Scientific publications

Anti-ICAM-2 monoclonal antibody synergizes with intratumor gene transfer of interleukin-12 inhibiting activation-induced T-cell death

Sep 1, 2003 | Magazine: Clinical Cancer Research

Melero I, Gabari I, Tirapu I, Arina A, Mazzolini G, Baixeras E, Feijoo E, Alfaro C, Qian C, Prieto J.
Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Facultad de Medicina, Gene Therapy Unit, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain


PURPOSE
Systemic treatment with an anti-ICAM-2 monoclonal antibody (mAb; EOL4G8) eradicates certain established mouse tumors through a mechanism dependent on the potentiation of a CTL-mediated response. However, well-established tumors derived from the MC38 colon carcinoma cell line were largely refractory to this treatment as well as to intratumor injection of a recombinant adenovirus encoding interleukin-12 (IL-12; AdCMVIL-12). We sought to design combined therapy strategies with AdCMVIL-12 plus anti-ICAM-2 mAbs and to identify their mechanism of action.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Analysis of antitumor and toxic effects were performed with C57BL/6 mice bearing established MC38 tumors. Anti-ovalbumin T-cell receptor transgenic mice and tumors transfected with this antigen were used for in vitro and in vivo studies on activation-induced cell death (AICD) of CD8(+) T cells.

RESULTS
Combined treatment with various systemic doses of EOL4G8 mAb plus intratumor injection of AdCMVIL-12 induced complete regression of MC38 tumors treated 7 days after implantation. Unfortunately, most of such mice succumbed to a systemic inflammatory syndrome that could be prevented if IFN-gamma activity were neutralized once tumors had been rejected. Importantly, dose reduction of EOL4G8 mAb opened a therapeutic window (complete cure of 9 of 18 cases without toxicity). We also show that ICAM-2 ligation by EOL4G8 mAb on activated CTLs prevents AICD, thus extending IFN-gamma production.

CONCLUSIONS
Combination of intratumor gene transfer of IL-12and systemic anti-ICAM-2 mAb display synergistic therapeutic and toxic effects. CTL life extension resulting from AICD inhibition by anti-ICAM-2 mAbs is the plausible mechanism of action.

CITATION  Clin Cancer Res. 2003 Sep 1;9(10 Pt 1):3546-54