Cytotoxic properties of a ricin A chain immunotoxin recognising the cluster-5A antigen associated with human small-cell lung cancer

Summary The cytotoxic properties of a ricin A chain immunotoxin made with the mouse monoclonal antibody SWA20, recognising a family of sialoglycoprotein antigens selectively expressed by human small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), were examined using a panel of tumour cell lines in tissue culture. SWA20—ricin-A-chain was selectively toxic to the SW2, NCI-H69 and GLC-8 SCLC cell lines, inhibiting the incorporation of [³H]leucine by 50% at a concentration of 0.2–2 nM, but had no selective activity against the NCI-H23 and NCI-H125 lung adenocarcinoma or the control CEM T-lymphoblastoid cell lines. The SWA20 immunotoxin intoxicated the SW2 cell line rapidly, inhibiting [³H]leucine incorporation by 50% within 2 h compared with 0.5 h for ricin. Analysis of the effects of SWA20—ricin-A-chain on the growth of SW2 cells using a limiting-dilution clonogenic assay revealed that the immunotoxin could eliminate 95% of clonogenic malignant cells. Although SWA20—ricin-A-chain was found to be rapidly active against the majority of tumour cells, its action was limited by the presence of insensitive cells expressing low levels of the target antigen.     

抗肝癌hdsFv-hEDN重组免疫毒素对荷人肝癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤生长的抑制作用

目的:研究抗肝癌hdsFv-hEDN重组免疫毒素对荷人肝癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤生长的抑制作用,评价其作用为导向治疗药物的临床应用价值.方法:将体外培养的人肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721细胞接种于裸鼠皮下,建立荷人肝癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤动物模型,随机分为hdsFv-hEDN治疗组和对照组,分别给予尾静脉注射hdsFv-hEDN和生理盐水,1次/日,共2周.比较各组裸鼠皮下移植瘤生长速度、肿瘤体积和重量,并计算肿瘤的抑制率.取各组裸鼠肿瘤组织,心,肺,肝,肾组织HE染色,光学显微镜下观察.结果:抗肝癌hdsFv-hEDN治疗组裸鼠皮下移植瘤生长抑制作用显著,肿瘤生长速度减慢,肿瘤体积从42.62±0.57 mm3增加到74.28±2.59 mm3、瘤重为155.82±14.43 mg,而对照组肿瘤体积从41.94±0.91 mm3增加到127.42±4.81 mm3、瘤重为283.28±15.21 mg,两组比较差异非常显著.肿瘤体积抑瘤率和瘤重抑瘤率分别达到41.59±0.02%和45.51±0.09%.组织学观察抗肝癌hdsFv-hEDN组肿瘤组织出现大片坏死,凋亡明显增加,心、肝、肺、肾等重要器官未见明显异常.结论:抗肝癌hdsFv-hEDN重组免疫毒素对荷人肝癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤生长具有良好的抑制作用.     

