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Patients treated with a monoclonal antibody (ab 1 ) to the colorectal carcinoma antigen 17–1A develop a cellular response (DTH) to the “internal image of the antigen” (ab 2 )
Author(s) -
Mellstedt Håkan,
Frodin JanErik,
Biberfeld Peter,
Fagerberg Jan,
Gisombe Ricardo,
Hernandez Aleida,
Masucci Giuseppe,
Li SuLing,
Steinitz Michael
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910480306
Subject(s) - antigen , monoclonal antibody , medicine , immunology , colorectal cancer , monoclonal , antibody , carcinoma , pathology , cancer
The anti‐tumor effector functions of unconjugated MAb in cancer therapy are not fully understood. Direct cytotoxic mechanisms have been demonstrated as well as induction of anti‐idiotypic (ab 2 ) and anti‐anti‐idiotypic (ab 3 ) antibodies. If such a humoral response is induced, then an idiotypic cellular response would also be anticipated. Human monoclonal ab 2 s which mimic a tumor‐associated antigen (TAA) (CO17–1A) of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells (“the internal image of the antigen”) were produced. These ab 2 s were injected intradermally to patients with metastatic CRC who had been treated with the anti‐colon carcinoma MAb 17–1A (ab 1 ). Five out of 12 patients had a specific DTH (delayed‐type hypersensitivity) reaction of the tuberculin type, which was proven by immunohistochemical analysis of skin biopsies. Serum ab, was demonstrated In 4/4 tested DTH + patients and also in 4 DTH patients. Control patients did not show any skin reactivity. Generation of an idiotypic response induced by the infused antibody (ab 1 ) might be regarded as an active anti‐tumor “vaccination”. Induction of an idiotypic cellular and humoral cascade might be an important anti‐tumor effector function of MAb and should be considered in future strategies for such therapy in cancer patients.