A human Fab-based immunoconjugate specific for the LMP1 extracellular domain inhibits nasopharyngeal carcinoma growth in vitro and in vivo

Mol Cancer Ther. 2012 Mar;11(3):594-603. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-11-0725. Epub 2011 Dec 14.

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a major cause of cancer-related death in Southeast Asia and China. Metastasis and relapse are the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in NPC. Recent evidence suggests that the Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is exclusively expressed in most NPC and is a potential target for biotherapy. In this study, we successfully prepared a novel human antibody Fab (HLEAFab) against LMP1 extracellular domain, which was subsequently conjugated with mitomycin C (MMC), thus forming an immunoconjugate (HLEAFab-MMC). The effects of HLEAFab-MMC on proliferation and apoptosis in NPC cell lines HNE2/LMP1 and the inhibition rate of growth of NPC xenografts in nude mice were examined. The inhibition rate of HNE2/LMP1 cell proliferation was the highest for HLEAFab-MMC (76%) compared with MMC (31%) and HLEAFab (22%) at a concentration of 200 nmol/L and showed dose-dependent fashion. The apoptosis rate of HNE2/LMP1 cell lines was 13.88% in HLEAFab-MMC group, 3.04% in MMC group, 2.78% in HLEAFab group, and 2.10% in negative control group at the same concentration, respectively. In vivo, the inhibition rate of growth of NPC xenografts in nude mice was 55.1% in HLEAFab-MMC group, 26.5% in MMC group, and 5.64% in HLEAFab group. In summary, our findings show that HLEAFab-MMC is a unique immunoconjugate with the potential as a novel therapeutic agent in the treatment of LMP1-expressing NPC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / immunology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Binding Sites / immunology
  • Carcinoma
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates / chemistry
  • Immunoconjugates / immunology
  • Immunoconjugates / therapeutic use*
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mitomycin / chemistry
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / immunology
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Peptide Library
  • Tumor Burden / drug effects
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / immunology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments
  • Peptide Library
  • Viral Matrix Proteins
  • Mitomycin