Enhancement of antibody-dependent mechanisms of tumor cell lysis by a targeted activator of complement

Cancer Res. 2007 Oct 1;67(19):9535-41. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-1690.

Abstract

Complement inhibitors expressed on tumor cells provide a hindrance to the therapeutic efficacy of some monoclonal antibodies (mAb). We investigated a novel strategy to overwhelm complement inhibitor activity and amplify complement activation on tumor cells. The C3-binding domain of human complement receptor 2 (CR2; CD21) was linked to the complement-activating Fc region of human IgG1 (CR2-Fc), and the ability of the construct to target and amplify complement deposition on tumor cells was investigated. CR2 binds C3 activation fragments, and CR2-Fc targeted tumor cells by binding to C3 initially deposited by a tumor-specific antibody. Complement deposition on Du145 cells (human prostate cancer cell line) and anti-MUC1 mAb-mediated complement-dependent lysis of Du145 cells were significantly enhanced by CR2-Fc. Anti-MUC1 antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of Du145 by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells was also significantly enhanced by CR2-Fc in both the presence and the absence of complement. Radiolabeled CR2-Fc targeted to s.c. Du145 tumors in nude mice treated with anti-MUC1 mAb, validating the targeting strategy in vivo. A metastatic model was used to investigate the effect of CR2-Fc in a therapeutic paradigm. Administration of CR2-Fc together with mAb therapy significantly improved long-term survival of nude mice challenged with an i.v. injection of EL4 cells. The data show that CR2-Fc enhances the therapeutic efficacy of antibody therapy, and the construct may provide particular benefits under conditions of limiting antibody concentration or low tumor antigen density.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Complement Activation / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mucin-1 / immunology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Receptors, Complement 3d / genetics
  • Receptors, Complement 3d / immunology*
  • Receptors, Fc / genetics
  • Receptors, Fc / immunology*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • MUC1 protein, human
  • Mucin-1
  • Receptors, Complement 3d
  • Receptors, Fc
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins