Design and Evaluation of a Humanized Anti-EGFR huscFv Antibody Fragment in Combination With Metformin in A549 Cells In Vitro

Abstract

Background/aim: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is over-expressed in several types of cancer, and monoclonal antibody therapy has been the strategy that has shown the best results. This study focused on the construction of a humanized single chain antibody (huscFv) directed against EGFR (HER1).

Materials and methods: The CDR grafting method was used to incorporate murine complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of cetuximab into human sequences. A dot blot assay was used to examine the affinity of the huscFv secreted by HEK293T for EGFR. The inhibitory effect on the viability of A549 cells was evaluated using the WST-1 assay.

Results: The incorporation of murine CDRs of cetuximab into human sequences increased the degree of humanness by 16.4%. The increase in the humanization of scFv did not affect the affinity for EGFR. Metformin had a dose-dependent effect, with an IC₅₀ of 46 mM, and in combination with huscFv, the cell viability decreased by 45% compared to the 15% demonstrated by huscFv alone.

Conclusion: The CDR grafting technique is efficient for the humanization of scFv, maintaining its affinity for EGFR and demonstrating its inhibitory effect when combined with metformin in A549 cells.

Keywords: CDR grafting; EGFR; Single chain antibody fragment; cancer; metformin.