Rapid elimination of mouse/human chimeric monoclonal antibodies in nude mice

 At our laboratory we are currently evaluating the suitability of mouse/human chimeric monoclonal antibodies (cmAb) for use in radioimmunotherapy of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We have developed cmAb containing the human constant IgG1 domain and the variable domains of murine mAb (mmAb) E48 and U36 respectively. We considered the tumour-bearing nude mouse to be a well-validated model for a first testing of the targeting capabilities of these cmAb in comparison with the mmAb. Therefore, 3 μg cmAb E48 (labelled with ¹²⁵I) and 3 μg mmAb E48 (labelled with ¹³¹I) were simultaneously injected into HNSCC-bearing nude mice and, at various assay times, mAb uptake in blood and other tissues was assessed. Remarkably, while in roughly 50% of the animals the biodistribution of the conjugates was similar, in the other animals cmAb E48 showed a much higher blood clearance than mmAb E48. This resulted in a lower tumour uptake of cmAb E48 in comparison with mmAb E48. To determine whether this phenomenon was related to mAb E48 or to the animal model, other cmAb-mmAb combinations were evaluated in the same way: cmAbs SF-25, 17-1A and U36 (all IgG1) were tested and all showed a rapid elimination in about 50% of the animals. Besides a decrease in blood concentration, an increase of cmAb levels in liver and spleen was observed within 24 h after injection. Isotype-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays showed that mice that demonstrated a rapid elimination of cmAb from the blood had much lower endogenous IgG1, IgG2b and IgG3 titres than mice showing normal clearance. IgG2a levels were low in all mice. Biodistribution experiments with 3 μg chimeric 17-1A isoforms showed high blood clearance in a proportion of the mice for IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4, but not for IgG2. Increase of the cmAb dose to 100 μg resulted in a similar cmAb and mmAb biodistribution in all mice. Moreover, the biodistribution of the F(ab′)₂ fragment of an IgG1 cmAb was similar for all mice in contrast to that of coinjected whole IgG. On the basis of these results it can be hypothesized that, in mice with low endogenous IgG titres, cmAb with specific isotypes are rapidly removed from the blood (and ultimately from the body) by mediation of Fc-binding receptors. Apparently, in mice with high endogenous IgG titres or in mice receiving a high cmAb dose, these receptors are saturated. Furthermore, the rapid elimination of cmAb from nude mice, which may occur after injection at a low dose, is a phenomenon related to the nude mouse model. Received: 26 July 1996 / Accepted: 16 January 1997     

Short and long term fate of human AMSC subcutaneously injected in mice

AIM:To study the ability of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells(AMSCs)to survive over the short and long term,their biodistribution and their biosafety in vivo in tumor-prone environments.METHODS:We subcutaneously injected human AMSCs from different human donors into immunodeficient SCID mice over both short-(2 and 4 mo)and long-(17 mo)term in young,and aged tumor-prone mice.Presence of human cells was studied by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction analysis in all organs of injected mice.RESULTS:Subcutaneously injected AMSCs did not form teratomas at any time point.They did not migrate but remained at the site of injection regardless of animal age,and did not fuse with host cells in any organ examined.AMSCs survived in vivo for at least 17 mo after injection,and differentiated into fibroblasts of the subdermic connective tissue and into mature adipocytes of fat tissue,exclusively at the site of injection.CONCLUSION:Our results support the assertion that AMSC may be safe candidates for therapy when injected subcutaneously because of their long term inability to form teratomas.     

Carcinogen metabolism in human skin grafted onto athymic nude mice: a model system for the study of human skin carcinogenesis

Human skin grafted onto athymic nude mice maintains its major histological features and may provide a useful system with which to assess the carcinogen interaction with human skin. Significant differences were observed in basal levels of cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome P-448-dependent monooxygenase activities between human grafted and nude mouse epidermis. Topical application of crude coal tar (CCT) to human skin transplanted onto nude mice resulted in 3.9 & 3.5; 3.2 & 2.9 and 1.1 & 1.2 fold increases in mouse and human epidermal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH), ethoxyresorufin deethylase (ERD) and ethoxycoumarin deethylase (ECD) activities, respectively. CCT applied topically to mouse skin resulted in 27.8 & 6.4; 12.8 & 3.3 and 1.7 & 2.6 fold increases in mouse and human epidermal AHH, ERD and ECD activities, respectively. Topical application of coal tar either onto human transplanted skin or to mouse skin also resulted in substantial induction of hepatic and pulmonary AHH and ERD activities. These studies indicate that human skin grafted onto nude mice preserves its metabolic capacity and offers a useful model system with which to assess the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and CCT on cutaneous xenobiotic metabolism in the human population.     

Radioimmunodetection of human colon cancer in nude mice by a new monoclonal antibody A7 against human colorectal cancer

The in vivo localization of a monoclonal antibody A7 against a human colorectal cancer was studied in nude mice bearing human solid carcinomas, to evaluate potential applications of this antibody for radioimmunodetection of cancer. The tissue distribution of¹²⁵I-labeled A7 MoAb at 3 days after i.v. injection into mice bearing five different kinds of human solid tumors revealed a high uptake ratio by colon cancer, mammary cancer, and glioblastoma. In contrast, the uptake ratio by murine colorectal cancer (Colon-38) was extremely low. In immunoscintigraphic studies, HCT-15, one of the human colon cancer, was clearly visualized with ¹¹¹In-DTPA-A7 MoAb. Glioblastoma was also imaged with the same extent. These results suggest that A7 MoAb would be applicable to the in vivo radioimmunodetection of colon- and mammary-cancer, and of glioblastoma.     

Immunotargeting of daunomycin to localized and metastatic human colon adenocarcinoma in athymic mice

Summary A monoclonal antibody (designated SF25), which recognizes a protein antigen expressed on a large number of human colon carcinomas, was used for drug targeting. Daunomycin-antibody conjugates were prepared by two previously described procedures. In one, the drug was bound to the antibody through a spacer of small molecular mass (cis-aconitic acid), while in the other a dextran bridge served as the link between drug and antibody. High substitution rates of drug to antibody were obtained using the latter binding procedure. Both conjugates were tested in vitro against two human colon carcinoma cell lines, LS180 and KM-12. The efficacy of a daunomycin-dextran-SF25 antibody conjugate was tested against colon carcinoma LS180 tumors transplanted at different sites into athymic mice. The specific conjugate was significantly more inhibitory to a subcutaneous tumor growth than its components or their mixture. SF25 antibody alone showed antitumoral effects against all three forms of transplanted tumor tested, namely, local, metastatic or intrahepatic, whereas daunomycin, on its own, was effective only against the subcutaneous tumor. Binding of daunomycin to dextran partially improved its inhibitory activity against the metastatic tumor. The conjugate, daunomycin-dextran-SF25 antibody reduced the number of metastatic foci, increased the survival rate and delayed death. Yet against lymph node metastases it was not significantly better than a mixture of both constituents. However, results obtained with an intrahepatic tumor, a model that mimics the natural progression of the disease, resembled those described with the subcutaneous tumor. Daunomycin-dextran-SF25 antibody was significantly more effective than all components separately and than a mixture of drug and antibody, provided a highly drug-substituted conjugate was used.     

The radiation response of a human colon adenocarcinoma grown in monolayer, as spheroids, and in nude mice

A human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, WiDr, has been grown in monolayer, as multicellular spheroids, and as xenografted tumors in immune-deprived mice. The growth and radiation responses of the cells under these different growth conditions were compared. The mean doubling time of monolayer cultures was 0.8 day and the initial volume doubling times of spheroids and xenografts averaged 1.2 and 6 days, respectively. The mean total viable cell plating efficiencies were 82, 63, and 7% for cells from monolayers, spheroids, and xenografted tumors, respectively. The radiation responses of single cell suspensions prepared from WiDr tumors (8-10 mm in diameter), exponentially growing monolayer cultures (5 days growth), and spheroids (1200 microns in diameter) irradiated in air at 4 degrees C were similar. Values for D0 were 1.5 Gy and for n between 3 and 5. Nitrogen curves were characterized by a D0 of 5 Gy and n between 3 and 6. Oxygen enhancement ratios were approximately 3.3. Both spheroids and tumors had radioresistant components to the 37 degrees C/air-breathing survival curves with estimated hypoxic fractions of 8 and 12%, respectively. The final portion of the survival curves for irradiations in nitrogen and under normal growth conditions were parallel for both tumors and spheroids. Thus WiDr spheroids appear to model accurately the radiation sensitivity of WiDr tumors.     

