-carcinoembryon
ic antigen (CEA) F-6 (IgG-2a) specific for human melanoma and colorect
al carcinoma, respectively, were chosen as prototype mAbs and conjugat
ed with IFN-alpha-2b for evaluation in athymic nude mice bearing respe
ctive experimental tumors. The mAb specificity for the tumor cell line
was examined by binding assays and Kd values were determined to be 1.
96 x 10(-9) M and 5.9 x 10(-9) M for ME 31.3 and anti-CEA F-6, respect
ively. Thirty micrograms of conjugate, prepared chemically and purifie
d chromatographically (IFN-mAb:1:1), was administered intravenously to
each animal and 3 h later followed by an intravenous injection of 20
mu g F(ab')(2) of corresponding mAb labeled with 300 mu Ci Tc-99m (1.5
Ci/mmol). Twenty-four hours later, in melanoma-bearing animals, not o
nly did the tumor uptake increase, but also the liver uptake decreased
by 75%. Tumor/muscle and tumor/blood ratios also enhanced by 200 and
500%, respectively. Consistent with ME 31.3, the tumor uptake with ant
i-CEA F-6 also increased (p = 0.00) and the liver uptake decreased (p
= 0.01). Similarly, tumor/muscle (p = 0.01) and tumor/blood (p = 0.02)
ratios also increased significantly. Results indicate that IFN:mAb co
njugate may improve diagnostic and therapeutic potential of mAbs, and
is worthy of further studies.