Folate-immunoglobulin G as an anticancer therapeutic antibody

Bioconjug Chem. 2010 May 19;21(5):961-8. doi: 10.1021/bc900545h.

Abstract

Folate receptor-alpha (FR) is a promising cellular marker for tumor-specific drug delivery. Conjugation of folic acid to therapeutic and imaging agents has been shown to enhance their delivery to FR (+) cancer cells in vitro and in tumor-bearing mice via an FR-mediated cellular uptake mechanism. In this study, immunoglobulin G (IgG) was conjugated to folate and evaluated as a therapeutic antibody against folate receptor (FR)-positive tumors. Murine IgG (mIgG) was conjugated to folate via an amide bond to yield folate-conjugated mIgG (f-mIgG) that contained an average of approximately 2.6 folates per molecule. Selective uptake of f-IgG by FR (+) tumor cells was determined by fluorescence microscopy and by flow cytometry. Lysis of L1210JF cells by NK cells from murine donors was increased 1.4-9.0-fold at the effector:target (E:T) ratio of 25:1, relative to control mIgG. In mice bearing L1210JF tumors, f-mIgG was found to significantly inhibit tumor growth and to have prolonged the median survival time (MeST). Significantly, the antitumor efficacy of f-mIgG was greatly increased when combined with liposomal G3139, an 18-mer phosphorothioate oligonucleotide. In fact, the combination resulted in a 100% cure rate among the tumor-bearing mice. Injection of f-mIgG significantly increased serum INF-gamma and IL-6 level in mice compared with mIgG and dramatically increased serum INF-gamma and IL-6 level when combined with liposomal G3139. These results suggested that f-IgG, a novel immunotherapy agent, has potent activity as a therapeutic antibody to the FR-positive cancer, and the therapeutic activity is enhanced by immunomodulatory agents.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Female
  • Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored
  • Folic Acid / chemistry*
  • Folic Acid / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / chemistry*
  • Immunoglobulin G / therapeutic use*
  • Leukemia / drug therapy*
  • Liposomes
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred DBA
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cytokines
  • Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Liposomes
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Folic Acid