Synergy of sequential administration of a deglycosylated ricin A chain-containing combined anti-CD19 and anti-CD22 immunotoxin (Combotox) and cytarabine in a murine model of advanced acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Leuk Lymphoma. 2012 Oct;53(10):1999-2003. doi: 10.3109/10428194.2012.679267. Epub 2012 Apr 18.

Abstract

The outcome for patients with refractory or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated with conventional therapy is poor. Immunoconjugates present a novel approach and have recently been shown to have efficacy in this setting. Combotox is a mixture of two ricin-conjugated monoclonal antibodies (RFB4 and HD37) directed against CD19 and CD22, respectively, and has shown activity in pediatric and adult ALL. We created a murine xenograft model of advanced ALL using the NALM/6 cell line to explore whether the combination of Combotox with the cytotoxic agent cytarabine (Ara-C) results in better outcomes. In our model the combination of both low- and high-dose Combotox and Ara-C resulted in significantly longer median survival. Sequential administration of Ara-C and Combotox, however, was shown to be superior to concurrent administration. These findings have led to a phase I clinical trial exploring this combination in adults with relapsed or refractory B-lineage ALL (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01408160).

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antigens, CD19 / chemistry
  • Antigens, CD19 / immunology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytarabine / administration & dosage*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Synergism
  • Humans
  • Immunotoxins / administration & dosage*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / mortality
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology
  • Ricin / chemistry
  • Ricin / therapeutic use
  • Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2 / chemistry
  • Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2 / immunology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, CD19
  • Drug Combinations
  • Immunotoxins
  • Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2
  • combotox
  • Cytarabine
  • Ricin

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01408160