Immunotoxin studies in a model of human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia developed in severe combined immune-deficient mice

The transplantation of the human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell line HSB-2 into severe combined immune-deficient (SCID) mice was found to produce a disseminated pattern of leukemia similar to that seen in humans. The iv injection of 10⁷ HSB-2 cells was associated with a universally fatal leukemia. Histopathological examination of animals revealed the spread of leukemia initially from bone marrow to involve all major organs including the meninges. An immunotoxin (HB2-Sap) was constructed by conjugating the anti-CD7 monoclonal antibody (MAb) HB2 to the ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) saporin. An in vitro protein synthesis inhibition assay revealed specific delivery of HB2-Sap immunotoxin (IT) to CD7⁺ HSB-2 target cells with an IC₅₀ of 4.5 pM. In an in vivo study, the IT was shown to significantly prolong the survival of SCID mice injected with HSB-2 cells compared to untreated control animals. This therapeutic effect was seen both with a single injection of 10 μg of IT given 7 d after the injection of HSB-2 cells, and was even more effective when IT was administered as three daily injections of 10 μg on d 7, 8, and 9. These results demonstrate the useful application of human leukemia xenografts in SCID mice and the potential therapeutic effect of an anti-CD7 IT in human T-ALL.     

Histologic study of the outcome of components of nerves of human corpses grafted in nude mice (a model of chimeric intercellular communication)

Human corpse nerves are microsurgically grafted in nude mouse and biopsied from 1 to 152 days after graft. Schwann cells ever survived and probably produce angiogenic factors stimulating mice vessels. Others nerves are grafted end to end with mouse sciatic nerve. Mouse's neurites invading grafts are surrounded by human Schwann cells and set up normal chimeric nerve.     

Antitumour activity on extrinsic apoptotic targets of the triterpenoid maslinic acid in p53-deficient Caco-2 adenocarcinoma cells

We report that a novel triterpenoid, (2a,3b)-2,3-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (maslinic acid), isolated from olive pomace from Olea europaea, triggers primarily the extrinsic and later the intrinsic apoptotic pathways in Caco-2 human colon-cancer cells. Apoptosis induced by maslinic acid was confirmed by FACS analysis using annexine-V FICT staining. This induction of apoptosis was correlated with the early activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3, the activation of caspase-8 was also correlated with higher levels of Bid cleavage and decreased Bcl-2, but with no change in Bax expression. Maslinic acid also induced a sustained activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Incubation with maslinic acid also resulted in the later activation of caspase-9, which, together with the lack of any Bax activation, suggests that the mitochondrial pathway is not required for apoptosis induced by maslinic acid in this cell line. In this study we found that the mechanism of apoptotic activation in p53-deficient Caco-2 cells differs significantly from that found in HT-29 cells. Natural agents able to activate both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways by avoiding the mitochondrial resistance mechanisms may be useful for treatment against colon cancer regardless of its aetiology.     

Retargeting polymer-coated adenovirus to the FGF receptor allows productive infection and mediates efficacy in a peritoneal model of human ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND: Transductional targeting of adenovirus following systemic or regional delivery remains one of the most difficult challenges for cancer gene medicine. The numerical excess and anatomical advantage of normal (non-cancer) cells in vivo demand far greater detargeting than is necessary for studies using single cell populations in vitro, and this must be coupled with efficient retargeting to cancer cells. METHODS: Adenovirus (Ad5) particles were coated with reactive poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] copolymers, to achieve detargeting, and retargeting ligands were attached to the coating. Receptor-mediated infection was characterised in vitro and anticancer efficacy was studied in vivo. RESULTS: Polymer coating prevented the virus binding any cellular receptors and mediated complete detargeting in vitro and in vivo. These fully detargeted vectors were efficiently retargeted with the model ligand FGF2 to infect FGFR-positive cells. Specific transduction activity was the same as parental virus, and intracellular routing appeared unaffected. Levels of transduction were up to 100-fold greater than parental virus on CAR negative cells. This level of specificity permitted good efficacy in intraperitoneal cancer virotherapy, simultaneously decreasing peritoneal adhesions seen with parental virus. Following intravenous delivery FGF2 mediated unexpected binding to erythrocytes, improving circulation kinetics, but preventing the targeted virus from leaving the blood stream. CONCLUSIONS: Polymer cloaking enables complete adenovirus detargeting, providing a versatile platform for receptor-specific retargeting. This approach can efficiently retarget cancer virotherapy in vivo. Ligands should be selected carefully, as non-specific interactions with non-target cells (e.g. blood cells) can deplete the pool of therapeutic virus available for targeting disseminated disease.     

