Cocktails of ricin A-chain immunotoxins against different antigens on Hodgkin and Sternberg-Reed cells have superior anti-tumor effects against H-RS cells in vitro and solid Hodgkin tumors in mice

Int J Cancer. 1995 Oct 9;63(2):304-9. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910630226.

Abstract

Three ricin A-chain immunotoxins (ITs) recognizing different antigens on Hodgkin-Reed/Sternberg (H-RS) cells were evaluated for their anti-tumor effects when used in combination as "cocktails". These ITs, BB10.dgA (CD25), HRS3.dgA (CD30), and IRac.dgA (70 kDa), strongly inhibited the growth of L540Cy H-RS cells in vitro. The protein synthesis of this cell line was reduced more efficiently by the combination of 2 of these ITs than by BB10.dgA, HRS3.dgA or IRac.dgA alone. A cocktail of all 3 ITs was most effective in vitro. This was at least in part due to the non-homogeneous distribution of CD25, CD30 or IRac on the L540Cy H-RS target cells and to the fact that subpopulations deficient in one antigen nevertheless expressed appreciable levels of the other target antigens. IT cocktails were also superior as anti-tumor agents in nude mice with solid L540Cy tumors. Ninety percent of mice treated with cocktails containing 2 or 3 ITs had continuous complete remissions (CCR), as compared with only 40% of mice treated with the same dose of a single IT. Analysis of 7 L540Cy sub-lines re-established ex vivo from mice that relapsed after having achieved complete remission (CR) after therapy with a single IT showed that the surviving tumor cells were antigen-deficient variants which were resistant to the original IT, but which could be killed by ITs directed against other target antigens. Thus, IT cocktails give superior results against human H-RS cells, both in vitro and in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Hodgkin Disease / immunology*
  • Hodgkin Disease / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Immunotoxins / therapeutic use*
  • Ki-1 Antigen / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / immunology
  • Reed-Sternberg Cells / immunology*
  • Ricin / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Immunotoxins
  • Ki-1 Antigen
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • Ricin