In vivo activity of novel anti-ErbB2 antibody chA21 alone and with Paclitaxel or Trastuzumab in breast and ovarian cancer xenograft models

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2011 Mar;60(3):339-48. doi: 10.1007/s00262-010-0937-7. Epub 2010 Nov 18.

Abstract

It was well studied that ErbB2 (HER2/p185(her2/neu)) overexpression in human malignant cancers correlates with poor prognosis and chemo-resistance. Although Trastuzumab (Herceptin) has been widely used in patients with ErbB2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer, many patients either do not respond to Trastuzumab therapy or progress within 1 year of initiating Trastuzumab treatment. Previously, we reported a novel tumor-inhibitory antibody chA21, which recognized ErbB2 extracellular domain with an epitope distinct from other tumor-inhibitory anti-ErbB2 antibodies. Here, we report that chA21 combined with Paclitaxel or Trastuzumab significantly enhances the tumor-inhibition effects on ErbB2-overexpressing breast and ovarian cancer in xenograft mice. Moreover, the study reveals that the effects by chA21 to cause an enhanced inhibition on cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis was highly associated with the intrinsic ability of chA21 to down-regulate ErbB2 receptor, inhibit downstream MAPK and PI3K-AKT signal transduction and activate natural killer cells. Our findings show that chA21 may represent a unique anti-ErbB2 antibody with potentials as therapeutic candidate alone or combination with other anti-ErbB2 reagents in cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Trastuzumab
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Trastuzumab
  • Paclitaxel