胡桃醌不同给药途径对人肝癌细胞BEL-7402裸鼠皮下移植瘤生长的影响

目的采用裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型,通过不同给药途径对胡桃醌抗肿瘤活性和毒性进行评价。方法建立人肝癌BEL-7402细胞裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型,通过腹腔注射和局部注射两个给药途径观察胡桃醌抑制肿瘤生长的效果。结果①以600、300和150μg/kg胡桃醌腹腔注射于人肝癌BEL-7402细胞裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型,发现该剂量胡桃醌对肿瘤生长没有明显的影响;NK细胞活性检测发现,600、300μg/kg胡桃醌对裸鼠免疫功能有影响(P均<0.01),150μg/kg胡桃醌则没有影响(P>0.05);与阳性对照组(5-Fu)相比,600μg/kg胡桃醌组NK细胞活性差异无显著性(P>0.05),300和150μg/kg胡桃醌组NK细胞活性差异有显著性(P<0.05,P<0.01),结果提示胡桃醌对小鼠免疫系统有一定的损伤作用。②以4.5、3和1.5 mg/kg胡桃醌腹腔注射于人肝癌BEL-7402细胞裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型,抑瘤率分别为为78.24%、66.57%、48.94%;4.5、3 mg/kg胡桃醌的抑瘤作用可与阳性对照组比拟(P均>0.05)。但4.5 mg/kg胡桃醌组裸鼠出现明显的皮下脂肪减少、消瘦,并有死亡现象。③以pH 7.4和pH 4.0的600、300和150μg/kg胡桃醌人肝癌BEL-7402细胞裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型局部给药,结果发现不同pH(pH 7.4或4.0)600、300μg/kg的胡桃醌局部注射抑瘤作用与阳性对照组(5-Fu)组差异无显著性(P>0.05),而不同pH的150μg/kg胡桃醌抑瘤作用不明显。同一浓度不同pH药物的抑瘤作用差异无显著性(P均>0.05),但pH 4.0的胡桃醌组肿瘤细胞肝转移较少。结论胡桃醌不同给药途径均可抑制人肝癌BEL-7402细胞裸鼠皮下移植瘤的生长,但有一定的毒副作用,药物安全范围较小。     

Intracellular expression of a single-chain antibody directed against type IV collagenase inhibits the growth of lung cancer xenografts in nude mice

It was documented that type IV collagenase with two subtypes of 72 ku/MMP-2 and 92 ku/MMP-9 plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER)- retained, single chain Fv antibody fragment (scFv) was used to inhibit the function of type IV collagenase. For expression in mammalian cells, the assembled scFv M97 gene with ER retention signal encoding 6 additional amino acids (SEKDEL) was reamplified by PCR. The amplified fragments were cloned into the pcDNA3.1 vector. The resulting plasmid was sequenced and then introduced into PG cells, a highly metastatic human lung cancer cell line, by lipofectAMINE method. The result of intrabody gene therapy showed that type IV collegenase expression was down regulated significantly as measured by ELISA. The biological behavior of PG cell, such as the ability of in vitro invasion through Matrigel, colony formation on soft agar, was also inhibited by scFv M97 transfection. Animal experiments in a xenograft model of human lung cancer showed that scFv M97 transfection significantly prolonged the survival time of nude mice. The results indicate that intracellular antibody technology represents a novel and efficient way to abrogate selectively the activity of type IV collagenase.     

