title: Mouse plasmacytoma growth in vivo: enhancement by interleukin 6 (IL-6) and inhibition by antibodies directed against IL-6 or its receptor.
abstract: Murine plasmacytomas show a striking dependence on interleukin 6 (IL-6) for their growth in vitro. Here, we present evidence suggesting that IL-6 also plays an essential role in the in vivo development of these tumors. This conclusion is based on the finding that the tumorigenicity of an IL-6-dependent plasmacytoma cell line was increased approximately 100-fold on transfection with an IL-6 expression vector, whereas it was inhibited in animals treated with monoclonal antibodies capable of blocking the binding of IL-6 to its receptor. Injection of these antibodies 1 d before tumor challenge protected greater than 50% of the mice and retarded tumor growth in all animals. Tumors arising in antibody-treated mice retained their IL-6 dependence in vitro, suggesting that the level of protection could be improved if stronger IL-6 antagonists were available.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vink
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coulie
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Warnier
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Renauld
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Donckers
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Snick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002460:Cell Line; D007167:Immunotherapy; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6