Intracellular expression of a single-chain antibody directed against type IV collagenase inhibits the growth of lung cancer xenografts in nude mice

It was documented that type IV collagenase with two subtypes of 72 ku/MMP-2 and 92 ku/MMP-9 plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER)- retained, single chain Fv antibody fragment (scFv) was used to inhibit the function of type IV collagenase. For expression in mammalian cells, the assembled scFv M97 gene with ER retention signal encoding 6 additional amino acids (SEKDEL) was reamplified by PCR. The amplified fragments were cloned into the pcDNA3.1 vector. The resulting plasmid was sequenced and then introduced into PG cells, a highly metastatic human lung cancer cell line, by lipofectAMINE method. The result of intrabody gene therapy showed that type IV collegenase expression was down regulated significantly as measured by ELISA. The biological behavior of PG cell, such as the ability of in vitro invasion through Matrigel, colony formation on soft agar, was also inhibited by scFv M97 transfection. Animal experiments in a xenograft model of human lung cancer     

Improvement of tumor targeting and antitumor activity by a disulphide bond stabilized diabody expressed in Escherichia coli

We have generated an anti-Pgp/anti-CD3 diabody which can effectively inhibit the growth of multidrug-resistant human tumors. However, the two chains of the diabody are associated non-covalently and are therefore capable of dissociation. Cysteine residues were introduced into the V-domains to promote disulphide cross-linking of the dimer as secreted by Escherichia coli. Compared with the parent diabody, the ds-Diabody obtained was more stable in human serum at 37°C, without loss of affinity or cytotoxicity activity in vitro. Furthermore, the ds-Diabody showed improved tumor localization and a twofold improved antitumor activity over the parent diabody in nude mice bearing Pgp-overexpressing K562/A02 xenografts. Our data demonstrate that ds-Diabody may be more useful in therapeutic applications than the parent diabody.     

塞来昔布联合survivin反义寡核苷酸对胰腺癌荷瘤裸鼠的治疗作用

目的:探讨环氧化酶-2(COX-2)抑制剂塞来昔布和survivin反义寡核苷酸(ASODN)联合作用对胰腺癌荷瘤裸鼠的治疗作用。方法:构建胰腺癌荷瘤裸鼠模型,将成瘤裸鼠随机分为4组:对照组、塞来昔布组(给予1000ppm的塞来昔布饮水)、survivin ASODN组(瘤内注射40μg/200μL的survivin ASODN)、联合组(给予1000ppm的塞来昔布饮水的同时瘤内注射40μg/200μL的survivin ASODN);观测裸鼠肿瘤生长情况并测量不同时间的体积变化,于接种肿瘤的35天处死裸鼠,测瘤体质量,应用cas- pase-3试剂盒检测caspase-3活性,免疫组织化学法检测肿瘤增殖指数(PI)和微血管密度(MVD)。结果:治疗组平均体积均明显低于对照组(491.97±4.62mm~3,427.34±14.62mm~3,300.39±6.59mm~3 vs 703.56±12.51 mm~3,P<0.01),其中联合治疗组体积明显低于塞来昔布组或survivin ASODN组(P<0.01);平均抑瘤率分别为32.26%、50.86%、62.07%。治疗组caspase-3相对活性明显高于对照组(0.026±0.003、0.040±0.018、0.059±0.005 vs 0.006±0.001,P<0.01),其中联合治疗组caspase-3相对活性明显高于塞来昔布组(P<0.01)或survivin ASODN组(P<0.05);治疗组平均PI和MVD均明显低于对照组(P<0.01,或P<0.05),其中联合治疗组平均PI和MVD明显低于塞来昔布组或survivin ASODN组(P<0.01,或P<0.05)。结论:COX-2抑制剂塞来昔布和survivin ASODN联合应用可显著抑制荷胰腺癌裸鼠的肿瘤生长,其作用机制可能是通过共同提高caspase-3活性来诱导细胞凋亡,通过抑制肿瘤细胞的增殖和新生血管的形成来发挥抗肿瘤效应,为胰腺癌的治疗提供了新的思路。